A MUNICIPAL GALE

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14321, 11 October 1910, Page 5

A MUNICIPAL GALE

COUNCILLOR CHALLENGED. OBJECTION TO PERSONAL VIOLENCE. At the met nt; °f tlio BoirougW Council lust night :i. b.ief but very, fierce brro/.o blow, metaphorically spaiking. It appeared that at a conim.ttee meet ng ol the County. l wi Eri-. clay n glit Councillor Watson objected' tu -Mr E. \V. Murchunt being heard at a committee meotiny;, un a matter, aireoting tlie nortli end septic tank. There was a bare quorum present, and in order to prevent Mr Marchant being heard Councillor Watson left thai meeting so that there would not be* a quorum and no lourther business), could be taken.

At the meeting of the Council last night, Councillor Watson said the. mutter or the septic tank trouble had no right to be brought up at a, eoin-i imttee meeting; it shouki have been, brought up ac a meeting which was '■ open to uu X'ress, and bu loiig as he was on the Council he intended to sen tJiat vliu i-atep.iyers got lair play. At this stage Councillor Sattertli* ' waite rose a.iivi objccLed to Councillor, Watson talking in this way. Thor» had been no suggestion of injustice, and Councillor Watson knew full well' that Mr Marchant was unable to attend the Monday night meeting of the i Council, and so it had been decided tol ,' hear him on Friday night. Councillor! ' Watson, alter having the information, brought to him, had run away from it., '■ Councillors Watson and Satterth- ■ waite here had a warm exchange of , compliments, speaking in stentorian, ' tones.

Councillor Watson said he would da precisely what lie liked. Ho would re- j main at or leave the meetings of the. ' Council just as ho liked and Caiincillorr ' Satterthwaite should not forget it./' Councillor Satterthwaite said it was unmanly of Councillor Watson to run r away from the business of the Coun- . cil as he had. i

This was the spark to the powder. "Will yon repeat that outside?" demanded Councillor Watson several times over, whereupon Councillor: Satterthwaite said he was saying it then to Councillor Watson's face. "Will you repeat it downstairs ?" demanded Councillor Watson again, the Deputy-Mayor looking on in silence while Councillor Oborn rose and entered an emphatic objection against any Councillor being threatened witii personal violence. Councillor Watson asked Councillor Satterthwaite again whether he would repeat that statement outside, and' answering the question himself said] "no, not by a jugful." Councillor Watson went on to speak of "Marchant," whereupon

Councillor Satterthwaite objected saying: Call the man by his proper name; learn manners and say "Mr. Marchant."

Councillor Watson said ho would say, what he Irked.

Councillor Sattertliwaite said the fact remained that when the information had been taken to Councillor Watson at the committee meeting on Friday night ho had run awav from it.

Councillor Berk said it was noif usual for Mr Marcliniifc to appear at the committee meetings, fcut th« Deputy-Mayor said it was.