COUNCILLORS AS TENDERERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22340, 2 March 1938, Page 12

COUNCILLORS AS TENDERERS

INSTANCES OF “GRAFT” ALLEGED DISCUSSION AT MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE (FBBSB ASSOCIATION TELIDEAJI.) NEW PLYMOUTH, March 1. “It is better that hardship should be suffered, and local body politics remain' clean,” said Mr M. E. Lyons (Christchurch), when a remit to remove the disqualification of councillors who supplied goods or services to a local authority, came before the Municipal Conference to-night. The remit was supported by the smaller boroughs, but was strongly opposed by other delegates. It was eventually referred to the executive to try to find a way of meeting the difficulty in smaller municipalities which had trouble in getting the best men for the councils. It was difficult in the present circumstances for a small borough to get good councillors, said Mr W. Harper. If the men tendered openly there should be no abuse. If the remit were put into effect it would pave the way for “.graft,” said Mr Guinivan (Takapuna). Ke did not want to go into detail, but he knew of instances of “graft” that had already occurred in a city. The proposal would be unworkable, said Mr Lyons. If a councillor supplied goods that were not up to standard it would put an officer of the council in the position of having to tell a councillor that his contract was not being fulfilled. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr J. W. Beanland) was a big contractor, and could they imagine the position of the city engineer refusing to pass a building work done by him? The experience of Pahiatua was quoted by Mr S. K. Siddells. Some concrete was needed urgently, and the only person who could supply it was a councillor. He had to forfeit his seat on .;he council and then incur the expense of sn election.