“PICKINGS” AT NAPIE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7047, 8 February 1910, Page 7

“PICKINGS” AT NAPIE

(BOROUGH COUNCIL SEAT? VACANT. THE CHARITABLE AID BOARD OHALLEN GED. Brsciat to tub " tikis." NAPIER, February 7. Another phase in the “municipal pickings” case .is the decision of the •borough solicitors; upon the facta stated to them, that Messrs Crowley, A. ,J. Williams, Bagleton, "Widorstrom, and iv. Beecham. have rendered their -scats vacant by having ’exceeded the legal limitation in the matter of supplies'to trio corporation. This, with tlie vacancy duo to Mr Thomson’s resignation ns a result of the Government auditor's tag to the balance-sheet, leaves six scats to fill and the council without a quorum. Some people who describe themselves a-s “iriends of the councillors” whoso seats are .declared vacant attempt, it not to defend tR&n, thou to depredate anyt.’uTng being isaid about the question ou the ground- that “it will give Napier a bad ’name and that it is the d newspapers that have made tlio trouble.” Others say,that probably every town in New Zealand would have its own “picking” exposure if .the faots •could he known. ,

This if true would argue a very low, 'standard of morality, hut it would not excuse what has already been proved as a result" iof “that tag.” ’. f Now comes the suggestion, of iandthor sensation, the making some awkward accusations against the ''Charitable Aid ißoaird. , It is Charged With" flailing to 'invito tenders •for supplies of certain goods and of purchasing from somebody so •uncertain of his own identity -Burt ho spells hisr name one way on the oooount sent in and in .nil other way on the receipt. The ‘'Telegraph’’ further says that this person did mot attend at the office for payment, hut hiad the money taken to him by some intermediary. The board is challenged to name the intermediary who brought back the receipt. The only person in Napier .of the name on the receipt whom the "Telegraph” can discover is a man who was employed os carmaker of the Arcade buildings, and It aisles why, if the hoard resolved To' transgress the public tender clause in .We Act, it did not buy off some known _trad)effiu'an. in the town insfc'aad Of from a person who appears to have been ntono tico confident of bis own Identity.