What does it Mean?

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 176, 31 July 1888, Page 2

What does it Mean?

flO THE EDITOR.] Sir,—Since reading the reports of the las Borough Council meeting I have awaited with interest to know what would be the outcome of some of the statements made at that meet* ing. In connection with Gladstone road con tract it was said there had been a “ wholesale system [of dishonesty practised.” Your contemporary attributes the remarks to Cr Ponsford, while your report (which was a fuller one) put them as from Cr Joyce ; but for my purpose it matters little who said it. What I wish to comment on is the strange fact that this extraordinary statement has been allowed to pass unchallenged. Were the serious implication devoid of truth it is not one that could well be treated with contempt, made as it was by a gentleman sitting at the council table of our principal civic body—a person elected by a large number of ratepayers to represent them in the conduct of public affairs, and therefore one w’io it would be supposed would not make any but the most guarded statements on a question of this kind. Moreover the Council was advised that if they took a certain course they wo jld be encouraging dishonesty. One Councillor observed that the sureties had themselves lost money, but this in no way removes the stigma that has been placed upon them, and in the same breath the contractor himself is accused of having been dishonest, and in another case I understand, Knox (the second contractor) accuses the Overseer of not treating him fairly. Having none of the facts before me I am unable to form a correct judgment, but, sir, does it not seem astonishing that such things can be ? The Overseer, being present, appears to have given a satisfactory explanation, but here we have Councillors making very grave charges, and there is not one word in defence of those accused. If the bare truth has been told then our commercial morality must have been at a low ebb, but the Councillor who makes this known is entitled to the thanks of the ratepayers. What am Ito think ?—I am, etc., Ratepayebjc