‘Engineered out’

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32604, 12 May 1971, Page 1

‘Engineered out’

Mr P. J. Skellerup would say in evidence that there was M a body of public opinion that believed he had been engineered out of the Christchurch City Council because of his opposition to the proposed road across Hagley Park,” said Mr Barclay in cross-examining Mr Guthrey after he had given evidence yesterday to the committee.

Mr Barclay said that was a serious statement. If the statement could be refuted,

i it should be refuted before the committee. About 20 persons in the upstairs gallery in the Provincial Council Chambers clapped and cheered and called out in support of Mr Skellerup. Mr Sloane: We will have order up top, please. Mr Barclay asked the Mayor if he could throw any light on the matter. Mr Skellerup was a respected member of the council, said Mr Guthrey. He had inadvertently disqualified himself, and the council had been very sorry to lose him. Mr Skellerup had consistently opposed a road across the park, and the council had respected his views, although the majority of members could not agree with him. Mr Guthrey said that Mr . Skellerup controlled several companies and. inadvertently, one of his group, in supply- : ing goods to the council, ■ had exceeded the statutory limit set on councillors in , business deals with the council. After more questions. Mr Guthrey asked the Town ! Clerk (Mr M. B. Hayes) to ' give details. Mr Hayes said it had been a “routine” trans- ’ action. The council bought I goods from Mr Skellerup's * companies because it could I get them cheaper than from > other sources. > “We had twice in previous i years asked the Solicitor- ’ General if we could have the I limit extended for Mr Skel- > lerup’s companies. We discovered we had gone beyond rthe limit when we were asklling for another extension and

it was an honest mistake. The goods were returned—it was a technical breach," Mr Hayes said. After two members of the committee had asked who the council officer was who had made the mistake, and who bad brought it to light. Mr Sloane said he was disturbed at that line of questioning continuing. "Is it relevant?” he asked. “We are going to hear from Mr Skellerup. Questions can be answered then. I have faith in the people running Christchurch that this kind ot skulduggery would not go on.”

Mr O’Brien said that the Mayor had made very broad statements concerning Parliament and the committee. “I consider we are entitled to question him and his council in this matter."

Mr Sloane said it was the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath) who had decided that Mr Skellerup’s disqualification should stand, not the City Council. Mr Skellerup had broken the law and so had several other local body members the same year.