COUNCILLOR RESIGNS

Southland Times, Issue 20617, 16 October 1928, Page 7

COUNCILLOR RESIGNS

REPORT BY COMMITTEE. (Per United Press Association.) Chriitchurch, October 15. The Works Committee of the City Council of which' Councillor Hunter was formerly chairman, furnished a report to the council to-night of an inquiry into the circumstances of Councillor Hunter’s resignation from the council. Trading with the council in respect of coal supplies, and the use of a certain truck were the matter for inquiry. The committee drew up for itself the following order of reference:—(l) the alleged letting of contracts without calling for tenders; (2) in what way or manner the alleged breach of the Municipal Corporations Act occurred; (3) was the breach, if any, committed knowingly ?;• (4) to what extent were the council’s officers involved?; (5) to what extent was the Works Committee involved ?

The findings of the committee were:— (1) that in some instances orders for over £2O worth of goods were given without.calling for tenders but (a) the officers involved were under the impression that they were authorized to place such orders in special cases and (b) not infrequently three quotations were obtained before placing the orders. The method of purchase of supplies however is the same as that which has obtained for many years; (2)’ on the evidence submitted at the inquiry it was not proved that any intentional breach of the Act was committed; (3) this is answered by the answer to question number two; (4) the evidence exonerates the officers of the council from the slightest suspicion in connection with the matter; (5) The Works Committee transacted the business of purchasing coal in exactly the same manner as had been customary for many years. The buying of coal was left to the officers with a general instruction that the most suitable coal for the council’s* purposes should be purchased at the lowest price. The evidence showed that this instruction was carried out.