TO LIMIT SPEECHES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2030, 17 August 1920, Page 3

TO LIMIT SPEECHES.

AN UNPOPULAR PROPOSAL." CITY COUNCILLORS OBJECT. . A proposal to put a time limit on speeches found but a small measure of support at last evening's meeting of the Christehurch City Council, Cr J. O. Jameson moved that the Standing Orders be amended, so as to make a. maximum time allowance of 15 minutes iu respect of speeches in debates. His remarks in support were in keeping with his convictions as to brevity, as they occupied exactly half a minute. Cr C. S. Harper said that he was prepared to' second the motion, provided that a speaker could continue over the period at the unanimous request of the council. Cr H. F. Herbert supported Cr Harper's suggestion. Personally, he was always prepared to hear Cr Jameson for over 15 minutes. (Laughter.) Cr J. A. Flesher remarked that Xhe council had had an example of the operation of this rule 18 months ago when sittings of the council had gone on till 4 a.m. quite unnecessarily. (Laughter.) Still, he thought that 20 minutes was not too long for speakers on important subjects. It was time that the whole of the council's Standing Orders were revised. Cr Jameson intimated that he would accept a time limit of '2O minutes. Cr H. T. Armstrong considered that, if there were a time limit, councillors I would speak until the bell rang. "I. think this motion arises from a wish on the part of some of our councillors to get to bed early," said Cr A. McKellar. ■.,' The Mayor: Why do they come here, then? (Laughter.)