DIAMOND HARBOUR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 252, 27 November 1914, Page 8

DIAMOND HARBOUR.

HOSTILE RESOLUTIONS.

TURNED DOWN .BY, COtfNCII,

A special meeting of the Lytteltoa' Borough Council was held last evening!, to receive resolutions passed at a meeting of ratepayers of the Diamond Harbour scheme which had been held on Monday evening; at" the instance of Mr S. S. Webb and Dr J. A. tfcwell. Crs J. Guthrie and M..J. Miller were not present. The council did not talte half ah hour over the resolutions.

The Mayor briefly stated that he had called the councillors together ■to consider resolutions which had been- passed at a meeting of opponents of the'Diamand Harbour scheme on Monday evening.

Or W. Kadcliffe moved and Cr J. -H. Collins seconded that the correspon-, deuce be received.

Cr W. T. Foster was instantly, on\ui» , ; \- feet with an amendment in direct contradiction to the motion. If they even received such resolutions, in his opinion '" it would be the duty of the- councillors . to resign. The resolutions east a.dis« tinct reflection on them. ' ■

The amendment was seconded by Cr J. T. Norton. His reason for doing so was that the meeting was not a properlyconstituted one.

Cr N. C. Schumacher opined that the resolutions were virtually motions of no confidence, and it was entirely unjust for a meeting constituted mostly of boys and non-ratepayers to pass them; Cr Walklin said he failed to see why they should consider the resolutions. The citizens had-set up a committee which had, presented an apparently satisfactory report at a public meeting.../' The meeting on Monday evening was ;not in order, as it represented only one section.

Speaking in support of his motion, Cr Badcliffe said he saw no harm in receiving the correspondence. He was not in favour of its ; tone, and would turn it down. A certain amount of: courtesy was due' to the ratepayers. ' The fact that it was a meeting of opponents was only a side issue " • : "Side issue! You started it," interrupted Cr Walklin.

Cr Collins, who seconded the motion, contented himself by saying that tho communications should be received, though not necessarily discussed. Cr Page was in support of the amendment. He thought the meeting had been called for the express purpose of passing a hostile motion regarding the administration of the council.

The Mayor said that though from tha reports of the meeting things had been said and insinuations made which were not fair, he felt, it was but right to receive the resolutions. Beyond that hewould leave it to their discretion.

The Mayor then put the amendment. It was carried, Cr Collins's being the only dissenting voice heard. Subsequently, on the motion of Cr Page, it was decided to hold over tho question of considering the resolution passed at the public meeting until a full meeting of the council.