MEMBER RESIGNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 14

MEMBER RESIGNS

BOROUGH COUNCIL DISPUTE RATE REMISSION ARGUMENT £nv TKT.F.«nAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT] DARGAVILLE, Tuesday An allegation that a member of the Dargaville Borough Council had sought on behalf of a client a rebate of overdue rates, and then as a member of the rating committee had urged that the rebate should be approved, was the subject of a long discussion at a meeting of the council last night and culminated in Mr. R. Gibson resigning his seat. The matter arose when the Mayor, Mr. F. A. Jones, read a letter, signed by several legal firms, expressing concern as to the partiality shown by the council in the matter of dealing with arrears of rates and urging greater discretion in the matter of remissions.

The letter was supported by n deputation consisting of Messrs. F. S. Goulding and M. C. Astlev. Mr. Gibson denied receiving one and a-half guineas for obtaining a rebate in a certain case. He said that the charge was made for legal service. "On the strength of a letter we received from Mr. Gibson we reduced the arrears by £8 ss, and we accepted it as a bona fide representation of the position," said the Mayor, after hearing the deputation. " It is a most unfortunate position, particularly as tho information was not correct, and if Mr. Gibson had that knowledge it should have been available to tho committee." "It has been stated quito openly that a man made a payment for tho concession he had received, and that should be cleared up," said Mr. McLean. "Mr. Gibson, who is apparently being accused of doing something wrong, should make a statement about what that money was paid for." Mr. Gibson: Even then I refuse to betray the trust of my client. You can take my word or not. " Mr. Gibson was wrong in acting for a client and being on the body which adjudicated on tho matter," said the Mayor later. "I wish he had not been present at that meeting." Mr. Gibson: 1 will tender my resignation right now. The Mayor: That clears the position. " 1 would like to voice my confidence in Mr. Gibson," said Mr. A. S. Goodwin. " .1 think the council is taking a wrong attitude." The Mayor said later that there was no suggestion that Mr. Gibson should tender his resignation other than from the rating committee.

A motion to this affect was carried without dissent.