VACANCY ON COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23055, 4 December 1936, Page 13

VACANCY ON COUNCIL

EX-MEMBER SEEKS RE-ELECTION WARNING LETTER FROM MAYOR (Per United Press Association) DARGAVILLE, Dec. 3. A further development has occurred in connection with the extraordinary vacancy on the council. Ex-councillor Gibson, since handing his nomination to the returning officer, has received from the Mayor (Mr F. A. Jones) a letter, which states, inter alia:— " From certain statements appearing over your signature in the columns of the press, I conclude that it is your intention again to offer yourself as a candidate for the vacant seat on the Dargaville Borough Council. It is only fair on my part to warn you that, should such a position eventuate, it will be my unpleasant duty as Mayor and leader of the council to take the earliest opportunity of placing before the electors of Dargaville a full and complete statement, supported by facts t .d documents relating to the unfortunate incident which led up to your resignation at the last meeting of the council. Further, it is mv intention to advise the council at its next meeting to refer the whole matter to the borough solicitors for investigation and, if found necessary, submit the facts to the Auditor-general." Mr Gibson handed the letter to the press with the comment that he " welcomes any public disclosure."

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 month, 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.