Mr J oyce again to the Front.
“ SOWED THE WIND AND HEAPED THE WHIRLWIND.” NOW THREATENS LITIGATION.
Nzwsfapkb readers often wonder bow it is that the papers still manage to come out with n variably the same quantity of reading matter> whether Parliament is in session or ont of session, whether Harbor Boards are in a state of eruption or quiescence, whether there are many or only a few horrors to be recorded. But Providence—or the arch fiend—neglects not the newsman, When all else fails, there is the big pumpkin and such like subjects to fall back upon, but it seldom comes to that, for before that stage is reached there is—Mr Joyce! He is the newsman’s friend, though ho may not know it. In busy times, if Mr Joyce were less übiquitous, bis existence would hardly be known, but when there is a scarcity of interesting topics, Mr J. comes to the front right manfully. He is death on morning papers, but he speaks so nicely of them that morning papers are not likely to object to it—the Stasdabd staff do not, any way. It is rather a high compliment (before dinner) to be compared to some of those savoury dishes which are produced in the culinary department, and one cannot be surprised that any civic dignitary should like to “ eat them up ”; but then the most wholesome food does not usually agree with disorganised systems. At the last meeting of the 8.C., Councillor Joyce moved, in accordance with his motion, to the effect that Councillors should attend to their business. THE CHARGE. The mover of the proposition began in a ealm and unimpassioned style, and his voice gradually grew in force until its volume would search every corner in the Council room, and was calculated to reach the consciences of other Councillors, if they were ao gifted. ►.Then the speaker broke out into a broad smile, reminding ns of something we have read of a benevolent counsellor (not Councillor) chiding his erring children, He said hit motion was proposed an the broad principle that any gentleman going there as a Councillor went to look to the welfare of the persons whom he represents, no matter what the opposition might be. Those persons should wait and see the discussion out. There was nothing personal or animus imported into the thing, although there had peen a “ good deal of mud slung at him in both those miserable rags of papers,*’—one of which (the Standard) gives the filthy dose for breakfast and the other for supper, and the doses were very badly oooked at that, If they looked at the welfare of the public. Instead of [" trying to blackball him and throw dust in his face," they might be of gome benefit to the district, but he did not think they would gain their object in trying to do him an injury. It was tbe bounden duty of Councillors to wait while a thing was discussed whether they were for or against it. If they ware all of one opinion they would either be all fools or all wise men. He tried to do hjs beat and only hoped that others would do the same, A SZCOniB POUND : AM A7OLOGT BZqttaSTZD. There was a pause, after which Cr Harding rose and said: I second the paction, Cr Coleman thought it was a pity the motion had been brought on ; he had hoped that Cr Joyce would have thought fit to come to that meeting and withdraw his motion, There was nothing in the motion itself—it seemed to him a childish one. Cr Joyce should attend the Council meetings in a state befitting hie position ae Councillor, They should set their faces against tolerating such conduct as that at the previous meeting. He thought an apology was due to the Council from Cr Joype. Of course that Councillor’s object was plain enough—his motion was a reflection on the other Councillors. He moved to the effect that an apology was due from Cr Joyce on account of hie conduct at the previous meeting—[it would bring us witbin the law of libel if we printed the motion as worded], Cr Harding said when he seconded the motion he thought it was meant in a general Cr Coleman said even if that were so, they might have such motions without end. The Chairman said the motion was just as unnecessary as it was for him to propose that members should come there with their boots on. Cr Dunlop agreed with Cr Coleman. There was nothing in the motion, but when they considered the cause of its origin it bore a very bad complexion. If they were to pass the motion it would be simply placing one who was guilty in the place of judging those who were innocent. It would be ridiculous forthem to shut their eyes as to the reason why the motion was brought forward. Bearing fn mind the way in which Cr Joyce came to the previous meeting of the Council and the manner in which he acted, an apology was certainly due from him. At the previous meeting he ignored the ruling of the Chairman, and any other member who attempted to speak got roundly abused, and simply were not allowed to speak at all. If they were going to allow a repetition of what occurred at the previous meeting, it would be better to close the Council altogether. If Cr Joyce acted in a manly way" he would acknowledge his fault and make the apology asked. He (Cr Dunlop) would second the amendment. Cr Lewis said he was one of those who had * c v v ? eet ’ D ß • he explained the reason why he had done so, and alluded to Cr Joyce’s temperament at the previous meeting, and if the same circumstances occurred again, he would feel it a duty to himself that he should take the same course of action. He had the honor of being elected to the Council vfchree times, and no one could say that he had not attended to the duties. It was absurd that if a Councillor came there in a certain condition, and wasted the time of the Council, he should come there again and make motions without any sense in them. He (Cr Lewis) came there to attend to business. Cr Luc»s was also one of those who left the Council at the previous meeting, because of what had happened. He returned again, but finding that Cr Joyce still kept up an interminable discussion on a subject that had been settled, heat last left in disgust. He would take the same course again if the time of the Council were taken up in such a frivolous manner. He was astonished at Cr Joyce’s andacity in proposing such a motion as the one before them, in the face of his conduct at the previous meeting. Cr Townley would vote for the amendment. He had been a Councillor for a good while, and was not going to sit still under a motion of that kind. If it were allowed to pass it would be casting a reflection on themselves. It was their duty to carry the amendment as a set off against the motion, which it was perfectly ridiculous to have proposed at all. He ventured to say that if the records were taken, not another Council in the Colony would have a better record than the Gisborne one for the way members attended the meetings, A RBfUECWOS, OB KONgZKSB. The Chairman regretted very much that the motion had been brought forward, Perhaps, in his desire to promote harmony in the Council, he hadnot done what he ought to have done at the previous meeting ; he should, perhaps, have said hard things and been severe. ' Very often one thought f* the least said the soonest mended.” It was better sometimes to let things go on peacefully, but when it earns to making a reflection on absent Councillors he had not tolerated it. Apart from the waste of time he would signally fail in his duty to the Council if he allowed any member to cast an aspersion ou the way they conducted the business of the Borough. Ever since he had the honor of sitting in that chair he had pever had the smallest cause of dissatisfaction with the attendance of Councillors, which was uncommonly good. There was pearly always a full Council, and the measures before them had always been well considered. However members might differ, f they came there with the one intent of ' honestly and truly doing their duty to the ratepayers who elected them, and there could not possibly be a more honest Council than that was. If the motion meant anything it was a reflection on the Council [Cr Joyed No. j Thant hey must only conclude it was a great waste til time, It would have been better bnd the thing been allowed to drop
The only satisfactory course he could see open to Cr Joyce, under the circum stances, was to withdraw his motion, and express regret that it had been placed there. Cr Coleman had no doubt the motion was intended as a reflection on members. He was sorry Cr Joyce pressed the motion, but as it was the only thing they could do was to pass the amendment.
ANOTHER SPEECH. —DEFIANCE.
The Mayor was going to put the amendment when Cr Joyce claimed a right to speak again. The Mayor said no Councillor had responded when he asked if any others wished to speak. Cr Joyce was therefore not then entitled to speak; but he wished to give him every allowance, and would permit him to speak again. Cr Joyce then began again. The amendment oast a great reflection on himself, and if it were passed fifty times he would not apologise. He had not insulted tbe Council, he had used mild and calm words during the time he wag speaking. He thought "it was an assumption on the part of men who were absent to have the audacity to get up and ask him to apologise." It was put into their mouths by that morning’s Standard. If they were not acting upon the suggestion of that morning’s paper, of which they were members, then it belied them. The Chairman, and Crs Coleman and Townley were members of that Company. If he had said anything disparagingly or disrespectfully of Councillors he would apologise. [Cr Whinray : Hear, hear.] But he had never spoken harshly or insultingly, or detrimentally to the character of any Councillor. If he moved any motion there were some imputations and insinuations made by other Councillors. That was not the straight way to work. Let him be treated the same as any other Councillor. When Cr Lewis was Mayor, he (the speaker) had carried a motion by five to four, and yet it had been given against him. He could make other assertions equally correct. [Or Lewis parenthetically remarked that the one just made was not correct.] It was correct. (Laughter. ) He said nothing “ out of the bounds of civility and civilization ’’ when he was speaking at the previous meeting. Those members who were away were going by what they saw in that morning’s paper. He was not going to be blinded either by the morning paper or the evening paper, both of which had thrown enough mud in his face. Other Councillors were made of the same flesh and blood as he was, and they ought to have the patience to wait and see a thing out. [Cr Lewis suggested that their patience had been exhausted.] If a thing was worth having it was worth discussing. Misrepresentations had been made by both papers as to the length of time he took. [Subdued laughter at reporters' table ] He had seen the time when the Council had eat until twelve and one o’clock. He would not apologise until he was asked by the ratepayers who returned him at the head of the poll. Members talked about his " not being in a fit state.'' He was in a " fit state," and had been at all times. It was not the first time this crime had been charged to him because he spoke out determinedly. There was more venom in people who spoke softly than in him, " who spouts out what he has to say." Representatives of ratepayers who did not send him there would get no satisfaction out of Joyce, and that was his name, Their “ little oracles for hiring I? "ireing ’’] him would not work ” —he got rather badly cooked tucker [a joke ?] He would now withdraw the motion if Cr Ooleman withdrew the amendment—(laughter) — but not without. (Laughter.) He would never have put the motion in if it was an insult, THAT MORNING FAFKB AGAIN.
It was pointed out to Cr Joyce that the motion insinuated that Councillors did not attend to their duties, and Cr Joyce again referred to what had appeared in that morning's Standard,
Tbe Mayor said they were not there to notice what appeared In the papers—the papers took up their views on public matters, hut they were not there to discuss those views. The members who had left were per. fectly justified in doing so, to prevent the possibility of angry words arising, and offensive words being used, as Or Joyce sometimes referred to Councillors by name, He ought to have called Or Joyoe to order and asked him to retire, or have adjourned the Council until the following day, but he had thought it best tn be forbearing, and not make the affair more prominent than could be helped, Cr Joyce denied it all, and was continuing the discussion, when the Mayor said be had better get up and make another speech, at the same time telling him he was very imperti. nent, and it was almost impossible to shut his mouth.
There was then a chance to put the amendment, which was carried, only Cr Joyce seemingly being against. Cr Joyce claimed that there were two against and on Cr Harding being asked if he had voted against, be said he had seconded tbe motion.
Cr Dunlop thought Cr Joyce should take opportunity of apologising, as they did not wish the matter brought up at another meeting of the Council.
Or Joyce : I will apologise in the Court, [The inference being that he would give the lawyers a field day of it.] Cr Coleman said the amendment having been carried, Cr Joyce ought to apologise, but he did not think it necessary to push the matter further. The Mayor said Cr Joyoe ought to apologise, bu l his only response was that it would be settled in Court, and then the matter dropped,
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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 293, 2 May 1889, Page 3
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2,468Mr Joyce again to the Front. Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 293, 2 May 1889, Page 3
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