OUSTING BOROUGH COUNCILLORS BY EX-COUNCILLOR WHITE.

Bruce Herald, Volume XII, Issue XII, 14 November 1879, Page 3

OUSTING BOROUGH COUNCILLORS BY EX-COUNCILLOR WHITE.

{To the Editor). Sir,— No doubt the ratepayers of Milton will appreciate ex-Cr White's laudable motives iv making it known that I and others have been receiving money from the Borough Council. I have no doubt the ratepayers were fnlly aware that the Borough Council paid a yearly sum for the Council Chambers, for holding their meetings, as the amount when due was always openly passed and reported in the local papers. The language in which Mr White makes the fact known, referring to me and two Councillors — "that all of whom have to my knowledge been receiving money from the Borough Council," would lend people, who have not taken an active part in Municipal affairs, to the conclusion that there was some secrecy or concealment about it, and that it was only within the special knowledge of the ex- Councillor. Such is not the case, the Council have honorably, • publicly, and regularly paid rent for the Coun-

cil Chambers for the past 10 years, and the item ' ' rent " always appears in the published balance sheets. I will leave the ratepayers to draw their own inferences whether Mr White meant to convey any insinuation of improper conduct, secrecy, illegality or favoritism. As Mr White thinks the person taking the proceedings against Cr Reid should also take proceedingb against me and Crs Bastings and • unningham, allow me to suggest that it would be much more proper that a person of Mr White's standing and reputation should become the informer, if he thinks there is any illegality, or that the matter requires judicial investigation in the interest of the ratepayers ; he is mere able to bear the costs thau Mr Grant, and the position would be congenial to his nature and feelings. The section of the Municipal Act, defining the disqualification, is to this effect— "Any person holding any office or place of profit under or in the gift of the Council, or being concerned or participating in any contract witb, or work to be done, for the Council." The word contract evidently refers to work or materials, and contemplates street works, railways, gasworks, waterworks, plant and material, aud was never intended to apply to the hiring of a room for holding meetings, which the Council is expressly authorised to do by section 87, as follows — "The Council may provide public offices within the Borough fot holding the meetings of the Council, and may purchase or rent land or buildings for such purpose, or may erect new buildings on any land belonging to or hired by the Couucil." Perhaps Mr White had forgotten, when writing the letter, that he wai a member of the Council when tenders were called for a section of land for building Municipal buildings ; that he sent in a tender, that he sat at the Council table while the various tenders were discussed, and thit he actively interested himself, by his vote and speech, in the discussion over, and selection of the site. Under tection 75 of the Act it is distinctly declared—" That no C^un"cillor shall vote upon or take any part in the discussion of any matter before tue Council in which he has directly or indirectly any interest, and any Councillor wao kaowingly offrfndß against this section shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £50." I sliould be -.Ud, Mr Editor, to be informed whether Mr White was not directly or indirectly interested in the matter theu before the Council, and whetner he has not put himself in imminent peril of a prosecution for the penalty of LSO ? I do not think it will be necessary for Mr Grant to include tbis offence in his prosecutions, it will be quite sufficient punuhinent if the ratepayeis express their opiuiou when a suitable occasion arrives. - 1 am, &c, R. R. Jones. Milton, Nov. 13, 1879.