Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3719600
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A STORM IN A TEA-CUP
AN ALDERMANIC SQUABBLE.
FOR the delectation of our readers, and the special edification of the Brisbane corpora- tion, we subjoin a condensed account of a lively squabble in the Council of the Shell- harbour Municipality, taken from the co- lumns of the Illawarra Mercury.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21.
The Council met at 10 o'clock on Friday morning, and finished its sitting at half past two o'clock on Saturday morning, (this is certainly getting quite parliamentary.)
Present-the full Council.
The debate on the fixing of the rate of Assessment having been postponed at the last meeting,
Councillor Moles rose to resume the debate. Councillor James wished the examination of the Assessment Roll to be attended to first, and considered that, as it was the first motion standing on the paper, it should be
entertained first.
Explanations were made to the effect that it was out of order, and the adjourned de- bates must take precedence.
Councillor James then moved, and Coun- cillor Martin seconded, " That the Standing Order of the day be suspended in order to give Councillor Wilson an opportunity of bringing forward the motion standing in his
name."
Councillor Dunster moved, and Councillor McGill seconded, the previous question. The Council divided, and the amendment
was carried.
Councillor Moles then moved that the rate of Assessment bo fixed at lOd. in the pound. Ho said that at the previous meeting, 9d. in the pound had been proposed by Councillor Wilson. He (C. M.) thought thac there could be little objection to making one penny more of it ; this small addition would raise a sum which would be very useful, and would be bringing up the revenue to some- thing near what his idea of the amount of
the revenue should be.
Councillor McGill said the penny extra* proposed by Councillor Moles was no trili-
to him. He believed himself to bo one ol the largest rate-payers in the Municipality and, in his case, it would amount to a sun by no means trifling. But, as ho saw tin difficulty there would bo in raising an ade- quate revenue for tho requirements of tin Municipality, and seeing how desirable'foi this end the extra penny would be, he woul<>
second the motion.
Councillor James moved, as an amend- ment, and Councillor Martin seconded, that the rate of assessment be sixpence in th< pound. Councillor James said that bp had expressed his de-ire that the rate should not be fixed upon till the roll was examined feeling certain that, when the correction« were made in it, a considerable addition to the revenue would be obtained, and a six- penny rate would then be seen tobo enough. He would have preferred delaying his motioi
until the roll was examined. He supposed he should be called popularity hunting, but he did not care for that.
Councillor Dunster wished to know where the money would be found for improving tht Municipality, after Council cxpensos had been met, if a sixpenny rate was laid on The people would be wanting to know what they were doing to the roads.
Councillors Collins, Russell, and Wilson said tln-y would advocate a nineponny rate.
[I should here mention that it was Coun- cillor Collins who seconded Councillor Wil son's motion for a ninepenny rate at the previous meeting, which, by some inadver- tence of your reporter's, was not mentioned.]
Tho chairman said that ho did not think that with the additional sum that might bi obtained by correcting the roll, that a suffi cient sum would be secured by a sixpenny rate to be of any uso to the Municipality; it would only be employing officers for carrying out works which they would never bo able ti
pay for. He had intended advocating a nine penny rate. His only alternative, now that the motion for that rate was withdrawn, wit- to advocate the one nearest to it, and, a tenpence was nearer to ninopence than v was to sixpence, ho must give his support ti a tenpenny rate. But, to support a sixpenny rato would be to throw contempt upon tin Municipality, and mike the Council a laugh- ing stock to the public. Tho expenses couh only just bo met with as'xpcnny rate, tosa^ nothing of carryiug on works.
The Council thon divided,
For a tonponny rate-Councillors Dunster. Moles, M'Gill, and Russell For a sixpenny rate-Councillors James and Marlin.
Councillor Collins expressed his disappro- bation of the proceedings. Ho considered that his motion far a nincpanny rate had no1 been dealt fairly with. Ile believed that ii Councillor Moles had wanted a shilling rate he would have obtained it.
Explanations wero made by tho chairman and others, to CouncillorOolllns,'totlio effeel that, as tho motions for a shilling and n ninopenny rate wore, by consent of the Council, withdrawn at the last meeting, in order to begin " de novo," to fix tho rate this day, thny oould nof bo any longes in force ti* motions { and that, thorofore, if any Coun- cillor wishod for either of tho abn';g.name(] rates, lie must this day make a fresh motion to that effect; and, as they had not availed themselves of the opportunity of doing so, it was now too lato tobo bringing forward any other rate. Tho chairman considered that a slur had been thrown upon the whole Council by Councillor Collins' remark about Coun- cillor Moles.
Then ensued quite a storm in the house. I must refrain from reporting all tho hard words that wero exchanged. I can only characterise it as extremely disgraceful to some ono in particular of tho Councillors, but I would not mention names; perhapB I should do so in justice to othor Councilh rs, and moy bo yet called upon to do so; but, at present, I refrain.
Councillor M'Gill rose to order, and wish- ed to know if a word of debato should bo allowed when a question had. beeu de»,
oMed, *
Councillor Moles, wished to resign his seat, and bogged the Council to accept his resignation, if the Council would not inflict the "fine. He left the Council, giving the Councillors time to take his proposal into
consideration.
A note from the Chairman informed him that no Councillor should be allowed to va- cate his seat otherwise than upon the con- ditions provided by the Act. I think the Chairman expressed himself desirous of re-
signing if he could only do so without I pecuniary loss ; and I know that the I Clerk would indeed' be glad to give up his office, if one individual, for want of common sense, is to disturb and annoy him, and the whole Council, whenever he thinks proper. It is, indjed, to be hoped, for the prosperity of the Municipality, and the credit of the Council, that such disgraceful scenes may not be agiin repealed.
Aftir the raging storm had somewhat
calmed,
It was moved by Councillor Dunster, " That a cash credit be obtained for £500 from the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank." Seconded by Councillor
Russell.
Councillor James moved as an amendment, '' That the Assessment Roll be examined be- fore the cash credit was decided upon." Seconded by Councillor Martin.
On being put to the Council the original
motion was carried.
On the motion of Councillor Wilson, se- conded by Councillor Dunster, the whole Council went into Committee to examine the Assessment Roll. The examination of the Roll was not completed till after iwo o'clock on Saturday morning.