Why Mr McLean Was Disqualified

Northern Advocate, 25 March 1937, Page 6

Why Mr McLean Was Disqualified

£Special to •*Northern Advocate/I DARGAVILLE, This Day.

In connection with the compulsory resigatnion of the deputy-mayor, Mr J. A. McLean, as a result of unwittingly breaking the local authorities regulations in his efforts to assist the Dargaville Borough Council, the town clerk. Miss L. Watson, explained the position which had arisen to a special meeting of the council. When Mr McLean became chairman of the library committee several years ago, she said, the library finances were at a low ebb, and with the view to assisting the committee he had made an offer to supply the library’s book requirements at cost. The offer was accepted and the books had been bought in that manner for some considerable time, payments being made through Mr McLean up to the statutory limit and beyond that amount. Cheques were forwarded direct to the firms supplying the books. The Audit Office, advised that the balance-sheet for the year ended March 31, 1936, had been certified as correct subject to the exception that the interest of a councillor in contracts with the council, the aggregate of payment in respect of which exceeded £25 in the financial year, .disqualified him under the Local Authorities (Members’ Contracts) Act, 1924. I “I am pleased to state that in this lease no mala fide dealings with the council are suggested and on the evidence submitted the . Audit Office is satisfied that you acted in good faith throughdut your dealings wih the council,” added the Auditor-General’s letter.