CARNIVAL FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 301, 15 September 1933, Page 13

CARNIVAL FUNDS

Eastbourne Controversy MR. FISHER’S STATEMENT Replying to the statement published on Wednesday, made by the Mayor of Eastbourne, Mr. E. W. Wise, dealing with, the Eastbourne fair, Mr. S. K. Fisher, who was chairman of the carnival committee, said yesterday that the balance-sheet published by him was correct. Mr. Fisher wanted to know who gave* authority for the balancesheet to be altered without his permission as chairman of the committee. “At the date of tbe balance-sheet, £578/2/3 was actually in the district fund account, and it is no use Mr. Wise trying to say otherwise and endeavour to tell the Audit Department their job,” said Mr. Fisher. “When Mr. Wise collected fhe balance-sheet from the Audit Department he obtained also an opinion from the Auditor-General covering the withdrawal from tbe district fund account of the £6OO. He states that to protect his council he went over the head of the AuditorGeneral and obtained a further opinion, a course which was quite unnecessary, .as the council would have been safeguarded by the opinion of the AuditorGeneral. “The mayor states that the dispute is not between himself and myself, but between the council and me. It is only within the past few weeks, however, that any correspondence or dealings have been conducted through the council in connection with the matter, and when I made a request through the town clerk (Mr. Bishop) for leave to appear before the council in an endeavour to arrive at a settlement I was promptly told that the mayor would not agree to my appearing before the council and would have nothing to do with me until the £6OO was returned. Council’s Approval. “Mr. Wise states that the carnival was a council affair, and that I was not present at the special meeting when It was decided upon. I can perhaps refresh his memory a little by referring him to the following resolution, which was passed at a meeting of the council held on February 23 over which I presided; ‘That the application for the support of the council in connection with the proposed carnival at Easter for the relief of distress be received, and that tbe principle be supported; a sub-committee, consisting of the mayor, Cr. Varney, and the town clerk to make inquiries and decide whether the scheme be proceeded with.’ When this resolution was passed several speakers were emphatic that the council would support the principle only and allow the carnival to be run in the borough, and not allow the council to be connected with it in any other way. “At a subsequent special council meeting the following resolution was carried: ‘That the council approve of the conducting of an Easter fair for the relief of distress as outlined in a letter submitted by the organiser.’ I was not present at this meeting, as I was Rbsent at Rotorua at the municipal conference. However, I have the assurance of six of the seven then councillors who were present, excluding the present mayor, that nothing transpired at the subsequent meeting to alter the decision of the council to support the effort in principle only. “Further, the present mayor strenuously opposed the council even allowing its name to be associated with the carnival, and his inactivity during the campaign was further evidence of his attitude. The mayor states that he took no limelight part in the carnival, and this is quite correct. I have more than once made the offer to come to an arrangement to allow the fund to be drawn upon. Withdrawal of Money. “The withdrawal of the £6OO from the borough account and the placing of the same in a trust account was done at the request of a letter from the four queen committees, and it was their desire that I should be a trustee of the fund. Mr. Wise gave one the impression that something was wrong in withdrawing this amount, but I can assure the public that it was withdrawn in a proper, legal, and constitutional manner. My previous offer still stands, and If Mr. Wise wants a settlement he need only use his influence to have me appointed joint trustee.” Mr. Fisher said that he did not wish to enter into a newspaper controversy over the matter; his one desire was to place the balance-sheet before the public.