WHOSE WAS THE LAND?

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1511, 14 February 1901, Page 66

WHOSE WAS THE LAND?

A ■'TRANSACTION IN MELROSE

BOROUGH

At last week’s meeting or the Melrose .Borough. Council, Councillor Fullford .brought up for discussion the action of * Councillor Keene in allegedly voting on. a question arising out of the acquirement of a road through the Island Bay racecourse, Councillor Keene being at the same time allegedly an interested party in the land through, which the road ran. There was, Councillor Fullford pointed out, a. penalty imposed by law upon anyone being a member of a. Council who voted upon a question in which he had. a pecuniary interest. Councillor Keene sprang to his feet, and repudiated the assertion of Councillor Fullford. He had only made an explanation in answer to a question. He had neither discussed the matter nor voted on it.

The Mayor (Mr Frost) bore out the explanation given by Councillor Keene. The latter was' asked a question relating to the property, and that was all thp part he took in the discussion. 'Councillor Fullford said he had been told by the Mayor that Councillor Keene was connected with the property in question. The Mayor said he had told Councillor Fullford that he had heard from the land valuer that the Jslari- Buy P r ®“ pert-y referred fro wa<s recorded m tho register as being the property of “ Keene and .others.” 1 Councillor, Highet moved, and Councillor Jorgensen seconded, a motion that the discussion be taken in committee. Councillor Keene said he would prefer publicity in the matter, ar>d the motion was therefore withdrawn.

Councillor Keene enteredinto a further explanation of his action, after an acrimonious discussion had taken place on immaterial points between the Mayor and Councillor Fullford. He (Councillor Keene), said he had ‘‘ fixed up a syndicate" to take over the island Bay racecourse.” He was the chief mover id that, butt -he at that time had no monetary interestin it. Since forming I>he syndicate, he had practically agreed td 'take 5 aGshare in it. The .real owner of ’ihe property was Mr Jacob Joseph. That could be discovered at the Land Transfer Office. . ... Councillor Highet said he would like to say .-a few words." tie objected to any electioneering being done at the Council tables! As a matter cf fact, he had owned land in the borough, and had since sold some; yet nis name still appeared at the Lands Office as owner thereof. Would he be prevented from, voting ii a question connected with that land arose? .

Councillor Walter objected to the question being brought up without due notice. He moved that consideration or the matter he deferred for a month, so that Councillors and ethers interested could see for thehiselvas at the Land Transfer Office who was the real owner of the land in question.

• Councillor Fuilford said he had no wish to press the. matter. He did not to see Councillor Keene ordered to pay a fine of £SO; but he thought it was necessary in the public interests, which he was sent to the Council to look after, that actions such as he was objecting to should not be permitted. Councillor Fuilford said that- Councillor -Keene must have had an idea at the time he voted that he was going to be an interested party in the venture. Even, if he was not then interested he should have left the table. The Mayor, in reply to a remark from Councillor Fuilford, reiterated that he had only told the latter that he had received information from the Land Tax Valuer to the effect that Keene was now returned as one of the owners of the property.

Councillor Fullford again expressed his willingness to withdraw the matter, but other Councillors thought that in fairness to Councillor Keene a vote should be taken on it.

The Mayor proceeded to put a motion censuring Councillor Keene, and Councillor Fullford rose to object to Councillor Highet’s insinuation that he (the mover) was electioneering. The Mayor: You have spoken I don’t know how many times, Councillor Fullford! I must ask you Councillor Fullford : I claim my right. He lias accused me Councillor Highet: So you. are! I object——

Councillor-Fuilford : I am not going to be talked to like that! The Mayor: Sit down, Councillor Fuilford. Councillor Fuilford : I won t. Councillor Clark: Adjourn, adjourn! The Mayor: I’ll move something else in a minute.

Councillor Fuilford sat down, and several Councillors stood up , with suggestions and speeches trembling in the balance.

The question was again put to the vote, Councillor Fuilford, in reply to a query put to him, asserting that he could not admit he was mistaken. Councillor Keene, he said, had practically admitted the truth of his (Councillor Fullford’s) strictures.

The motion was put and negatived, Councillor Fuilford being the only voter in its favour.