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show their ratification or otherwise of the line of conduct taken up by the Committee of the City Hall.—(Applause.)
The Chairman—Of course it is quite open for the shareholders and subscribers here to appoint another committee altogether than the standing committee, and it is quite competent for this meeting to-day to proceed to vote for and elect a committee.
Mr. Nelson—That would be another committee in addition to the one already standing?
The Chairman—No; a new committee. I have no doubt the present members would be ready to resign—I would do so myself—the old members to be eligible for re-election.
Hon. P. Ryrie—As I am the only person pointed at, the simplest way will be for me to resign, which I shall be happy to do.
The Chairman—There is the principle involved, which I think a very important one, that at these annual meetings there should be an election. I quite approve of it, and I have no doubt the election has fallen into abeyance from the non-attendance of the public in sufficient numbers. Occasionally, as I remarked before, the Committee has elected itself, but now we have so large an attendance here I think it would give weight to the Committee to feel they had the confidence of the shareholders and subscribers by being re-elected.
Mr. Nelson—I move a new Committee be elected. The object I have in view would not be met by the resignation of the Hon. Mr. Ryrie. I have already endeavoured to explain that I have really no personal feeling in the matter, and I wished to avoid pointing at any person. To express what I had to do, I could hardly avoid alluding indirectly to the hon. gentleman. I move that the committee for the coming year be now elected by ballot.
Hon. H. Ryrie—I think I ought to say my wish is rather to resign than otherwise, because, in the first place, I don't know that I have given much personal attention to the City Hall of late years, though I did in the earlier part of its existence. I suppose my duties were the most onerous of any. At one time I was the only committee man left in the Colony, but now there are so many gentlemen there is no necessity for my continuing.
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propose an amendment to Mr. Nelson's resolution, not only that the committee of the City Hall be re-elected, but that their action should meet with the thanks of this meeting.—(Applause.) I think it would be opening the doors to future abuses, very grave abuses, if a totally new committee were appointed now.
After some conversation between Mr. Nelson and Mr. Coxon, the amendment of the latter was reduced to writing and handed in,
The Chairman—It is proposed by Mr. Coxon, as Mr. Ryrie has resigned, that the remainder of the present committee be requested to remain in office.
Mr. Nelson—I will withdraw my motion and second that. The resolution was then put and carried nem. con.
The Chairman—There is no further business, gentlemen, unless you have anything to bring forward.
Mr. Nelson—There is one question I would like to ask in reference to this correspondence, see there is one letter, a rather important letter, addressed to the Government, dated 14th June, in which a request is made that copies of that letter and one of the 11th June, to which it is a reply, should be forwarded to the Secretary of State. I notice, on the last page of this pamphlet, that an inquiry was made on the 4th August as to whether a letter of the 13th May had been forwarded, and a somewhat curt reply is received that it had been forwarded. I note that no reference is made to the request at the end of the last two letters that they be sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and I beg to ask whether you have any information whether they have been forwarded or not.
The Chairman—It was taken for granted the request would be sufficient to ensure its going in the usual way, but as no mention is made of it in the reply from the Colonial Secretary's Office, I asked Mr. Dennys to-day to ascertain from the Colonial Secretary's Office whether the letters had been forwarded or not. He accordingly wrote. A reply has not yet been received, but I cannot doubt for a moment that the letter went forward in the ordinary course of official correspondence.
Mr. Nelson—I presume so; yes. It should.
The Chairman said that closed the business.
Mr. Nelson—I think, gentlemen, we should pass a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding at this meeting.
Carried by acclamation.
34
Dec.
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show their ratification or otherwise of the line of conduct taken up by the Committee of the City Hall.—(Applausc.)
The Chairman-Of course it is quite open for the shareholders and subscribers here to appoint another committee altogether than the stand- ing committee, and it is quite competent for this meeting to-day to pro- ceed to vote for and elect a committee.
Mr. Nelson-That would be another committee in addition to the one already standing?
The Chairman-No; a new committee. I have no doubt the pre- sent members would be ready to resign-I would do so myself-the old members to be eligible for re-election.
Hon. P. Ryrie-As I am the only person pointed at, the simplest way will be for me to resign, which I shall be happy to do.
The Chairman-There is the principle involved, which I think a very important one, that at these annual meetings there should be an election. I quite approve of it, and I have no doubt the election bas fallen into abeyance from the non-attendance of the public in suffi- cient numbers. Occasionally, as I remarked before, the Committee has elected itself, but now we have so large an attendance here I think it would give weight to the Committee to feel they had the con- fidence of the shareholders and subscribers by being re-elected.
Mr. Nelson-I move a new Committee be elected. The object I have in view would not be met by the resignation of the Hon. Mr. Ryrie. I have already endeavoured to explain that I have really no personal feeling in the matter, and I wished to avoid pointing at any person. To express what I had to do, I could hardly avoid al- luding indirectly to the hon. gentleman. I move that the committee for the coming year he now elected by ballot.
Hon. H. Ryrie-I think I ought to say my wish is rather to resign than otherwise, because, in the first place, I don't know that I have given much personal attention to the City Hall of late years, though I did in the earlier part of its existence. I suppose my duties were the most onerous of any. At one time I was the only committee man left in the Colony, but now there are so many gentlemen there is no necessity for my continuing.
Mr. Coxon-If you will allow me to say a word in regard to what has fallen from Mr. Nelson, I totally disagree with the way he has put it before the meeting. If it is Mr. Ryrie's intention to retire, I will
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propose an amendment to Mr. Nelson's resolution, not only that the committee of the City Hall be re-elected, but that their action should meet with the thanks of this meeting.-(Applause.) I think it would be opening the doors to future abusos, very grave abuses, if a totally new committee were appointed now.
After some conversation between Mr. Nelson and Mr. Coxon, the amendment of the lutter was reduced to writing and handed in,
The Chairman-It is proposed by Mr. Coxon, as Mr. Ryrie has resigned, that the remainder of the present committee bo requested to remain in office.
Mr. Nelson-I will withdraw my motion and second that, The resolution was then put and carried nem, con.
The Chairman-There is no further business, gentlemen, unless you have anything to bring forward.
Mr. Nelson-There is one question I would like to ask in reference to this correspondence, see there is one letter, a rather important letter, addressed to the Government, dated 14th June, in which a request is made that copies of that letter and one of the 11th June, to which it is a reply, should be forwarded to the Secretary of State. I notice, on the last page of this pamphlet, that an inquiry was made on the 4th August as to whether a letter of the 13th May had been forwarded, and a somewhat ourt reply is received that it had been for- warded. I note that no reference is made to the request at the end of the last two letters that they be sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and I beg to ask whether you have any information whether they have been forwarded or not.
The Chairman-It was taken for granted the request would be sufficient to ensure its going in the usual way, but as no mention is made of it in the reply from the Colonial Secretary's Office, I asked Mr. Dennys to-day to ascertain from the Colonial Secretary's Office whether the letters had been forwarded or not. He accordingly wrote. A reply has not yet been received, but I cannot doubt for a moment that the letter went forward in the ordinary course of official correspondence.
Mr. Nelson--I presume so; yes. It should.
The Chairman said that closed the business.
Mr. Nelson-I think, gentlemen, we should pass a vote of thanks
to the Chairman for presiding at this meeting.
Carried by acclamation.
34
Dec.
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