The Mayor In Angry Mood.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18546, 21 August 1928, Page 8

The Mayor In Angry Mood.

INCIDENTS AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING. APOLOGIES DEMANDED FROM TWO CITIZENS. There were several tense moments during the hearing of the deputation which waited ou the City Council last night for the purpose of asking that the proposals for enlarging the conveniences in the centre of Cathedral Square should be reconsidered. The first “breeze” occurred immediately after Mr W. Machin, one of the spokesmen for the deputation, had concluded his speech. Loud applause followed Mr Machin*s remarks, and. when it subsided, Councillor F. R- Cooke rose to his feet. He was just about to speak when Mr C. E. Boon, a member of the deputation, called across the Council Chamber to him to sit down. The Mayor immediately took cognisance of the incident, and, addressing Mr Boon severely, said that it was a very improper remark tor any member of a deputation to make. No one had a right to tell a councillor to sit down, and he would not allow the deputation to interfere with the conduct of the council’s meeting. “I am very much inclined to vacate the chair and refuse to hear, you any further,” he told the deputation. “J will certainly do so unless the man who made that remark apologises to the council for making it.” Mr Boon: I wish to apologise for making it. “It is time you did,” retorted the Mayor sharply. “Another thing,” he added, “is that at council meetings we cannot have any applause. This is not a public meeting either at half-past four p.m, or otherwise. We are quite pleased to have you here, but you must comply with the rules of the council.” Later in the meeting there was another “breeze,” when Mr George Gould apologised to the Mayor for addressing him as “My Lord.” The Mayor also complained that Mr Gould put out his tongue “like a Maori in a haka.” This, however, was apparently part of an involuntary grimace made by Mr Gould when he realised that he had addressed the Mayor incorrectly. The atmosphere also became somewhat tense at another stage, when Mr Machin objected to Councillor Sullivan accusing him of shuffling when giving an answer to a question. Mr Machin said that he preferred not to answer any more questions from Councillor Sullivan.