THAT GUARANTEE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 192, 21 August 1901, Page 2

THAT GUARANTEE.

DISCUSSION AT THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Mi; ME STAYER'S BILL.

At the meeting of the Borough Council last night the bill fr...u Mr Mestayer brought up a discussion as to the guarantee of £2OO towards .he payment of the cost. No exception was taken to the account itself. Or Morrison raised the .point as to whether it was right for the Council to pay the amount without first

calling on the guarantors. Cr Miller said that Mr Mestayer did not appear to be in a hurry for the money. There was no use hiding the fact that the overdraft was already too high. He proposed that £IOO be paid now, leaving the remainder to stand for a while. The Mayor : If we can pay £IOO we can surely pay the £lB3. Cr Whinray : Hear, hear. The Mayor said that Mr Mestayer had been lying out of the money for a considerable time. . 1 Or Miller said he would not pay it all if he were dealing with his own money. The Mayor : Perhaps not. it would bo bettor to hold over some other payments if they had to do it. Mr Mestayer had been a good deal out of pocket.

Cr Miller: About a tenner. The Mavor said that after taking the vote they could call on the guarantors to pav up. Cr Miller: I don’t think we arc very sincere in that. The Mayor : I think all these people are sincere. They say so. (Laughter.; Cr Jones : They arc sincere in wanting to get water. Cr Morrison: I do not object to the account being paid after the explanation that the guarantors will be liable and can bo called on to pay. Cr Harding : I do not see how they can get out of it. Cr Morrison : I thought that by paying that amount would release them. The Mayor : I take it that they do not

owe the money until we make the payment to Mr Mestayer. Even if wo ha\c to hold over other accounts we should pay

this sum. Cl- Whim-ay : I shall support. the Mayor’s proposal. It will be showing a very impecunious front if we cannot a fiord to pay for the report, the charge for which is a very reasonable one. Cr Bright: I do not think Mr Mestaver has any cause for complaint. At the same time I am in favor of it being passed straightaway. . Cr Harding : He has not complained. Cr Bright: But His Worship said that he had been kept waiting. The Mayor: Ho has boon out of the money a long time. Cr Bright: Ho lias just sent in Ins bill. Cr Jones: The proper course is to pay the bill, and then write to the guarantors. The Mayor: They arc to be refunded the amount if the poll is carried. Cr Jones said that the subscribers, by the guarantee, undertook to make good any amount not paid up. Practically' their statement was that they would paystraight away without waiting for any poll. Cr Morrison : Cr Miller referred to the overdraft, but if that money is collected and paid into tho hank it will ho earning more interest than we will have to pay on the Cr Miller: I have my own opinion about tho guarantee. I am honest about it.

Cr Morrison: You think wo won’t get it ?

Cr Miller, smiling, said ho would not say too much about it. Cr Jones said Mr Mcstayer’s account should ho paid up. Ho would have liked to sec some of the expense avoided, but they should now pay the account. Cr Miller withdrew his motion, which he said he had only proposed because Mr Mestayer said he was willing to wait. Cr Jones : That is under the assumption that the guarantee would not meet it. Or Miller ; There seems to be some doubt about that guarantee. (Laughter.) Cr Jones said the trouble would come when they wanted to collect it. In reply to an ejaculation, Cr Miller said that efforts had been made to induce him to sign the -guarantee, but he would not do so. The Mayor: Well, you are sincere ; move that the amount be called up. (Laughter.) Cr Miller : Will you move it ? The Mayor: No. Cr Miller (laughing): Oh, no! The Mayor: My name is on the list. (Laughter.) It will have to be paid. Cr Miller ! It will ? The Mayor: Yes. Cr Miller: The Mayor says “It will have to.be paid.” By the guarantors The Mayor: Yes. Cr Jones: That is if the poll is not carried. Cr Morrison: Let it all bo called up straight away. Cr Jones said that one subscriber for L'2s had become insolvent, but by the terms the others had to make that up. Cr Miller: Is your name there ? (Laughter.) Cr Jones: No; I took good care of that.

Cr Miller : It is the funniest thing in the world. There are six councillors on the list, and they have got to vote that they pay up. (Laughter.) Cr. Jones : AVe can’t pay it back to them once wo get it. (Laughter.) The Mayor : Perhaps it was only a loan. (Laughter.) Cr Bright : You will never got it. (Laughter.) The account was passed for payment, the guarantee subject being deferred.