THE HUNTER CASE

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1928, Page 11

THE HUNTER CASE

EVIDENCE AT ENQUIRY.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, October 12.

An enquiry into the circumstances of the resignation from the City Council of Mr George R. Hunter was conducted by the Works Committee of the City Council to-day. Mr Hunter resigned, following on a complaint by the Audit Office about two groups of transactions, one the purchase of coal by the Council from Mayo Bros., and another the hire of a truck for Council work, the truck being purchased, from Mr Hunter’s firm under a hire-purchase agreement. Mr Mayo had no banking account, and the transactions went through Messrs Hunter and Webb’s account. The truck was the property of Messrs Hunter and Webb, but it was in the possession of Mr Andrews, who used it to do certain carting for the Council.

At last Council meeting a minority of anti-Labour Councillors (demanded an enquiry, as to all the facts, they suggesting that they were open to the construction that Mr Mayo was a “dummy” for Messrs Hunter and Webb, and that Mr Andrews was in a like position. The Works Committee of the Council to-day examined the officers of the Council. All of the officers declared that they had no knowledge of any connection between Mr Mayo and Mr Hunter’s firm. Their transactions had been with Mr Mayo only, and Mr Hunter had never tried to influence business.

Similar evidence was given regarding Mr Andrews and his truck. An independent witness, offering evidence, said he had seen coal being supplied direct to a city road roller from Messrs Hunter and Webb’s lorry. Mr Mayo gave evidence that he was a part-time employee of Messrs Hunter and Webb, but that for the rest of the time he bought coal from Messrs Hunter and Webb and sold it on his own account at his own price. In the case of his Council transactions, this was an arrangement, and he charged a profit of two shillings per ton. Mr Mayo emphatically denied that in these transactions he was acting as a “dummy” for Messrs Hunter and Webb.

The Committee are now deliberating on the evidence.

SALE OF A HORSE.

CITY COUNCIL’S ATTITUDE

(Special to "Star.")

CHRISTCHURCH, October 12

The action of the Works Committee of the Christchurch City Council yesterday afternoon in refusing to deal with an account for a horse sold to the Council by J. Behan, a partner of ex-Councillor G. R. Hunter, has given rise to an interesting situation. The Works Committee was in session yesterday afternoon# and the account came up for payment. It referred to a horse which the Council had in its possession for three mouths, and it was from Mr Beban. Some question as to the amount payable drew special attention to the account. The Mayor (Rev J. K. Archer) asked if Arthur Smith, who usually acts as the Council’s advisor in the matter of buying horses, had valued the horse.

The answer was “No.” The horse bad been sold direct to the Council.

The Mayor then took . a definite stand and announced that the Committee was told not to have anything to do with the matter.

The question now is whether the Council is going to send the horse back to Mr Beban, after using it for several months, or whether Mr Beban will claim the price of the animal, or what is going to happen if the Works Committee is not authorised to pay the account.