TOWN BOARD RESIGNS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 74, 25 September 1923, Page 8

TOWN BOARD RESIGNS

BREACH OF PUBLIC BODIES CUxNXRACTOKS' ACT.

CM ' TILIOIUPB.—PRHS ASSOCIATION.! . TE AWAMUTU.This Day.: A fortnight ago the memebrs of the Kihikihi lown Board were prosecuted at the instigation of,the Audit Department for breaches of the Public Bodies Contractors Act. The grounds of the action were that one board member was employed to. do certain work, wherefore the Department claimed the statutory penalty aaginst all members, whether for doing or authorising the work. The penalties, amounting to £165, were paid into Court, so that the case was notcalled at the time. As the sequel, last mght, Messrs. J, G. Sutherland (chairman), W. F. Lees, C. Jennings, and C. Thomson resigned, leaving one member, Mr. E. Thomson, who was elected to fill an extraordinary vacancy a month ago, as the sole.member of the board. It is explained that there had been difficulty in getting the work in question done; that.the member concerned was the only man in the district capable of doing it; and that the importation of other workmen would have caused delay and increased cost. The statutory penalty is regarded as opposed to the ideal of British justice, and it is felt that the Department should have discretionary power, or at least discretion should be left to the Magistrate. The resignations were formally accepted, Sand an effort is being made to fill the vacancies, though the indications are that there will be considerable difficulty in securing suitable nominations.