THE MAYOR CRITICISED.

Upper Hutt Weekly Review, Volume I, Issue 20, 1 May 1936, Page 2

THE MAYOR CRITICISED.

Councillor Sutherland: Do you think yoti are doing- your job to the electors of this Borough carrying- on like this, your Worship ? I remember when a certain Councillor resigned from this Council some two years ago I was very much surprised, but I am not surprised after sitting- here for the last ten months. If I knew of a young man who could do the work, I would consider resigning, as I am getting- "fed up" with the way you carry on. If it was not for the expense of a bye-election I would place my resignation on the table at the next meeting. Councillor Blewman: The public know there is continual trouble somewhere in this Council, and I think -we ought to let these matters drop and get together in more unity of action than has been shown lately. Councillor Keys: I suggest to the Mayor that he take a hold on himself. The people put us here to do our job as Borough Councillors. While the Mayor keeps on this matter of ignoring his Council we cannot get on with any useful work. Why not try to work amicably together ? Councillor Howell stated that something would have to be done about it, and he thoughc the Mayor was perfectly wrong- in adopting the attitude he persisted in. I think the Mayor should ti-y and work with us and draw in his horns a bit and work in harmony -with the Council. Councillor Guthrie stated that in all his local body experience he had not known so much discord as latterly. "You should have more confidence in your team, your "Worship," he said. Councillor Baskett: I say the Council should resign as a body in protest. Councillor Keys: "What I want to know is, "Is it permissible for a Councillor to serve on the Highways Board or is it definitely the Mayor?" "We never see any reports from the Mayor as to what takes place at the Highway Board's meetings. If the Act allows the removal of you from the High-ways Board, I -would have no compunction about removing you, and as a protest I move "that a ruling be obtained on this matter from the Municipal Association's solicitors. 'May a Councillor be appointed as a representative on the City and Suburban High-ways Board, or has the Mayor of the Borough to be the member by virtue of his office'." Councillor Keys went on to say it was not clear from the reading of the Act -whether it was intended to restrict the representation to the Mayor only who was now on the Board. He suggested that if a Councillor was eligible a change might be made. Councillor Purvis supported the motion, -which -was carried. NOTICE OF MOTION. Councillor Guthrie moved as a notice of motion: "That all correspondence, whether Outward or Inward, emanating from the Borough Council or such Committees that may from time to time be appointed by the Borough Council, shall be dealt with by the Town Clerk." Councillor Guthrie stated they had an example of -what happened when the letter came before the Council dealing with the steam-heated carriages. Instead of coming to the Town Clerk it came to the Mayor, and it was not right. Councillor Greig seconded the motion. Carried.