COUNCILLOR UNSEATED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 86, 13 April 1931, Page 5

COUNCILLOR UNSEATED.

TECHNICAL UtREGUIiARITY. VACANCY AT NEW PLYMOUTH. (From Our Own Correspondent.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. Through what is described ae a very trifling technical irregularity connected with some dealings between the New Plymouth Borough Council and Taranaki Properties, Ltd., of which Mr. P. E. Stainton is a member, the latter has forfeited his seat on the council to which he has tendered his resignation. The matter will come before the council at its meeting on Monday night. The Mayor this morning confirmed the information that Mr. Stainton had resigned, but declined to make any statement in explanation until the matter had been made known to the council, some of the members of which may not yet be aware of the position which has arisen. Mr. Stainton said his resignation had of necessity been handed to the town clerk. He preferred, however, that the full statement of the position should come from the Mayor at the meeting of the council. It> is understood that the position has arisen in connection with the dedication of a piece of land by the company which acquired the Imperial Hotel property, and when reconstruction took place a corner on the Devon and Currie Street frontages was dedicated to the council. Some compensation was paid by the council to the company, and as Mr. Stainton was at the time a member of both the company and the council he became ineligible to retain his seat on the council until re-elected. It is also understood that the Audit Department will not require the money paid to be refunded to the council. Questioned this morning- as to his future intentions, Mr. Stainton said at the present time he did not think he would seek re-election to the council. It is not likely that anything will be done to fill the vacancy before the general elections, which take place in the first week in May, as it would be impossible to receive nominations and conduct a bye-election before that date.