ENTERTAINING THE INDIAN TROOPERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 73, 29 March 1901, Page 3

ENTERTAINING THE INDIAN TROOPERS.

A LITTLE BILL,

There was some discussion at the Harbor Board yesterday over an account for 1124 5s Id, being a third share of the cost of entertaining the Indian troops. The Chairman moved, and Mr Macfarlano seconded, “ That the account be passed, subject to the Finance Committee being of opinion that the Board has the power.”

Afr Clark said that it was a loose wa;

of doing business for a committee to allow the expenditure and then to call in the local bodies to pay, as they ought to have been consulted before the mono}' was ex-

pended. Air Hepburn said that it was intended to bring it before the Board, but the matter had been forgotten. The Chairman said that there were

members of the Board on the committee. At the commencement there was no in-

tention of bringing the account before the Board. After discussion, it had been decided to apportion the amount among the local bodies. '

Air Clark : The question is that the people who decided that are not the ones who have to pay for it. AVhat I object to is that a body like this should be called on without having any control over the expenditure. Mr Sievwright said that the Board had never been asked.

Mr Clark : Yes ; the Board had not been asked. Some members might have wanted to increase the amount, thinking

that the entertainment was shabby, and others might have thought the expenses ought to have been less. I do not object to the payment, seeing that the thing has gone so far, only I think the Board should have been consulted before being levied

upon. The Chairman said that the members of the Board who were not present had not pledged the Board. All they had said was that they would bring the account up.

Afr Sievwright said it seemed a pretty cool thing for people without their authority to assess the portion which each local body should pay. Captain Tucker: I think the account may very well stand over for future consideration. J. would like to know two or

three things before the account is gone into, particularly as the feeling throughout New Zealand is that this kind of thing is being overdone. Afr Alacfarlane explained the position throughout the colony in regard to the entertainment of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. The public bodies in the cities were prepared to go up to their limit of •C 250 for such expenditure, hut that was

not sufficient, and the members of those bodies objected to again going round with

the hat to people who lmd been called on several times during a short period. The position was much the same in this matter; the Committee could not sco its way to keep going round to the same people, and thought it would bo fairer for the local bodies to each bear a portion, lie did not think there had been time to refer it to the local bodies. The Chairman: The time was very short. Air Sievwright: I shall move that the claim stand over until next meeting for further consideration. Air Cooper: I suppose somebody has got to pay it. Mr Alacfarlane : AVhy should it stand

Air AVhinray : I think the way adopted is the most equitable method of dealing with such expenses. Tho hat has gone round pretty often lately, and this is the better way of disposing of tho account. I am in favor of its being paid. It has been seen to by tho other local bodies, and I do not think it should be loft over. The reason I asked if there were any details was that the vote seemed large.

Captain Tucker said that he quito agreed that individuals should not ho repeatedly laid under contribution, but he did not care to have the thing sprung on them in tiiis way. No harm would be done by leaving tho account stand over until next meeting. Air Sievwright said he would like to he clear that they had the power to vote the money. The Chairman said that was why he was proposing to refer the matter to the Finance Committee. Air Alacfarlane: It will bo subject to the committee finding whether or not the Board has the power. Captain Tucker said lie thought that if

ic Board had tho power it would pay in

the end. Air Sievwright said he would have preferred the method lie had suggested, but lie did not earc about fiddling with a tiling.

After further remarks tho motion was carried without dissent.