BOARD AND CONTRACTOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15481, 12 December 1913, Page 7

BOARD AND CONTRACTOR.

WESTPOBT DISCLOSURES. [BY TILEGRAPH— CORRESPONDENT.] \ Wellington, Thursday. l m /T rt ° the West P Harbour iioard Commission contains a reference to one ,of the . board's .'trading', accounts, which, the report calls for particular mention. During the time that a contractor. (who had a contract with the Motueka Harbour Board) was a member of the board, the. board lent to him part of its plant. One other member of the 'board was interested.as a guarantor in this contract. The terms upon which the plant (pumping machinery and pumps) was let were that, the contractor was to give a bailment over the. plant and deposit £100 as security for the payment of rent and for the return of the plant. The rent was fixed at 10s a week. The bailment was executed, but no deposit was made, no rent has been paid, and the plant has been in use by the contractor since the board towed the plant to Motueka for the contractor by means of its tug at a booked charge of £77. ■*

The report goes on to say: "The charges both for towage and rent are very low, and nothing has been paid on the account. These charges have not been brought into the books of account of the board, and were. not submitted to the Government auditor. This absent plant is not covered by insurance. This same contractor has, at previous times whilst a member of the board, had the use of the board's plant for the purposes of his business as a contractor and upon advantageous terms. Upon occasions, other plant of the board has been .hired upon inadequate terms, and in some instance* lent freo of charge."