CANVASSING ALLEGED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21420, 12 March 1935, Page 17

CANVASSING ALLEGED

| AI'I'OINT;\]KNT OF INSPECTOR Allegations that councillors; had been canvassed on behalf of an applicant lor the position of borough in:«<Qtor were made at the meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council last evening, and as a result, a recommendation by the general purposes committee, that the applicant concerned be appointed, was not, adopted, and the applications will be further considered. In its report the general purposes committee advised that 31 applications had been received for the position of borough inspector, of which 20 possessed tilt? necessary qualifications. The committee recommended that a certain applicant be appointed. Cr. Sinclair said he objected to the man being appointed. The applicant was canvassed for by one of the councillors. He was not the only councillor who had been approached. Cr. Halliday: Cr. Sinclair says thai he was approached by another councillor. Surely one councillor may speak to another regarding such a matter.

Cr. Sinclair: Certainly not. I was approached a week before the meeting of the committee.

Cr. Fowles said that as the applicant himself had not approached councillors, no canvassing had taken place. Cr. Sinclair: I am not going to beat about the bush. Cr. Gower was the councillor concerned. If he had been present, I would have objected just the same. Cr. Gower approached me on the bowling green, and asked me to vote for this applicant, as he was a good man.

The report was adopted, with the exception of the clause concerning the appointment of the inspector. Cr. Collett moved that a special meeting of the council be held on Monday next to consider the appointment of an inspector. The motion was seconded by Cr. Neville. Cr. Fowles said Cv. Gower was away on three weeks' holiday. He would probably return before Monday nieht. The motion was carried.