TENSE INTERLUDE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20625, 28 May 1935, Page 3

TENSE INTERLUDE.

Mayor and Councillor Exchange Words. BITTER REMARKS. Exceedingly bitter words between the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) and Councillor W. Hayward, M.L.C.. marked last evening’s meeting of the City Council. At one stage during the discussion on the composition of the By-Laws and Finance Committee the Mayor said, ‘‘lf I -make any congratulatory remarks to the council I hope Councillor Hayward will consider himself omitted from those remarks.” The trouble arose when opposition was expressed to the Mayor’s suggestion that Councillor J. S. Barnett should be appointed to the committee instead of Councillor T. Milliken. A remark by Councillor Hayward incensed the Mayor, who at one stage accused Councillor Hayward of party hatred and personal bitterness. Both the participants in the clash expressed their opinions that apologies were due to them, but the dispute was brought to a close by the adjournment of the council. Prior to that the committee had been elected as proposed by the Mayor, after the Citizens’ Association members had decided, during a short adjournment, to fall in with the Mayor’s suggestion. After Councillor M. E. Lyons had moved that Councillor Milliken, and not Councillor Barnett, should sit on the committee, the Mayor declared that he did not think that even in the worst days of party bitterness had such a thing been done as was suggested by the Citizens’ Association in allowing the Labour Party to have only one representative, apart from the Mayor, on such an important committee as the By-Laws and Finance Committee. He did not think that the Citizens’ Association members would feel easy about the position. He thought it was a very wrong thing. Councillor Hayward: I don’t agree with that. “I can only say that Councillor Hayward’s heart is as hard as ever,” declared the Mayor. ‘‘lf I make any congratulatory remarks to the council I hope Councillor Hayward will consider himself omitted from those remarks,” the Mayor went on. “There are some things it is very hard tp overlook. I regret the proposal to inflict an injustice on the Labour Party.” When the council was on the point of adjourning. Councillor Hayward said that he desired to make an explanation. “ I feel that you misunderstood me. or you would not have made the personal attack you did.” said Councillor Hayward to the Mayor. “My remarks had no sting. You said the act of not allowing two members of the Labour Party on the committee was wr<ng. I merely chose to disagree with you on that, for I could not admit it was a wrong act. I was not

the only cne who thought so. but was the only one who said so, and I think your attack was most unwarranted. Once your side was put to the Citizens’ Association members they agreed that your suggestion was the right one, and I regret that you thought wise to make a personal attack on me.” The Mayor suggested that they should ‘ bring an evening of recrimination to a close by adjourning.” and the council then rose. The district electors’ roll contained 62.224 names, of whom Go per cent voted, as compared with 57 per cent at the 1933 elections. The cost of the election was £2730 9s oci. as compared with £2303 17s 3d for the 1933 elections. The approximate c<sst of each 1000 votes recorded was as follows: 1927. £2O; 1929, £l7 3s 9d • 1931 £l6 7s 4d; 1933, £lB 4s; 1935. £l7 Is 3d.