MEMBERS' EXPENSES

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 5637, 17 June 1914, Page 2

MEMBERS' EXPENSES

PAYMENT QUESTIONED.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. New Plymouth, Wednesday. A case of considerable interest to education boards was heard at the Magistrate's Court, when the Taranaki Education Board sued the chairman and eight members for £5 lis, the amount of expenses paid to a delegate to the conference of education boards held in Wellington on May 20th, 1912, and surcharged by the Audit Department. The case was argued at considerable length, the main point hinging on what constitutes an official visit under section 120 of the Public Revenues Act of 1910.

A conference was convened by the North Canterbury Board for the day before the conference of local bodies on the Local Government Bill. The delegate in question was appointed by the chairman of the board without a meeting, and instructed to attend this conference. He also interviewed the Minister on other matters, which occupied an additional two days. It was contended by counsel for the board that this was not an official visit. The minute confirming his appointment subsequent to his return did not mention an interview with the Minister. He had not been authorised by the board to interview him, even if that was an official visit. Counsel for defendants contended that the conference was virtually an official visit, and that the interview with the Minister was tacitly confirmed by the board. Judgment was reserved.