LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 52, 25 October 1912, Page 6

LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 24. ' Mr. Dickson, M.P., said an employee of the Board bad told him that he had been advised by the chairman that ho had better not support his (Mr. Dickson’s) candidature. He thought the loan was approved before lie became a member of the Road Board. When he became a member he approved of the loan. He knew employees of the Hoard were working in his interests during the election. Colonel R. J. Collins, Controller and' Auditor-General, was,called by ,Sir< Joseph Ward. Ho said that ho had had many years’ experience of the loans to local bodies system. Ho had never been under any political pressure from anyone. There had beep shown. He was Secretary to the Treasury in 1909, when the Rangitikei byelection was held, and knew that a Taihape loan of £21,250 was obtained from the Bank of New Zealand under Government guarantee. The borough made its own arrangements with the bank, and there was no political inter- 1 ferenco at all. The Department had nothing to do with this part of the transaction. This evidence closed the enquiry. The committee has now to draw up a report for submission to the House.'