THE "LIBERAL" COMMITTEE.
PROCEEDINGS FOR ELECTION 1 v v : EXPENSES. " MR. DUNCAN EXPLAINS. At the R.M. Court yesterday morning, before Dr. Giles, R.M., Mr. H. Brett, proprietor of the Evening Star, applied for a judgment for the sum of £15, for advertising, against Mr. R. J. Duncan, secretary of the Auckland "Liberal" Committee. The claim was made up as follows Advertising the Liberal candidates, £6 15s ; reports and speeches of Messrs. Napier, Shera, and Rees, £6 15s ; and miscellaneous, 15s. Mr. R. A. Dunne appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Duncan was nob represented by counsel. Mr. Dunne explained that Mr. Duncan was secretary to the Central Liberal Committee at the time of the late general election. It was in connection with this election that the liability was incurred. Mr. Duncan stated that he was a commission agent, residing in Auckland. At the time of the late general election, he was honorary secretary to the Central Liberal Committee. It was a very large committee, and the candidates attended almost daily — sometimes twice a day. Messrs. Rees, Napier, and Shera were present on almost all occasions, and if any of them happened to be absent he was informed of all the ' business that had been transacted. The work done by witness as secretary was very onerous, and took up a great deal of his time. On being pressed for the money, witness sent the following letter to Mr. Rees — W. L. Rees, Esq., M.H.R. Dear Sir,The proprietor of the Evening Star has summoned me as the person who acted as the secretary of the Liberal committee, for the payment of £15, with 10s expenses.' The casewill be heard on Thursday next, the 2nd April. lam also threatened with legal proceedings for the recovery of account due to the New Zealand Herald, and for balance due for hire of the City Hall. I have informed Messrs. Napier and Shera of the action taken, and hope that you, in conjunction with these gentlemen, will take steps to prevent the matter being taken into Court. — Yours truly, R. J. Duncan. Mr. Rees was the only one of the gentlemen who sent any reply. Mr. Duncan believed that Mr. Rees had endeavoured to meet ths other gentlemen, but nothing had been done. Mr. Duncan considered that it was a very disgraceful thing that as a return for all his work as secretary to the committee he should be summoned for his trouble, and made liable for the committee's debts. He told Mr. Rees of the circumstances, and that gentleman offered to lend him the money if he promised to pay it back. He (Mr. Duncan) had agreed to this course, and intended to see what could be done to recover their share from the others. The orders for the advertisements were signed by himself as secretary, with the concurrence and under the instructions of the committee. He admitted his personal liability, and stated* that he came to make a public statement. Dr. Giles stated that if Mr. Duncan admitted his liability there was no necessity to go any further with the case. The Court had nothing to do with the hearing of such public statements. He would give judgment for the plaintiff for the amount claimed, with costs £2 Is.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8538, 11 April 1891, Page 3
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545THE "LIBERAL" COMMITTEE. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8538, 11 April 1891, Page 3
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