"TAGGED"

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 244, 16 October 1913, Page 2

"TAGGED"

BANQUET EXPENSES

AUDITOR-GENERAL BECOMES

IMPATIENT

\ Unhappy memories of banquets tendered to Lord Islington and the Hon. T./ Mackenzie on the occasion of their respective visits to Whangarei were again revived at last week's meeting-of the Whangarei Council. The functions in question were most successful, but unfortunately the outlay by the Council in connection with them was consideol--j ably in excess of the amount allowed by law for unauthorised expenditure, and. as a consequence the annual balance-sheet of the local body was "tagged" by the Auditor-General, who has wnce made repeated requests that the excess expended should be refunded. It was during this, stage that the Council sought divers ways sto relieve the situation, but apparently without success, as at the meeting the Auditor-General wrote as follows:—"I have the honor to state that a breach of the law is not a subject in which the Minister can intervene, and unless your Council at once refunds the amount in ques- | tion I shall be compelled to issue surcharges forthwith. The matter must be settled." A member ventured the opinion that individual summonses would be issued, and the clerk stated that each member's liability was £13 los. Mr Morey: ' I move that we absolutely refuse to pay the amount demanded. Mr G. McKay moved, »s an amendment, that the account be settled. He added that it was only right that the money should be returned to the ratepayers. The Chairman disallowed the proposed amendment on the grounds that it was a negative, but as Mr Mqrpy's motion was not perj severed with it was decided merely ito receive the Aiiditor-Grencral's | letter. Further developments ai*e ) awaited with a good deal of interest, I and a suggestion has been made that I the guests who attended the banquets ! should be circularised and requested ( to help Councillors out of the position I in which they arc placed.