FULLER CASE AGAIN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1383, 8 March 1912, Page 6

FULLER CASE AGAIN.

LEGAL EXPENSES, COUNCIL BEFUSE TO BAY, "That the request of, ex-Inspector Fuller that the council pay the law costs incurred by him iii connection wilh the charges laid against him by the Tramways Union, and amounting to J;l7 175., be not acceded to." The above recouunendntion appeared in the report of the Tramways Ccmmittec, which came before the City Council last evening. Councillor Shirlclifl'e moved that tho clause lie taken in committee. The motion was defeated, and the business was taken in open council. Councillor Shirtcliffc stated that he would hove to vote against the amendment. He thought that the council would make a mistake if the recommendation were carried. Bearing in mind the whole circumstances—the fact that Inspector Fuller was arraigned before the council by the tramway employees, that he was necessarily put to the expense of employing counsel to defend his character, aiid that he was exonerated by the council from the charges levelled against him— the council ought, in common fairness as between employees, see that this man ■ should not bo out of pocket for this amount. When one section of employees brought a charge against another employee and failed, it was not fair for the council to allow tho employee charged to be out of pocket. The other side had asked for payment for witnesses which they proposed to call. Councillor Trevor: Tho tramwaymen will be asking us to pay their fines next. Councillor Shirtclift'e: They have abandoned that. But I have no" doubt whatever that if witnesses had been called, a strong effort would have been marie to get the- council to pay those witnesses. \Vo have got to see this man through this business, and it would be.'outrageous to pass this motion. Councillor Godber: If it is outrageous then, so far as I am concerned, we will do an outrageous thing. If anyone is to pay.these legal expenses it should be tho Tramways Union and not the council. I object to being mulcted in this sum through no fault of our own. A suggestion from Councillor Cameron that the City Solicitor ought to.be asked whether the council was liable for the costs was met with a scoffing denial by other councillors, and Councillor Cameron did not persevere with his question. In response to cries of "Question," the Acting-Mayor put the clause, and declared it carried on the voices. On a division being called for, . the voting was as follows:— Ayes: The Acting-Mayor, Councillors Atkinson, Barber, Cohen, Fletcher, Fuller, Godber, Hiudmarsh, M'Kenzie, Trevor, Fitzgerald. 'Noes: Councillors Cameron, Frost, and Shirtcliffe.