COUNCIL INQUIRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 54, 3 February 1937, Page 2

COUNCIL INQUIRY

SPECIAL COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

ADDITION OF WITNESSES

More was heard, at the meeting of the Palmerston North City Council, on Monday, concerning the gasworks inquiry. This origiiually commenced in August of last year, but, the complete report has not yet been presented. The Mayor (Mr A. E. Maneford) moved that the report of the special committee in connection with the gasworks inquiry be received, and Gr. W. B. Tennent sought permission to add the name of a witness (Mr Edyvean) who, lie said, had been omitted from the list of those giving evidence. Cr. J. Hodgens, M.P., commented that this would give him (Cr. Hodgens) the opportunity of submitting the names >f several witnesses whom he wished to be called. The Mayor informed Cr. Hodgens that if he gave notice, at the conclusion of the meeting, of the witnesses he wished to call, the council would probably be pleased to heal them. Cr. Hodgens pointed out that, under these circumstances, Cr. Tennent was being permitted to call another witness without a vote by tlie council on the matter of the admission of this ldence, whereas his (Cr. Hodgens s) request would be subject to a vote by the council. , , . , The Mayor said that, to be perfectly candid, he did not remember the name of the witness brought forward by Cr. Tennent, mentioned previously, but he was prepared to accept Cr. Tennent’s statement that the name or this witness had been inadvertently, omitted from the report. He did not think there was anything to stop Or. Hodgens from ' calling any witnesses he desired to call. Cr. Hodgens: I sincerely hope that there is not. 1 don’t want to be put in a false position by the council again. The Mayor: We have not put you in a false position yet. Cr. Hodgens: We will debate that now. , , The Mayor: No. We do not want to debate it" now. The council meeting was called for other business. Cr. Hodgens pursued the point fie had raised concerning the witness mentioned by Cr. Tennent. . “We are not going to waste an night over trifles like this,” said the Mavor, on whose motion the name of Cr. Tennent’s witness was added to tlie report. „ , Subsequently Cr. Hodgens gave notice requesting that Mr Turner (a witness) be recalled, and that three fuither witnesses, Messrs McEwen, Cantlon and P. T. Robinson be called Cr. Tennent intimated that ir Robinson was called, be wished to call Mr Ward, from Auckland. The Mayor commented that this sort of thing was going to stretch out the inquiry for weeks more He did not know when finality would be reached. Cr J- T. J. Heatley : Will the council have to meet the expense of bringin cr a witness trom Auckland. The Mayor: Yes, if we bring him Tennent intimated that he would consider whether this could be obviated after Mr Robinson s evidence had been taken.

RESUMPTION OF INQUIRY. It was agreed to resume the inquiry last night, when more witnesses were to be heard. , . , , Cr Hodgens said lie wanted to clear his name once and for all of any suggestion of ulterior motives in connection with the administration of the department. Earnest, serious and determined attempts had been made, through the 350 pages of evidence already taken, to incriminate him, and there was definite evidence that certain councillors had been in consultation with disgruntled employees for the purpose of “getting some mud to stick on” to him. He only wanted to clear his name by calling all the evidence to do so. It must he disagreeable to some of the councillors who had not made any allegations against him; in fact, it must be nauseating and almost unbearable, but an important point was involved so far as he was concorned. He would willingly second a motion to bring any witness who was wanted. He had no fear of what the issue would he, and wanted to satisfy the council, or a majority at least, that he was not the kind of person he was apparently alleged to be. The Mayor said the council w.anted to see that no witness required '".as left out. It had been said early in the inquiry that every opportunity would be given for taking ah the evidence desired, and effect would bo given to that.