ALLEGED PLUMBING TRUST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1535, 3 September 1912, Page 5

ALLEGED PLUMBING TRUST.

A special meeting of the Hult Borough Council was held last evening lo consider tho matter of nil ulleged plumbing trust and the prices charged ratepayers. This was the outcome of a .'deputation which waited upon the council at tho last ordinary meeting. Those present were: The Mayor, Mr. 13. I'. Bunny, Councillors Ball, Jlodgins, Clendon, Knight, Hawthorn and liobbs. The Mayor stated that it did not: follow, because certain prices were charged, that there *-as a ring. It was best, ho thought, to Inlio tho cases 'individually. The first cuso considered was that of Mr. Tresidder, who alleged that'ho had been overcharged. Tho engineer explained that tho eontract price had been based on his estimate. Mr." Tresiddcr had accepted tho highest lender. The Mayor asked if the engineer ("bought that the price- (£2») was excesTho engineer did not; think so. Mr. Gardner, Dorough Inspector, also certified Hint tho price was reasonable. Tho Mayor then asked Councillor Ball if he could prove that I lit statoment niailo by the council's officials was incorrect.' Councillor .Ball's prico had worked out at Jill. The engineer explained that Councillor Ball hnd left out several details in his estimate of cost. Councillor Hull submitted that Mr. Trcssidir's job worked out at Is. fid. per foot. He had known of cases in other boroughs where the price had been Is. aud Is. 3d. per fool. The council then went into details in regard to several other cases. Mr. Gardner intimated that all the cases under review wore exceptional ones. A letter was then raid-from Jliv Tresfider, in which, ho objected lo the treatment meted out to him by the council in pressing him to connect up with lire scheme. Tli<> clerk intimated that it was at tho instigation of tho Health Department that the drainage had been onlvral to be put

\ number of oilier letters were read dealing «t length with aWegeA overclmrge.s. ~.-,, „ In siiniming up the position, Mr. Hunny eaiU that there luul been no evidence to.show that a ring existed or that (ho jiricps in the rases stated had been improper. In mjnrd to the officon, ho would mid that ratepayers should now hiivo everv tonfideiite in them. Counciitor Hall combatant the fttalemenl. Mr. Bunny Iliou moved, ami Councillor Knight seconded: "That Hie council finds that there, is no evidence of n plumbers' linn oxiMJUft in the district, and in rcto specific i-.i?ps of alleged nvcrfhoi'fing, Ihe evident? K«cs to show tlnil the priws were rßJSonublp in every ea.'e." Councillor Unit voted, ogniutt the motku, vliioh. was parried,