“A BEAR GARDEN”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27232, 8 November 1949, Page 8

“A BEAR GARDEN”

BOROUGH MEETING DESCRIPTION BY COUNCILLOR MUCH BITTER DISCUSSION “Nothing but a bear garden,” and “ amusing if it were not _so serious,” were descriptions applied to the special meeting held by the Port Chalmers tiorough Council last night to discuss proposals for a major waterworks scheme. A minute which was submitted to the meeting by the Mayor was denounced as “an insult.” Other councillors considered the meeting “ all very confusing ” and “ a waste of time,” and at one stage a councillor was asked to resume her seat when she alleged that the Mayor had “ led her up the garden path.” It all began when a notice of motion tabled by six councillors was ruled out of order by the Mayor, Mr T. Anderson. The motion asked that a previous resolution ot the council approving a site at Sawyers’ Hay for a reservoir be rescinded. Ruling tne motion out of order, the Mayor said that the meeting was called only to discuss the reports of the borough’s consulting engineer and the geologist. Dr F. J. Williams, on the alternative reservoir sites at Cedar Creek and Sawyers’ Bay.

Making a protest against this ruling, both Crs H. S. Watson and G. Forgie said that at the last meeting of the council they aennitely heard the Mayor say he would bring the notice before the next meeting. ”1 will not bring it up until the next general meeting,” the Mayor replied.

“It seems to be a waste of time to come along and be dictated to by you. especially when this noticd has been signed by six councillors.” said Cr R. E. Reeves, addressing the Mayor. Cr F. C. Smith (addressing the Mayor); Quite right. Six of us signed the notice of motion, and I agree with Cr Reeves that we do not want this Mussolini style of dictatorship from Sou. It is a waste of I time to discuss le report from the Water Committee alone. If so. I think we could retire tO Cr S W. D. Campbell: There is no waste of time. There seems to be no finality. For instance, the council decided four times that a reservoir should be constructed at Sawyers’ Bay, then at the last minute there comes a notice of motion to rescind After further discussion, in which Cr Watson pointed out the advantages of the Cedar Farm site in his opinion, it was again suggested that the notice of motion be put to the meeting. Opce again the Mayor refused. “There is no point in staying here, said Cr Crawford, who favoured the motion. The Mayor: It is out of order. I am not going to get into trouble. Cr Watson: There is no doubt that you are. People at Sawyers’ Bay are crying out for water, and at Port Chalmers they are fearing a shortage. You, your Worship, are holding up everything by sticking to the rule book. Please use some common sense. The Mayor: Why do you not use some common sense? Cr Reeves (to the Mayor): I think you have got us here on a wild goose chase. If you have got the interests of the town at h ,art—if you have—you would break the standing orders the same as any other councillor. But evidently that does not suit you. Later in the meeting Cr Crawford asked that a minute which was submitted by the Mayor be rescinded. “ We have come here to discuss the' waterworks proposals but I find it is nothing but bear garden,” said Cr Campbell. “ There is no unity; no harmony in the council to-day. If it is to continue who knows what will happen. . ‘ Cr Smith then said the minute of the Mayor was an “ insult to the engineer. The Mayor: You can burn it if you like. ' , . .. Questions were then asked of the engineer in connection with the waterworks scheme. As a result Cr Toehill said: “ Why all this hackling if the final choice of the site rests with the Ministry of Works? ” Before the meeting was finally adjourned it was decided to approach the Ministry of Works "to clear up some of the confusion.” The questions to be asked are whether the Ministry of Works has the power to select the site; whether it only has the authority to approve the site selected or to approve the detailed plans of a selected site.