MAYOR TO CALL PUBLIC MEETING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11854, 19 May 1909, Page 5

MAYOR TO CALL PUBLIC MEETING

Towards the conclusion of last night's meeting of the 'Borough Oaui\otl Gr Kirk, moved "that m view of ihe necessity for a more, efficient system of land defence m the T)ominion, and m view of the fact that an Imperial Conference, oh the question of defence is shortly to -be held, to be attended by a representative of :1s ey» Zealand, his Worship the Mayor shall, sit a earlyy date/ call a public' meeting to ascertain ; defihijtelv piiblip feeliha- oil t3ie question, of defence m this district." Continuing Cr Kirk rehiarked that' he thought they >vould. ill agree that thisi /was. a very important question. Meetings ' were -being h4]d m the Dominion m varjoUß< pldces, but he did riot think tliey should wait for other plAces to give them the lead: The gestioii had! beeh made that Sir 'Joseph Ward should., go Home, and' m dqing so Tie: should . take 'public, opinion,/ and so leave- no occasion, for anyone to '^ay. he khould have consulted, Parliament or the people. Instead oj that he \vould know the opinion of the jpeople- of New ' Zealand 1 . There was also the question :of compulsory, training^ and an expression on this and matters would greatly assisti the. conference on Imperial De-^ fence.. ,■. ■ ' '''"-■■ " - r ' '*'-' '.■ • ••■ CS* Collins considered th 6 Apiotion an excellent one, but questioned whether it was -ft matter that came .within tho province of the Council. rThere "was no question of its public importance. The Mayor agreed as to the importance of th« question, but he would hesitate m calling a-., public nieeting Svithout the atiUiority of the Cotihcil ; 'Or Collins : If you' put it ntow you will have the unanimous support, of the Council.' I second the motion. h Cr Clayton saidf he agrieed, with the idea, butt it was .a wiorig; principle to ent^r into politics^— party 'politics. "' 'As a citizen he was entirely m. accord with the idea, but as a Couildillor it was gpfing beyqrids the proVinpe of the Council. They had their legislators <■ to 'represent the views of the public and an executive responsible to Parliament. It should be left entirejy. in their hands. Cr . Somei'vell said- he was m entire sympathy M ; i6h the tesplutioh, and at the samp time he thought it >\'os quite within the prdvince of the Council. A good citizen might request the Mayor to call a public meeting, and ,, why, he asked, should' the Council; be ..debarred from asV'mg him to take sticVi nctdon? It would give their' representatives a clue to public opiiiion. „: i l > Cr Pettie entniely, sympathised with the motion, and added that the Mayor would have been well within his rights had he acted on his own* initiative.,Cr 'Clayton moved os- lon, 1 amendment that the meeting also discuss no-licenae, preference' to unionists, and Bible treading m sohoools. , Cv ; Harris warmly supported loyalty to the flag. . (Applause.) As an amendment from, an Englishman. he was surprised. As a colonial •■' he looked to an Jinglislxman to lead, the' way. Cr Darton considered the Mayor ought to have called a public meeting without waiting for the Council. ;' Or Clayton'^explained! that as fa,r as •patriotism was wricewied^ho- was willing to debate ImiieriaJi&hi with any member of the Council, and iho'Teflotjtipri was unnecessary; , ' ; .>'' : ; ."' .-••'. ■''■: The motion was carried. , -