The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

LIVELY PROCEEDINGS AT THE BARMOUTH COUNCIL. A .r. Member Threatens to Resign. More Debate About The Sur- veyor's Appeal. A special meeting of the above Council was held on Thursday night. Present: MrWiliiarn Owen (chairman), Dr J. Pugh Jones, Messrs Rees Jones, J. Llewelyn Davies, Francis Morris, Robert Lloyd Williams and Rbys Jones; with Messrs R. Llewelyn Owen, deputy-clerk; T. R. Parry, surveyor; and Dr J. O. Williams, medical officer. Presentation. I The Chairman reported that ha had received from the Publishers copies of Freedom's War March which was a free gift of band parts for presentation to the bandmaster of the local band, and as Barmouth was very fortunate in having a band worthy of any small town, he would be pleased to hand over the copies to Mr Rees Jones, who was a member of the band committee. Mr Rees Jones said he was sure that the bandmaster and members would be very grateful far the music. Lively Scenes. I The Chairman said that the meeting bad been called to consider the Sur- veyor's position in view of what took place at the annual meeting on Tuesday, but before going into tbao matter be was sure that Dr Pugh Jones was quite pre- pared to apologise for what he had done on Tuesday by crossing the minutes with a pencil. That could be done in two words. Dr Pugh Jones said he would not apologise, but he would make a state- ment. He had not crossed any minutes pertaining tc a Council meeting nor a committee appointed by the Council. The Clerk bad told them on Tuesday that the meeting was irregular, and therefore be had not crossed any minutes of the Council. This matter was not on his agenda, only the question of the Surveyor's appeal. The Chairman said it was not on the agenda but be appealed to Dr Pngh Jones to apologise for his action. Dr Pugh Jones—That matter is not on the agenda. The Chairman said it was for the Council to approve or disapprove of the action of Dr Pugh Jones at the last meeting. He had crossed the minutes of a meeting, which be bad no right to do. He (the Chairman) felt very sore over the matter, and it was out of place for any member to do such a thing with the Council's booka. Dr Pugh Jones said he bad not crossed any minutes pertaining to the Council at all, and it they could prove to him that be had crossed the minutes of a Council meeting or of a committee sanctioned by the Countil be would apologise, but ho had not done so. What he bad crossed with a pencil were minutes of a meeting of members over the military age and not members of the Local Tribunal, and the Clerk had told them that the meeting was irregular. The Council had nothing to do with that meeting, and they could not ask him to apologise for what be bad done. It might have been out of place. The Chairman said he bad been on the Council now for many years, but be bad never seen such a thing been done before by any member. The minute books was the Council's property and no member had a right to cross out any minute. He felt sore that such a thing should have been done by any member. Mr Robert Lloyd Williams said it would be better to leave the matter until the next monthly meeting. The Cbairman-Is that your wish, gentlemen ? I Mr Rhys Jones-I don't agree with it. I The Chairman said that this matter bad given him some trouble, and it was an occurrence which bad not happened before. If be bad done such a thing be would readily apologise to the Council. The only thing he wanted Dr Pugh Jones to do was to say he was sorry for what be had done. That was not too much for any member to do. Such action brought discredit upon theCouncil as a whole, and they were sent to the Council as representatives of the rate- payers and their actions on the Council were noticed. He bad thought that the matter would have quietly dropped if Dr Pugh Jones had apologised and be bad understood from him that be was going to apologise. Dr Pugh Jones said be had not promised to apologise. The Chairman—I took it in that light. Dr Pugh Jones said if he had crossed the minutes of a Council, he would apologise, but they must prove to him first of all that be had done so. He had not done so, and therefore he "had nothing to apologise for. Mr Rbys Jones (sternly) asked Dr Pugh Jones to apologise fer crossing the minutes. As one of the five members present at the meeting convened by the Surveyor, be felt that the action of Dr. Pugh Jones was an insult to them. He proposed that Dr Pugh Jones should be asked to apologise, and to delete what he had done to the minutes. If that was not done, he would have a stronger resolution than that. Dr Pugh Jones—I have not crossed the minutes of any Council meeting. Mr Rbys Jones-It is the greatest in- sult possible to the five members who I had attended the meeting. Mr Robert Ltoyd Williams said he i felt the same as Mr Jones. Mr Rbys Jones insisted that Dr Pugh Jones should apologise. The Chairman said be bad asked Dr Pugh Jones to apologise but he bad declined to do so. Dr Pugh Jones said he bad not crossed- The Cbairman-You can be on your feet until morning arguing this matter, and Dr Pugh Jones—But I have ————— The Chairman (firmly) You have taken great lattitude in crossing the minutes nith a pencil, and I won't allow it while I am in the chair. Dr Pugh Jones was still on his feet, but the Chairman told him to sit down, which he did. I Dr Pugh Jones said be bad not insulted any member who had attended the meeting convened by the Surveyor, and it was never his intention to insult any of them. He had crossed the minutes of a meeting, and he would acknowledge that he had done so. Mr Rbys Joaes-You can't deny it. The minute book will prove it. If Dr Pugh Jones won't apologise I will pro- pose a firmer resolution directly Dr Pugh Jones said that that matter was not before the meeting. Mr Rbys Jones said it was pertaining to the same thing. Dr Pugh Jones said that if they bad any charge to make against him let them put it down in writing. Mr Rhys Jones said he would insist that Dr Pugh Jones should apologise and delete the mark be bad mude with his pencil on the minutes. Dr Pugh Jones at this point vacated the seat where he was seated and said be would not take any further part in the Council's proceedings, but that be would remain in the room as a rate- payer. He took his seat close to our representative. Mr Rbys Jones (sternly) said be would once again appeal to Dr Pugb Jones to apologise for what he bad done. He bad insulted the five members who bad I attended that meeting. If he would refuse, be (Mr Jones) would be duty bound to propose another resolution. He insisted that Dr Pugh Jones should erase the pencil marks from the minute book, and also apologise. If the Council would refuse to support his proposition he would resign from the Council. Dr. Pugh Jones said be was quite prepared to resign with him and to run an election on the question. The Chairman asked Dr Pugh Jones whether be would apologise. Dr Pugh Jones said be had not insulted any member. After some further discussion, Mr Rhys Jones proposed that Dr Pugh Jones should be asked to apologise, and erase the pencil marks from the Council's minute book. Mr Robert Lloyd Williams seconded, which was agreed to. Dr Pugh Jones asked that he should be provided with a copy of the resolu- tion. The Chairman, turning to Dr Pugh Jones, asked him was he then prepared to apologise. Dr Pugh Jones said be was not then acting as a member of the Council, but was present as a ratepayer. Mr Rbys Jones said he was there as a member. The Chairman—Are you prepared to apologise now ? Dr Pugh Jones said be was not acting as a member. Mr Rhys Jones—But you are in the room, and I insist for an apology. Dr Pugh Jones said he had vacated bis seat, and had informed the Chairman previously. In reply to the Deputy Clerk, Dr Pngh Jones said a record could be made that be bad vacated his seat. Mr Rbys Jones-put you are in the room. Dr Pugh J oneS-Yes; as a ratepayerr The Cbairman-Then I take it that you don't want to take part in the Council's proceedings any further this night. Dr Pugh Jones-I have vacated my seat. Mr Rbys Jones said his proposition would stand good and would come forward at the next monthly meeting. Dr Pugh Jones said he was quite pre- pared to answer it at the next monthly meeting. The Surveyor's Appeal. The Chairman asked what were they going to do with the Surveyor's appeal. lVlt, Bbys Jonps-I propose that the minutes should be confirmed. The Ch airman said be would like to say a few words on the matter. Person- aily, be would like to see all single men joining tbe Colours, but there were many instances where that was im- possible, and it was difficult to decide what was best to do. They, as a Coun- cil, bad been placed in a rather awkward position. It was well-known that they had in recent years been troubled with the water supply at tbe heighfc of the season, and further, the Council bad been threatened with a lawsuit, owing to the shortage of water, but he was glad to say that the Council had over- come them all. Another point which he would like to mention was that during last summer not a single com- plaint had been received for shortage of water. The waterworks had cost thousands of pounds to the ratepayers, and it was most important that the Council should have tbe proper person to look after the waterworks, especially as tbe season was before them He bad been considering this matter thoroughly. The waterworks bad cost the town too much money to be tampered with, and it was essential that it should be in the charge of pmpPr prson. The question to decide W/lS whether the Council approved of what the five members, who attended the meeting convened by the Surveyor, bad done or not. Mr Robert Lloyd Williams said the fact that tbe five members who had attended and passed a resolution was i