THE ALLEGED DISQUALIFICATION OF M.KENNEDY, M.H.R.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 91, 5 November 1877, Page 2

THE ALLEGED DISQUALIFICATION OF M.KENNEDY, M.H.R.

The following is the report brought up by the Select "Committee appointed to enquire into and report upon the allegod r disqualification to sit v in the House, of Mr Martin Kennedy, the member for Grey Valley :— •' That bavins taken evidence in the mattor of Mr Kennedy, and his alleged or supposed disqualification, they have agreed to the following resolution :r—- " That a contract to Biipply tlie Government offices in Wellington with coal w,as entered into in tho name, of 'Martin Minoguo on or about tho 20th March, 1877." "That tho said Martin Minogue was and" is a servant of the Brunncr Coal Company (Limited;) and receives a salary of £4 per week; and it would, appear to your Committee that virtually the contract was taken not for his own benefit, but for that ofr the company." "That Mr' Martin Kennedy is, tho. managor of tho said company, and. the largest shareholder therein, and as. such shareholder he is interested in thp. said, contract." " That the said company was regis* tercd as a joint stock company under • The Joint Stock Companies^Act, 1.860/----on tho 10th June, 1874; and; there have not been for somo time seven members in tho said company, nor have other, provisions of * The Joint Stock Companies Act, 1860,' been complied with, by tho. said Brunner Coal Company." That the amount to be paid in.r/Bspecfc of the said contract is mow than, £s in. one financial year. That tho said Brunner Goal Company. (Limited) also suppUpd the Government railway at GreymoujSh. with coal, apd the amount they received from the Govern-, ment during the financial year 1576?77 has been, for coal, £0 9a Bd, and for coke $126 7s 6d. That in the opinion of this Comrni(to. Mr Kennedy has, not become disqualified under the provision&of * Tho Disqunlifipa*. tion Act, 1876,' as there does not seem to be any clearly expressed intention to exclude, members who aft^r their election may become contractors, with i&e Gov«< ernment. The Committee, however, believe that the spirit of the Act has. been infringed and that. this, has been, done deliberately ; that tho name of Mr Minoguo was used for the purpose o£ % attempting to get rid of any question, being raised about Mr Kennedy's disqualification. . That thjß CojnmUtee belieY.ethjifc ijt wss,

"JT, • the intention of ,the Act to v disquiili *. ' l r momborg who^ might become contracto l 'with "the Government in tho same way U 'v Act, 1870, proyidj i\ nnd< the Committoo would urge, iftl * Legislature do intend, tbafc tho fcoveu "ii section of the Act bo slightly amended I v the insertion of tho words, or of holdir a' soatror serving immediately after tl words to serro' in tho sevonteenl - Jihc:;;ollifs|r>ntb>ection. BnOU '^ a ! so c rovl ?' ( wltli alyi^oa^^ aore specific definitk qf rSODb holding ofliees - i '- omofuniefliiii§:&, # i of cither Hbus ft. t (lepiarin|||;Seat not to.be vacant in tl I Houso- passing saph resolution, should bi r '/plll-R*P*iß.e.dings; in tho Sapreme Cou isgiinsl' theSnemhor concerned."