Adjusting Riding Accounts.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 50, 3 December 1909, Page 6

Adjusting Riding Accounts.

CR SMITH'S MOTION CARRIED. CR BOYD HOLDS LEGAL OPINION THAT MOTION CANNOT BE MADE EFFECTIVE. On Tuesday at the County Council meeting, Cr Smith, in accordance with notice moved " That ench riding pnv its own interest on overdraft and loans.' The Chairman said there had been a meeting of ratepayers at Stirling, and Cr Boyd was in possession of nn opinion from a well known legal firm upholding Cr Boyd's contention that the C'lunci.i a u'd not lepa'ly adopt Cr Smith's motion The County solicitor had given the Council an opinion that the motion could be passed, The question was whether it would be wise to proceed cr get another opinion on the question. He wanted only to do what was right and just. It was a | hardship that-ridings which were in credit-should have 'o pay ihe'r share of an overdraft caused by extra expenditure in another ridirg. If the Council could not legally carry out Cr Smilh's motion, a special rate would have t) be put on the ridings whxh were a burden to the o;hers, He was in sympathy with the motion, and if it were forced on he would, have to vote for it, but no.hing would be lost by waiting and gelling a further opinion I on the case. y - Cr Smith said he would move /his motion, 'they had their own soliri t'r's opinion that it was"in order. It was. only right and just that ench riding should pay its own way, Rid»

ings which were in cfedit weie being Bled to pay overdrafts on expenditure on others. . _ -■■ Cr Ciark seconded the" motion. There was no hardship to the Ridings interested. They had got the lull benefit of the expenditure which had caused the overdraft. Cr Boyd objected to the motion, and gave reasons. The molion was not in order. The motion to be rescinded had not been discovered. If the motion, which Cr Smith's one was to take the place of, was not on the books it could be acted upon. It had not besn acted upon. By usage things had come to be done as they were being done. Cr Smith's molion was not in order. Cr Smith said Cr Boyd's contention, was only a quibble. Cr Boyd : II the motion is in the books act on it. If not, move that it be acted upon. I deemed it to be my duty to consult my ratepayers, and some of them thought there was no way out of it, but there was, liven by usage and custom they had right on their side. It was net honest or fair now to force the motion. The Chairman said he sympathised with Cr Boyd, The motion was quite in order, , ■ Cr Boyd said he held an expert opinion that it was not, The Chairman: Our own solicitor \i equally emphatic that it is in order, Cr Boyd moved that the matter be held over until another opinion was got on the matter. Cr Haggart seconded the amendment, A Councillor : Show our solicitor the legal opinion you have. - Cr Haggart: lam not in favcr of that. Cr Clark: He doesn't want any education on that point. Cr Russell contended the motion, was not in order, The Chainnan ruled again that it was, and if forced on he would have to vote for it. On the amendment being put it was lost, only Crs B >yd, Haggart, and Rus ell voting for it. The motion was tlun put and carried, only the three Councillors named voting against it.