MR. WILFORD.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1333, 10 January 1912, Page 6

MR. WILFORD.

WHAT HE' REALLY DID SAY. COUNSEL ADMISSIBLE. At tin's stage Hie Acting-Mayor niado thu following statement to the council:— "With reference to tho letter from tho Wellington Tramway Employees' "Union, dated January 5, covering a resolution of that body, in which it is suggested that it was arranged between tho Mayor (Mr. Wilford) and the union that neither side should be represented by counsel at tho .Fuller inquiry, but that tho union 'should meet tho council in open, and there provo tho complaints made against Inspector Fuller, each, side to conduct their own case,' I think it only fair to the Mayor to state what I know of tho circumstances. "Mr. Wilford, when Bpeaking to me on the subject, was decidedly of ■opinion that the council itself did not ■ need lognl advice or assistance in conducting tho inquiry, the council simply acting as jurors. Mr. Wilford certainly said nothing to indicate that the union or Inspector Fuller not be represented by counsel.' However, it may be that the statement of the Mayor that the council would not require legal assistance has been misunderstood' by the union to mean that each side should conduct their ' own case -without legal assistance."

Councillor Fletcher remarked that, nn the other hand, Mr. Wilford had expressed the opiniou, in his presence, that it was very much better lo do without counsel. Other councillors were present who had heard Mr. Wilford make this statement, At the bos?wuDg there had. boea

no question of countel being employed to conduct this inquiry.

Councillor Shirtcliffo said fh;;t he hud spoken to tho Mayor on tin's subject, aboard the stonmer, on the night Wore he left for England. Mr. Wilford then stated.to him that it wmild bo fair and proper for each aide lo be represented by counsel. , The council then adjourned.