Former speaker to face charge

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 17

Former speaker to face charge

PA , Wellington The former Speaker of the Hoqse of Representatives, Sir Gerard appeared in the District Court at Porirua yesterday for a defended hearing for a breach of a council by-law. Legal action has been taken c gainst Sir Gerard by the Porirua City Council for failing to remove a builder's shed from I his property after receiving writtenj notice from[ an engineer.

In an earlier court appearance on January 18, Sir Gerard was fined $250 and court costs of $25, but was granted a rehearing for yesterday’s defended hearing. Opening his case, Sir Gerard told I Judge McKerr he wanted to draw attention to [the fact that he had not been able to get copies of the council by-laws. [ He said he felt he was placed at a disadvantage because of that. | The council’s lawyer,

Mr Chris Finlayson, said the notice of prosecution made it quite clear what by-law was called into question. He was not aware, until yesterday morning that Sir Gerard had been seeking copies of all correspondence between him and the council. But he said all of the correspondence Sir Gerard wanted was irrelevant to the case. At that point Judge McKerr called an adjournment.