POINTS OF ORDER.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17787, 12 August 1929, Page 11

POINTS OF ORDER.

QUESTIONS OF PROCEDURE NAPIER COUNCILLORS DISCIPLINED Brushes between the Mayor and councillors on points of procedure were fairly frequent at the last meeting of the Napier City Council. At one stage Cr. P. Higgins remarked, after several members had spoken more than once on the same subject, that the Mayor and some of the councillors were approaching a record-breaking performance. The remark was greeted with laughter from the councillors, and the -Mayor closed the discussion. During general business councillors and the Mayor were more than onec at cross purposes. The Mayor commenced by staling that only questions and answers could be taken during general business, but immediately Cr. W. G. Martin rose and made a speech culminating in the carrying of a vote of thanks to a family that had made a handsome donation to the council. Cr. A. E. Bedford then rose and commenced to speak, but the Mayor interjected to say that only questions and answers could be taken.

Cr. P. Higgins: You have become strict all of a sudden, sir. Cr. Bedford: What I was going to say, Mr Mayor, was “You Cannot Say Anything.” The Mayor: You cannot say anything. You must only ask questions f and receive answers. Cr. Bedford: Well, sir, just let me say this The Mayor: You cannot say anything, I tell you. Kindly resume your seat. After some further argument between tile Mayor and Cr. Bedford, in which the latter tried to explain to the Mayor what lie was going to say, and the Mayor repeatedly told Cr. Bedford that he could only ask questions and receive answers, Cr. Bedford sat down.

Several other councillors rose in turn to speak, and before each one commenced the Mayor would ask, "Is it a question you are going to ask?” amidst laughter from the councillors. After several questions had been asked Cr. A. Mayne rose and commenced to make a speech, but Cr. Higgins objected and Cr. Mayne was ruled out of order.

“We will be here all night if councillors introduce controversial subjects in general business,” said Cr. Higgins. “You are out of order, absolutely.” (Laughter.) Later on Cr. Bedford rose to speak again. The Mayor: Is this a question you are going to ask? (Laughter.) “Give the Man a Chance.” Cr. Higgins: Oh, give the man a chance. Let him have a fair go. The Mayor: That’s all right. I am running the meeting. You can't bustle me, you know. Cr. Higgins: Goodness gracious, sir.

I am not trying to bustle you. Cr. Bedford: Just let me explain what I want to know, sir, and then you can see if you will allow the point. The Mayor: You can't explain anything. Just ask the question. Cr. Bedford again sought to speak, but the Mayor commanded him to resume his seat.

Several more questions were asked by different councillors, and then Cr. Bedford rose again.

“Is it a question?” demanded the Mayor, amidst renewed laughter. Cr. Bedford: Yes, sir. I want to know when I can introduce the business I wish to have discussed, if I can't do it during general business when can I?

The Mayor: Oh, write a letter or something, or introduce it whenever you like. Cr. Bedford: Well, I would like to introduce it now, sir. (Laughter.) The Mayor: "You can only ask questions during general business. Cr. Bedford could be seen in whispered conversation with Cr. Martin, who sits next lo him, and there was loud laughter when Cr. Martin rose and asked the questions Cr. Bedford had been seeking to put, and received an answer from the engineer. Cut Short by Mayor. Cr. Martin commenced to explain that as members of the committee in charge of cutting back dangerous corners he and Cr. Bedford wished to be fortified by an engineering opinion on a certain point, but the Mayor cut him short, stating he could not make a speech, amidst the laughter of the other councillors.

Cr. Higgins rose and said that he happened to know that the business Cr. Bedford and Cr. Martin had been seeking to advance had been urgent business, and Parliamentary practice provided The Mayor: You cannot discuss Parliamentary practice now.

Cr. Higgins: I was just suggesting, sir, that matters of urgency could be taken without notice.

The Mayor: This is general business, and you can only ask questions, not make statements.

Cr. Higgins protested that the Mayor was not being very considerate, and a few minutes later the meeting closed.