A GRAVEL EPISODE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 8, 20 December 1911, Page 6

A GRAVEL EPISODE.

■ COUNCIL NEARLY SUES A MIAUL Eli. AMI GAELE SETTLE .A lEN T. Wlk'h tlio old County Council was in office, it had brought under its notice the fact that gravel was being taken from Manaia Load without permission. Cr. Anderson, now a member of the new Council, but not of the old, was the man dropped upon, and he was ordered to pay cue amount of x. 23. This sum was subsequently reduced, and this morning at the meeting of the Council the subject again came under discussion, when a portion of the Engineer’s report staled mat he saw no reason wny the sum should lie’further reduced. Cr. Smith, who had been deputed to act with the Engineer in the matter, moved chat a previous motion that Cr. Anderson pay £7 for gravel taken from -the Manaia Road lie rescinded. He believed that there had ueen an attempt to make a scapegoat of Cr. Anderson. Cr. Anderson said ho had been dropped on because he wouldn’t crawl to anybody. Several members expressed the opinion that Cr. Anderson would have been doing the most graceful tiling in paying the amount straight away. Or. Anderson asked why the old Council did not proceed with the case when he refused to pay the amount. A member: We thought the ease had already been settled. We thought the amount had been paid. Cr. Anderson said he had been called, by men in the West Riding, a thief. Ho took the metal alright but in the next two months men had taken fifty yards of metal. He had informed a Councillor of the matter, and nothing had been done. Meanwhile he was faced with a prosecution. A member: “The Council didn’t know about that gravel being taken.” The motion was then put and lost on the voices. Cr. Anderson thanked Cr. Smith for the trouble be had taken, and proceeded to say that he had no't paid the amount because ho did not consider the valuation just. He would not pay' the £7. Cr. Walter: “That is a direct challenge !” With many expressions of regret it was decided that the Council’s solicitors bo instructed to take proceedings against Cr. Anderson to recover the £7 claimed. The Chairman had commenced other business when Cr. Smith rose again and re-opened the matter. The discussion was very difficult to follow, but it appeared that Cr. Anderson did not pay 7 the sum because Cr. Smith and the Engineer could not agree ns to the amount that should be paid. Cr. Smith put this right by moving the amount to be paid bo £7. This was seconded, the previous motion rescinded, and the members gratefully passed on to other business, thankful that the position of a Council suing one of its own members had been averted.