“Paying the Piper.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 213, 25 October 1888, Page 2

“Paying the Piper.”

On the accounts feeing presented at the Harbor Board.on Tuesday evening, the first one was an item for two guineas, from the Return, ing Officer, for expenses incurred in making preparations for the poll that was previously decided on, - Mr Dickson said there was no authority from the Board for these things being done, The Clerk said there was a resolution of the Board authorising it to be dons. Mr Dicksoh : Produce the minutes. The Clerk when read the resolution authorising the Chairman to take the necessary proceedings for the holding of a poll. In reply to the Chairman the Clerk said the Returning Officer had arranged with the Deputy Returning Officers to be at their posts at the proper time. The items were set forth in the bill. Mr Dickson : It seems so strange how these things will be done ad lib. Meetings are called at these places and now we have to pay for them, and bye and bye we will have to pay for something slue, and the ratepayers will have to pay the whois qf the tex. It seems strange this way ot doing things. There has been a mandate gone forth from our last Chairman, and a -fiat-well, I do not really know what to say,—whether he should be called the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or whether he should be the Board itself, or whether he should be Engineer of the Board. This has gone fcriji. the Board knew It. Jfpfiit hgji n»yer been placed before the Board. Neither of tne rv*w„. were sanctioned by the Board. This is not fair. Anything going before the ratepayers in this way should be sanctioned by the Board. If we do anything, let it be above board, and do it fearlessly and hones'ly as men. Let it be approved at by the Board or the majority of the Board, and go forth as the fiat of the B °Mr d ’ciark: Will Member Dickson explain what he is talking about ? It seems to me everything done has been authorised by the Board* The Chairman said ths only question was whether the account was referable. IJo doubt the Returning Officer was instructed io tike Mitaln steps. They had te decide whsthe

the charges were fair. He thought they were, and moved that the amonnt be paid. Mr Murphy seconded, and the motion was

carried, Mr Dickson dissenting. An account from the Standard was then presented, totalling £l2 4s, one of the items being for printing the “Brief Statement of Facts. ”

. Mr Matthewson said he would vote against that. The Chairman had taken it all upon himself, and he questioned whether it was right to call it a “ Statement of Facts. ” The Chairman said that was how it had appeared in the bill. Mr Matthewson: Some people may call these things facts, and some may call them fictions. Anything sent forth to the Public should be submitted to the Board, and get consent of the majority of the Board. Mr Townley said perhaps Mr Matthewson would explain how they could get out of paying these accounts. It was he who seconded the motion urging on the poll. If this were the only account they might pass it cheerfully, but unfortunately there were many others coining up. The Board rushed in hurriedly, and gave the Chairman instructions to do this, and now they objected to pay the accounts. He himself expected that this Statement would have been read before the Board, but by their own resolution the Chairman had only done what he was asked to do.

Mr Matthewson said at the time he had strongly objected to anything being submitted

to the public that had not already gone before the Board. He could not see bow they could get out of paying the account, but he would vote against it by way of protest. The Chairman said they were judging now from the point of the claimant, who bad been instructed to do certain work, and what they wanted to know was whether the prices were fair. By the resolution the Chairman was justified in making all arrangements for taking the poll. Mr Dickson : I have no objection so far as

the account is concerned, that it was done and the chargee fair, but it is too bad that the Chairman or any member of the Board should carry out these things without placing them before the Board. It seems to be ruling the roost with a high hand. Mr Matthewson admitted he believed the Chairman was acting within his statutory rights. In seconding the motion that the account be paid, Mr Clark said he thought at the time they were practically agreed that what the Chairman sent out should be submitted to the Board .first. In reply to Mr Dickson the Clerk said it was out of loan account, and on this Messrs Dickson and Matthewson voted against. There was also a short discussion on the other accounts, With regard to Mr DeLautor's the Clerk stated that some of the amounts would be refunded when the appeal bases were decided. Mr DeLautor’s account also included Mr Bell's. The total account* passed were l—

Wingate, Burns and On. £3 15 10 Returning Officer ,, 2 a 0 Stackyard •> .. 1 10 0 Gibbobsb Standabd 12 4 0 Weighbridge keeper .. 1 0 0 Wharfinger .. .. 16 13 4 Harbor Master ., ., 10 13 4 Secretary., .. .. 8 6 8 A. R. Mair . ■ 16 7 3 N.Z. Insurance Co. ., 3 15 0 Petty Cash .. .. 5 0 0 0. A. DeLautour (part) ., 50 0 0 D. McLeod .. 76 9 6 Wages account .. 82 17 5