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Colwyn Bay Urban District…

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Colwyn Bay Urban District Council. The Improvements Bill. Appointment of Witnesses. Some Plain Speaking. A Breeze. A SPECIAL meeting of the Colwyn Bay Urban District Council was held on Saturday morning, to appoint witnesses to give evidence before the House of Lords in the matter of the Improve- ments Bill. The Rev Thomas Parry presided, and there were also present, Councillors H. Davies (Vice- chairman), Geo. Bevan, W. Davies, Dr Brooks, Rowland Williams, J. Berth Jones, Thomas Roberts, J. Dicken, together with the Clerk (Mr J. H. Roberts), and Surveyor (Mr W. Jones). The Chairman remarked at the outset they would all be very pleased to hear such good news of the King. Dr Brooks said he was very glad this meeting had been called, and he was glad they were adopting a constitutional method of dealing with such a question as that. He moved that at least six members of the Council be appointed to go to London as witnesses for the Bill. The lawyers might be the best judges of who ought to be callea Into the witness-box; but he did not think they were the best judges as to how many should attend. Very important issues were often brought before the members of the Council who were up in London as witnesses, and it would be for the utmost benefit of the town that a full representation be sent up. Glaringly Unconstitutional Method." Mr W. Davies said he was of the same opinion as Dr. Brooks. He remarked that the way in which the last witnesses were elected was the most glaringly-unconstitutional method he had known in the history of any Council. Rev. Thos. Parry May I ask what it was? Mr Wm. Davies I do not know what it was, but I know it was not constitutional. Rev. Thomas Parry: I may say that the selection of witnesses was entirely in the hands of our solicitors. IMr W. Davies People who go up to London to represent the town, should be appointed by the Council. I believe that if we were to go to the auditor he would not pass the bill of ex- penses. The Chairman requested the clerk to refer to the minutes of the meeting at which the question of appointing witnesses was discussed. Thereupon the Clerk read the minutes of a meeting held on the 17th of April. The whole Council was present at that meeting, and the selection of witnesses was left, by unanimous vote, in the hands of the solicitors. "A Far Dirtier Job." Mr William Davies: Those minutes make it a far dirtier job. Several members warmly protested against this remark. The Chairman Who are you accusing? Mr W. Davies Is it not a fact that the evi- dence was drawn out beforehand? I am not accusing anybody in particular, but you, Mr Chairman, know as much about it as anybody else. Dr. Brooks said that at the meeting of the Council previous to the one of which those were the minutes, he wondered why nothing was said, about the witnesses. He handed a slip of paper to the clerk, calling, attention to the fact, and he received a reply that the matter had been left in the hands of the solicitor. He met Mr Amphlett shortly afterwards, and, naturally enough, he asked him how the matter stood. Mr Amphlett told him that four names had been suggested. "Innocent in this Matter." Mr Geo. Bevan pointed out it was insinuated that members of the Council had conspired to do what had been called "a dirty job." He would like to say that the members' of the Council were quite innocent in this matter. The solicitors were the most capable persons to choose the witnesses. He quite agreed with them that it was wisest to take a full majority of the Council to London, in case some issues should crop up, which would have to be decided. He had no doubt that if this 'enquiry was held nearer home, the whole Council would be sent up. He con- sidered it an education for the members to go up on an occasion of this kind. To have to give evidence before a committee of the House of Commons or the House of Lords was not a small matter, and it was an experience which every member of the Council would be all the better for. Mr Thomas Roberts said that they were all agreed upon that point; but, when they dis- cussed the selection of witnesses last time, they discovered that they had been chosen before- hand. That was what some of them did not like. Mr Geo. Bevan It was not settled beforehand. Mr William Davies calls it "a dirty job." Dr. Brooks: Mr Davies has withdrawn that remark. Mr Wm. Davies I said it was a dirty job, but by whom it was done I do not know. Anxiety to go to London. Mr Thomas Roberts I do not think it right for the Council to send the same lot up b to London every time, or to let the solicitors choose them. I think every member of the Council should have a chance to go up. It would be a training for the younger members, and would fit them better for the positions they hold. Mr Hugh Davies I have been on the Council for eight years; and that was the first time I had been in London. Had I known that this matter was going to be brought up now, I would not have gone. I am rather afraid that you think I have been asking Mr Amphlett to let me go up. Mr Wm. Davies I did not insinuate that at all. Rev. Thos. Parry: The first thing I knew about it was when the solicitors asked me to give evidence. I do not know whether it was before the meeting or after. I quite agree with you that a majority of the Council should be sent up. Mr Thomas Roberts We are here to-day to appoint members to go to London. What we complain about is that a meeting of this kind was not called last time. Mr Rowland Williams I quite agree with you that our representation should be as strong as possible, and it would be wise to send more members up. But, we should send up men who know something about the matter, men who have had a little experience of the work expected of them. Mr J. Berth Jones moved that six members of the Council be appointed as witnesses. Dr. Brooks seconded. Mr Geo. Bevan, in supporting, remarked that these six members should be sent up to London by the Council as a deputation. The solicitors could then choose those whose evidence they might think of service to the case. The motion was carried unanimously. The question of naming the six was then pro- ceeded with. 'A Pernicious Method." Dr. Brooks said he hoped that no member would propose the re-election of the old number en bloc. It was a pernicious method, which was far too frequently adopted. Mr J. Berth Jones moved that the Chairman and Mr Geo. Bevan be selected. They had both rendered invaluable service on previous occa- sions. This motion was seconded, and carried unani- mously. On the motion of Dr. Brooks, seconded by Mr Thos. Roberts, Mr Wm. Davies was selected. Mr Rowland Williams was next chosen, on the motion of Mr William Davies, seconded, by Mr Thos. Roberts. Dr. Brooks then moved that Mr D. O. Williams be elected as a representative of Old Colwyn. since Mr H. Davies was not willing to be nominated. Mr H. Hughes seconded. Mr W. Davies proposed that Dr. Brooks be selected, but the latter intimated he would not be able to go to London, and that he therefore begged to decline the honour. Mr Thomas Roberts moved that the Rev. John Griffiths be chosen. Mr Geo. Bevan seconded the motion. On a vote being taken it was found that each candidate had five supporters. The chairman 'gave his casting vote in favour of the amend- ment, and the Rev. John Griffiths was thereupon declared chosen. The Free Library Movement. The principal business of the Council then ter- minated but the Chairman remarked that the free library movement was growing apace. He had received contributions towards the institu- tion, making the total sum collected up to date nearly -f950, —»

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