MONTHLY MEETINGS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4232, 17 January 1940, Page 7

MONTHLY MEETINGS

BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSION. TOO MUCH TIME WASTED. During the monthly meeting of Te Awamutu Borough Council on Monday evening there was reference to the frequency of Council meetings. It was proposed bjgjr W f . J. North to revert to the sjj(Pm of holding fortnightly meetings of the Council. Cr J. C. Montefiore seconded. Cr J. A. Maxwell suggested meeting every three weeks. Cr C. J. Spiers said the Council could do all the business at monthly meetings. Fortnightly meetings were often prolonged until midnight, and better attention to business would see monthly meetings shortened. Cr A. C. Brookes expressed similar views. A lot of useless discussion could be dispensed with. Cr J. Sterritt supported these views. Cr Montefiore pointed out that the works committee. was, with-’ monthly meetings of the Council, often at a disadvantage in that the committee lacked authority to proceed with needed work. He had had long experience, and favoured fortnightly meetings. The Mayor (Mr G. Spinley) said that with monthly meetings a lot of work had to be delegated to committees. That was not in the best interests of the ratepayers. Cr Brookes said it was ridiculous to suggest that the works committee could not plan its work a month ahead. Cr Montefiore said borough work had been absolutely neglected since the Council agreed to meet only once a month. Cr L. S. Armstrong pointed out that special meetings could be called when necessary. Cr North said that formerly no new business was accepted after 10 p.m., and that shortened meetings. The Mayor said he might have been too easy, but he wanted all councillors to have opportunity to express their views. The proposal was defeated, only the Mayor and Crs North and Montefiore voting for it.