COMPLAINTS NOT UPHELD

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21970, 19 December 1936, Page 24

COMPLAINTS NOT UPHELD

DARGAVILLE BOROUGH RATING COMMITTEE MAYOR'S ACTION CONDEMNED BY COUNCIL (PRI3S AS3OCIATIOU TILEORAM.) DARGAVILLE, December 18. Arising out of the resignation of Mr Raymond Gibson at a meeting of the Dargaville Borough Council last month, after allegations of partiality on the part of the rating committee (of which he was a member), and his reelection this week, a number of motions were tabled at a meeting of the council last evening, and three and a half hours elapsed before the last had been dealt with, the council rising at 1 o'clock this morning. The following resolutions were carried:— "That the council is of the opinion that the complaints made by the legal firms of Hayes. Mitchell, and Gouldmg; Astley and Worsley; Leather and Gould; and Bramwell and Bramwell as to partiality on the part of the council are without foundation, and that the firms be written to with a request to withdraw their complaints." "That the action of the rating committee in matters brought before the council by the deputation be confirmed." "That in the opinion of this council the action of the Mayor (Mr F. A. Jones) in advising one and not advising the other member of the rating committee of the complaints brought against it be condemned." "That the Mayor be asked to withdraw any remarks he has made imputing impropriety on the part of Cr. Gibson as a member of the rating committee or of this council." A further resolution, "That the action of the Mayor in writing to Cr. Gibson his official letter of December 3 has the strong disapproval of this council," was defeated. Several members of the council refrained from voting on the motions, excepting the last one.