TRUSTEES CHALLENGED.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9480, 7 December 1907, Page 5

TRUSTEES CHALLENGED.

PUNEDIN, December 6.

A meeting 5 Of th« Trustee '°t tj&e Otago Benevolent .Institution wag heldi this afternoon to consl^fiJ? the opinion ot the solicitor (Mr J. A. GoOh) on the validity of the election of six tfu&ife&s which took place at this week's meeting ot delegates from contributing bodies, and the validity of which has since been challenged. The solicitor's opinion was to the effect that there was no express provision in the Act empowering local authorities to exercise votes by pToxy, and that the late election was liable to be declared invalid if proper proceedings were taken for that purpose, fiie trustees were recommended to lay the whole matter befefle the Minister, aftd, if considered necessary, a special regulation or order could' be mode by the Governor to meet the «ase. It was decided that the three members whose status is challenged — namely, Messrs Talboys, Buwiett, and the Mayor — should carry 'on the business of trustees until the matter had been referred to the Minister and settled by him. Messrs Talboys, Burnett, end Loudon decided to place the matter before the Minister, and a letter was drafted for forwarding immediately.