FIVE AGAINST TWELVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10767, 13 May 1913, Page 1

FIVE AGAINST TWELVE.

LABOUR NOMINEES' MINORITY ON CITY COUNCIL. THREATS OF "FIGHT." HIGH WORDS IN THE CHAMBER. ELECTION OF COMMITTEES. The party spirit was very strongly manifested in the- City Council last night, when the five Labour members found themselves voting against a very j solid twelve ou the opposite side of municipal politics, and the proceedings savoured just as strongly of party government as if they had been occurring on the floor of Parliament. The first symptom of a" disagreement arose on the election of committees, when Councillor H, J. Otley moved that the number should be reduced from seven to five. A LABOUR PROTEST.: Councillor H. Hunter protested against the motion, stating that in the past much of the work of committees had been done without a quorum, and the tendency should be to increase the number. Councillor Otley said that the motion was aimed at securing a quorum. Councillor W. Millar said that the reason advanced was nonsensical, and Councillor Otley himself at the previous meeting of the Council had moved that the Works Committee should consist of the whole Council. Councillor J. M'Cullougli 6aid that the motion would tend to suppress councillors' knowledge of what went on in committee. Councillor Hunter moved an amendment that committees should consist of six members, apart from the Mayor, who would be a member exofficio. He said that members should be appointed irrespective of wards. Ho saw rio reason why the' Central Ward should have two members on each committee. A , councillor had that the Labour members were to be quashed in the appointment of committees, and it certainly looked like it. PARTY PROPORTIONS. Councillor J. M'Combs said that a list had been drawn up giving four seats to representatives of the Citizens' Association, and one to representatives of the Social Democratic Party. The Mayor: There is no Citizens' Association here. The Labour Party disclaims any partisanship, and I want to say there is nobody here representing ;tho Citizens' Association. Councillor M'Combs said that thero were those who were the nominees of the Citizens' Association, and they carried four - out of five of the seats on the most important committees, although thev did not represent the councillors in that proportion, nor the citizens in that proportion. At the election some 6000 persons had voted for Social De--mocratic candidates, and 9000 for the other side. The Labour candidates claimed two out of six seats, or, failing that, two out of five. Councillor F. Burgovne said that evi- ] dently it was a, clear-cut fight, and, if j so, he was quite prepared for a fight. . He was quite prepared to stay all night and conduct the whole of the business on the floor of the Council. , The amendment* was negatived by twelve votes to five, and the motion i was carried by the same majority, the voting being:—For the amendment, Councillors M'Combs, M'Cullougli, Hunter, Millar, and Burgoyne; against the amendment, Councillors Cooper, Hayward, Morten, Loasby, Scott, Dent, Williams, Taylor, Otley, Acland, Sorensen, and the Mayor. Councillor Millar immediately announced that he would sit on no committee, and his supporters stated that if they could not get two seats, on each committee they would not sit at all. A SERIES OF CHARGES^

Councillor Hunter maintained that the Labour members were not getting a " fair deal." He said.that the Mayor had informed him that a Councillor had stated that the Labour Party was going to be quashed. The Mayor denied the statement. He said that he had merely stated that it had been said that the party could be quashed,, not that it would be done. Councillor Hunter, continuing, said that there were those nominated for the Works Committee who were specially interested in companies supplying metal to the Council. Councillor Otley was a shareholder of the Glenmore Brick and Tile Company. Councillor Otley said that he held 100 shares in the company. Councillor Hunter: That is a confirmation of my remark. Councillor Otley: None but a director is barred from sitting on a local body. Continuing, Councillor Hunter said that Councillor Acland was interested indirectly with a firm acting for the Halswell Quarry Company in liquidation. Councillor Acland said that he had* nothing to do with the firm. His partner might have,, but he did not know that the company was in liquidation. The Mayor: Will you accept these statements, Councillor Hunter? Councillor Hunter: They merely confirm my remarks. Will Councillor Acland challenge the records of the Stamp Office? That is where I got my information. In October, 1911, Wilding and Acland were acting as solicitors for the company. Councillor Acland: I believe they registered the company, but I do not think they are acting for them at all. THE PARTY SPIRIT. Councillor Hunter, continuing, said that he was raising these matters because he thought an effort was being made to put him off the Works Committee, on which he had given good and faithful service. The Mayor said that Councillor Hunter was nominated. Councillor M'Combs replied that either they would take two seats or none. Councillor Sorensen remarked that the boot was on tlio other foot now. Two years ago the Labour Party had been dominant in the Council, and three times running the late Mr Taylor had given' his casting vote for the Labour Party. " We had to put up with it, but not for long," said Councillor Sorensen. He added that committees had been appointed on the same basis. Councillor Hunter hotly remarked that Mr Taylor had drawn up a list of committees and it had been accepted without comment. "Yes," said the Mayor; "that was so. You yourself were on four, and T was on two. That was about the proportion all through." Councillor Hunter: I had nothing to do with it. The Mayor: And neither did I. AN EXPLANATION. Councillor Acland at this stage explained that after telephoning he was informed that his partner had been acting for the Halswell Quarry CompanvT Up till that moment, however, lie had not known of it. (Cries of 11 Oh!") The Mayor's attention was cailed to the fact tlic.t occuna-nts of the public

gallery were applauding, and/he announced that he could not allow any expressions of approval or otherwise to come from that quarter. Councillor A. S. Taylor said that there was no comparison between Councillor, Otley's remote connection with the Glen more Brick Company and the fact that Councillor Hunter, was the paid servant of many of the Council employees. . Councillor M'Combs: And that is why lie is to bo put off? Councillor Taylor: Personally, 1 would vote against any man under the circumstances. Councillor M'Combs, in reply to Councillor Taylor's criticism of the proportions sought on the committees, said that the Labour Party expected two seats out of five because it could not get two out of six, its right proportion. By what right did the nominees of the' Citizens' Association claim four seats out of five, when their proportion at the polls was only 60 per e?nt? The attempt to quash the Labour Party had Tseen apparent when Councillor Burgoyne had been put off the Fire Board. Councillor M'Cullough repeated that Labour members were prepared to fight out the Council's business on tho floor of the Council. The nominations being put to a ballot Councillors Acland. Otlev, Loasby, Dent and Millar were elected. PROTESTS DISREGARDED. Councillor Millar declined to act on the committee but the Mayor remarked that he could not accept the resignation. The committee could go along with four members. Councillor Sorensen ny>ved that the Finance Committee should consist' of Councillors Burgoyne, Taylor, M'Combs Morten and Sorensen. Councillors Burgoyne and M'Combs declined to sit on the committee, but the Mayor disregarded their protest, and put the motion. Councillor M'Combs demanded to know whether a Councillor could be put on a committee against his will. The Mayor replied that no Councillor had a right -to dictate as to what committee he ■ should sit on. It was his duty to act a s the Council decided. He said that every ward had one representative on each committee, and every committee at least one Labour member on it. Councillor A. M. Loasby said that ho thought the Social Democrats were acting unfairly. On four of the seven committees, two Social Democratic candidates were nominated. Councillor M'Cullough: Yes, you are putting two, on the Bathe Committer Councillor Loasby said that the principle of two members for the Central Ward and one for each of the other wards was quite right. A COMPROMISE. Councillor Hunter moved that the Council should adjourn as a protest against " what was being done." He said that he had been returned to see that Council employees got a fair deal, which they had not had up till two years ago. He stated that up,till the appointment of two Labour members on the Works Committee pandemonium had reignea outside the Council Chambers on several occasions. v Councillor Millar seconded the motion for adjournment, remarking that it would be well'tor'thS"Council-to cool down. The Council looked for a Greater Christehurch, but the proceedings, of that night would tend to make outside bodies wait a while. He wished to see the removal of the party spirit, but if lie mentioned what he know, it would show that some gentlemen at the Council table were not legally entitled to sit there. Councillor Taylor raised a point of order regarding tho remark. The Mayor ruled the remark out of order. Councillor Millar retorted that he had been expressing an opinion merely. He added that the business of the Council was likely to become very troublesome. Councillor M'Combs said that the Labour councillors were prepared to accept the list as prepared by caucus in Councillor Acland's* office, so long as four Labour councillors' names were added to it. Councillor G. Scott said that 'he would like to see a way out of the difficulty, and he thought that the Labour members were not being fairly treated in tho proportion of lour to one. Councillor Taylor suggested that the Council should adjourn for fifteen minutes, to allow Councillors Acland and M'Combs and the Mayor and himself to oonfer regarding the representation. Councillor Hunter, in accepting the suggestion, said that the Mayor in pleading for a second.term of office had argued that it took twelve months to get into the work of a committee, and his attitude had been most inconsistent when it came to the appointment of committees. A DEADLOCK. The adjournment was agreed on, lasted half an hour, but on resuming the Mayor reported that he had no recommendation to make. Councillor M'Combs added that lie had stood for proportional representation and the right of his party to nominate its own members of committee. The conference had objected to his first nominee for the first committee. Councillor Taylor said that the conference had been prepared to recommend that the more important cimmittees should consist of six members, leaving the appointments to a ballot. Councillor M'Combs said that this was so, except that the conference had rejected his nominees for the Works Committee. Councillor Hunter said that he was the bone of contention on the Works Committee, and he submitted tho sporting offer that® the nominees' names for that committee should be put in a hat and drawn. Councillor Loasby suggested that if Councillor Hunter's name were added to the Works Committee, increasing it to six, tho Social Democrats would abide by the subsequent ballots. He added that he did not think that a paid employee of Council workers should be on tho Works Committee, but ho was prepared to move in tho direction indicated. Councillor M'Combs said that the proposal was quite acceptable. Tho motion was carried. OTHER COMMITTEES. The Council proceeded to other committees, which, were elected as follow : Finance. —Couwil'ors Sorensen, Morton, M'Combs, Taylor, M'Cullough and Burgovne. Elrctriri'y. Councillors Hay ward, •\olnnd, S-."ott, Taylor, Cooper and M'Cullough. Abattoir. Reserves, .Market? and Public Health. Councillors Otley, Hay ward, Loasby, Dent and Hunter. Water-supply, - - Councillors Cooper, Morten, Scott, Williams and Millar. RaMisv■-O'r'.ucillnrs Coojior, Acland, M'Combs, IVnt and Bur.-.wyne. Band = .-• -Councillors Sorensen, LoaK-_ by. William;;, M C onibs and M'Cullough. It, was decided to add Messrs J. A. Frostick, E. A. M. Leaver and A. Kayo as associate members of the Organ Committer.