“IN COMMITTEE”

Southland Times, Issue 25313, 17 June 1935, Page 5

“IN COMMITTEE”

MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS DISAGREE WINTON COUNCIL Some rather lively exchanges took place at Friday evening’s meeting of the Winton Borough Council, when the Mayor, Mr Thomas Walker, and Councillor A. Watson expressed a difference of opinion, whether the council could or could not carry out its decisions to the best of advantage when discussions were held in open meeting. On several occasions during the evening, Mr Walker considered that it would be advisable to go into committee to discuss certain matters, .but on each occasion Councillor Watson objected, and pointed out that as representatives of the ratepayers, it was only through the Press the ratepayers could learn whether the council was giving fair treatment. He repeatedly objected to discussions in conference, and as a consequence several matters that Mr Walker considered should be discussed in camera were held in open meeting. During the closing stages of the meeting, Councillor R. C. Stenhouse brought up a question, and asked the reporters to put down their pencils for a minute. As previously during the evening several requests by Mr Walker to go into committee had not been favoured by councillors, the suggestion of Councillor Stenhouse immediately brought forward a comment from Mr Walker. “About this committee business,” remarked the Mayor. "On several occasions to-night I have suggested that we should go into committee. My requests were not considered, and now we have a councillor asking the reporters to put their pencils down. It seems hardly fair, in view of my earlier requests. In my opinion the council’s business on occasions can be discussed to better advantage in conference," he added. “Only Through the Press.” “That was the whole trouble with the past council and that is one thing that I held against it,” stated Councillor A. Watson. “It is only through the Press that the ratepayers can learn of the deliberations of the council, but yet the past council was always discussing matters in committee. The ratepayers did not know half enough of what it was doing.” Later in the evening the Mayor brought up the matter, dealing with the electric lighting proposals, whether the council would meet the Power Board engineer, Mr L. B. Hutton, as a council or in committee. “There is a decided difference of opinion to-night between members as to when we should go into committee and when we shouldn’t,” added Mr Walker. “We are sent here by the ratepayers to carry through the business of the borough to the best of advantage, and I see no reason why we should discuss matters behind closed doors, ’ stated Councillor Watson. “I am decidedly in favour of the meeting being in open council. If I say anything wrong I am quite aware of the fact that I am open to criticism. The Press is the only means of letting the ratepayers know what we are doing, and to my mind, it is not a matter of sheltering ourselves by going into committee.” Mr Walker: It is not a matter of sheltering, but it is a matter of carrying through the work to the best advantage of the ratepayers. I am sure that to-night we would have reached a bette/ understanding by discussing a lot of our business in committee. You hold the opinion that we should never go into committee, but I would like to impress upon you that on occasions it is in our own interests. Councillor Watson: I don’t control the other members of the council. If they want to go into committee why don’t they move in that direction. I just expressed my opinion. Mr Walker: My remarks are being made to try and convince Councillor Watson. Councillor Watson: If the council desires to go into committee I can only fall in line, but I do not favour it all the same. Mr Walker: I believe that most of the business should be considered in open council. I don’t like Councillor Watson’s inference that we go into committee to hide something and shelter ourselves. If you get the Power Board engineer up here, you have more chance of getting the most out of him, if the meeting is not open to the Press. Larger bodies than the Winton Council frequently consider matters in committee. Expenditure of £3OO. Councillor Watson: In this matter we desire to discuss, we are considering the expenditure of £3OO of the ratepayers’ money, and you don’t want the ratepayers to know it. Mr Walker: You are wrong, and it is unfair of you to say it like that. I don’t think you mean it that way. Councillor Watson: I mean everything I say. Mr Walker: It is most unfair that you made that remark. I will take it for what it is worth. There is no need for any heated discussions on a matter of this nature. It was finally decided that the meeting with Mr Hutton be held in committee, the motion being put forward by Councillor McArthur and seconded by Councillor Butler, who stated that while he favoured most matters being discussed in open council, this was a matter that it would be in the interests of the council to discuss in committee. • 1 " --1