CONTRACTING COUNCILLORS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 773, 23 March 1910, Page 8

CONTRACTING COUNCILLORS.

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. "A'"RETURN PRESENTED. Following out instructions issued at the previous meeting of the City Council, Mr. R. Tait, acting-town clerk, prepared a return showing sums thai had been paid to firms with whioh certain councillors are associated for goods supplied to, or work done on behalf of, the council. The actual instruction was embodied in the following- resolution, proposed by Councillor Cannichael:— That a return be prepared aad given to each member of the council, on or before March 21 next, showing the amount received by any member of a limited liability company, during the last three years, who is also a member of the council. The return, placed in the hands of councillors was as follows:— T. Ballinger and Co., Ltd., from April 1, 1907, to March 31, 1908, £255 6s. 2d.; from April 1, 1908, to March 31, 1909, £850 13s. 2d.; from April 1, 1909, to February 28, 1910, £237 12s. 6d.; total, £1343 10s. 10d. S. Luke and Co., Ltd., from April 1; 1907, to March 31, 1908, £3043 75.;

from April 1,1908, to March.3l, 1909, £2199 ,145.. lid.; from "April 1, 1909, to February,-28, 1910, '. £898 ss. lid.; total, £6141 7s': 10d; ■

. Gear Meat Co.,' Ltd.,. from May 1; 1909, to February 28, 1910, £15 25.. 6d. J. Trevor, and Sons, Ltd., from May 1,;i909 ); vt0 February 28, 1910, £10. .. .' Councillor'Cannichael asked if the.information given to councillors was the whole of the information-that, it was intended to supply.' If it was intended, to bo the .whole of the information, it appeared to. him-as if the officials were trying to burke the question. ■ The public were-interested in the matter, and hoped to get the information asked for brought down in such a form that it could be discussed. ■• ■ ■' The Mayor stated ■ that', he could assure Councillor Carmichael that there could be no feeling in the matter on 'the part of the officials. • They cculd only do i their duty. Conncillor Carmichael had overlooked the fact that that part of His motion a+ the previous meeting was put in the form,of questions, and could not be embodied in the motion. If Councillor Cannichael would go into the matter with the town.clerk, and let him know exactly what ho wanted, he would get the information. The officials would not burke anything. Councillor Carmichael asked whether the information supplied was not in es» cess ; of that.asked in the motion? , The Mayor Baid that, in his opinion, the town clerk had done .his very best to supply, the information asked for by Councillor Carmichael. Councillor Carmichael was still not satisfied, and voiced Ms intention , of giving notice of motion to get exactly what he. wanted. . ; ~...."'•' The .particulars furnished in the return were not discussed by the council.