COSTLY REFRESHMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 21

COSTLY REFRESHMENTS.

LORD MAYOR'S BAN. COUNCILLORS WITH A THIRST. According to the Lord Mayor of Perth, Western Australia, Sir William Lathlain, M.L.C., "base abuses" of the 3 per cent, account of the Perth City Council have been taking place. The Municipal Corporations Act provides that the council may in any year expend a sum not exceeding 3 per cent, of the ordinary revenue "for any purpose connected with the municipality and for the benefit or credit thereof, although not within the scope of the Act." This is known as the 3 per cent, account, out of which the council pays for such things as receptions, refreshments, cigars and cigarettes. Councillors have for years had free access to drinks, cigars and cigarettes, the cost being debited to the 3 per cent, account. Sir William Lathlain said at a recent meeting of the council that, following upon fruitless appeals, he had ruled a few weeks ago that the serving of refreshments should be limited to the days of meetings and inspections and to half nn hour before meetings and half an j hour afterwards. This proving of no avail, he caused a notice to be posted that no alcoholic liquor and no cigars or cigarettes would in future be provided. A motion condemning the Lord Mayor for this action was moved at a meeting of tho council, but was rejected by a big majority in favour of abolishing expenditure on refreshments for the remainder of the financial year, covering all drinks, cigars and cigarettes. The 3 per cent, expenditure for a recent fortnight was £1 for each councillor. For the fortnight 435 cigars, 1820 cigarettes and 15£ bottles of whisky were consumed, in addition to the usual quantities of other drinV*.