CHRISTMAS PICTURES

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14264, 15 January 1920, Page 5

CHRISTMAS PICTURES

FLOUTING THE COUNCIL. AMUSING CONTRETEMPS. ANTI-CLIMAX TO MEETING. An amusing contretemps was created at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last night, when a discussion on the question of whether the proprietors of the Theatre Royal and King's Pictures should be prosecuted for showing on Christmas night in contravention to the Council's ruling, nearly brought the meeting to a sudden and unexpected termination. The question was raised by Cr. Lowry as to what was the Council's position, seeing that it had refused permission for the showing of pictures on Christinas night and that its ruling had been openly flouted. Cr. Tombs said he belisved the Council could prosecute in the matter, but had the theatres closed down the town, to his mind, would have been held up to ridicule, as it was probably the only town-in the Dominion that was refused permission to hold picture entertainments on Christmas night. Cr". Barton: That is hardly the question.

Cr. Tombs added that undoubtedly the people wanted pictures on Christmas night, as was evidenced by the large houses. Auckland had not onlygranted permission for the showing of pictures, but also"- for other forms of entertainment.

Cr. Barton said he was not going to question the merits or otherwise of Christmas picture shows, but the Council had given its dictum and it must either uphold its position or hold up its hand and say it had made a mistake. If the picture people had opposed the Council's will in thi.s matter, he certainly thought the Council should proceed acainst the offenders just as it would in the case of any other breakers of the law. The Council should certainly not stultify itself by sitting down and takin.o: no action in the matter.- He was certainly not prepared to attend further meetings if the Council was going to allow its ruling-j to be defied in this 'manner without action being taken.

Cr. Tombs at this point rose and said that as he was a director of the company concerned, he would quit the chamber and so leave the Council to an unhampered discussion of the subject.

«Cr. Howden, also beir.g a director, followed the example of Cr. Tombs, which left the meeting without a quorum.

This fact was pointed out by Cr. Barton, who remarked that the action of the two Councillors practically ended the matter, for-the meeting could proceed no further with it. Cr. Burrow: Then I move,.that the matter be referred to the next meeting. ~ :»i Cr. Bftrton: You have no right to move anything. We - have not a quorum. ' ■. .,-.

Cr. Lowry: Then the meeting lapses and we cannot proceed with further business.

Cr. Barton declared, -that according to the standing orders, Councillors present at a meeting refusing to vote when called upon were liable, tp-a fine of £5. The deputy Mayor (Mr J. McKinnon) said the Municipal Corporations Act appeared to overrule the standing orders, and they prohibited a councillor from voting on any question in which he was financially interested. He saw no reason why Crs. Howden and Tombs should not occupy their seats during the discussion. They need not vote on the question. Cr. Howden, who had by this time re=umed h:s seat, still leaving the meeting one short of the requisite number, s*aid that according to Cr. Barton he would be liable to a fine if he sat there and not vote if called upon to do so. . -

Cr. Burrow suggested that the matter be left to the borough solicitor to deal with.

The Deputy-Mayor said the position raised a technical point upon which he would not care to give a decision. Eventually, after further discussion, and as there was no motion before the meeting. Cr. Tombs resumed bis serf, and as no further mention was made of pictures, ordinary business was proceeded with. ' . -...•-