The Payment to Mr Bastin.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7791, 16 March 1904, Page 5

The Payment to Mr Bastin.

The BoroiighSolictor'sOpinion.

Previous to the ordinary meetins of the Council being held lust night the adjourned special meeting took place to iurther consider the question o£ the payment of £225 to Cr. Bastin for the production of plans of the drainage scheme. ~ The Mayor announced that he had seen the Borough solicitor who had expressed the opinion that the work being done previous to the election of Mr Eastin the money could be legally paid over. The opinion was verbal but Mr Fnzherbert would put it m writing. The Mayor continuing, said the resolution before the meeting was " Tliatthe Council pay Mr Bastin the sum of ,£225 for fcne production o£ plans o£ the septic tank and the balance to Mr G. L, R, Scott to complete the sum of £425.' The motion was seconded by Cr Essex Cr Tolley said he had taken the trouble during the day to interview some of the leading business men of the town on the matter, and they had agreed with him that the whole matter was a most unbusinesslike proceeding He did no 1; wish to waste any further time, but he emphatically VotesW against payment being made, and the more so because he believed some of the councillors had the beneßt of information not shared by the whole of the Council. Any information recording this matter should have been given to the whole Council.

Cr Essex rose to a. point ot order stating that Cr Tolley had spoken to the motion last night. The objection was overruled by the Mayor.

Cr Tolley said that all those with the true interest and integrity of the Council at heart would insist upon the production of the vouchers before pnyment was made. He would not waste further time; he knew there was a majority of the councillors prepared to pass "the resolution —pledged outside.

Crs Essex, Goodger and France rose to a point of order and protested against cho statements made by Cr Toliey. who withdrew the statement, saying he did not wish to reflect upon any Councillor. He, however, desired to pretest; rncst strongly against the proceedings. Cx Goodgcr denied thai ho htd received any private information on the question, and the Mayor said all he knew of the matter outside the Council was that lasn Tuesday Mr Bastm had in■formed him that he did not think ths Council should insist upon the pro3uc-.ion of tho vouchers. He was, however finite prepared to show them to individual Councillors and to tbo auditor. The resolution was then put c.nd carried, Cc Toliey protesting on bis own r.nc Lc Hiydou'd behalf against it.