CR. BALL'S CHARGES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1736, 29 April 1913, Page 8

CR. BALL'S CHARGES.

CONDUCT OF HLTT AFFAIRS. At the, nieciing of,.(hoHutfc Borough Council,' held last liiglit, tho'Mayor, Mr. E. P. Bunny, referred to the charges recently made by Councillor Ball. He said that ho desired to extend to the councillors his sense of appreciation of 1 the courtesy shown him generally during tho past two years. The councillors had always been'actuated by the highest motives. He was sorry to lmvo to refer to one unfortunate matter, that was tho statement made by a- councillor to tho eft'cct that the Mayor and councill'ors had been guilty of irregularities. He had been elected as a councillor in 1500, and on two occasions had been returned as Mayor unopposed, and had been elected after a contest on four occasions. It came as a surprise to him that a certain councillor had mndo charges against tho present council of wire-pulling, when he had assured tho council that ho did not refer to the present council. ; Councillor Ball: Only in regard to bribery. . , Mr. JJunny said that bribery had not been mentioned, and in regard to Martin's'subdivision-, which. Councillor Hall said would only benefit one body lfjoadod. It was suggested, that the council had iictod improperly in supporting the local bowling club. To show tho absurdity ot tho c-hargo he (Mr. Bunny) pointed out that the roading of Martin's subdivision claimed tho attention of tho council m 11)01, before tho bowling club came into existence. Mr. 0. Stevens was Mayor at (lie time, and ho and Ills council ; endeavourcil to sccure for tho public of Hutfc tlio use of theso roads for all tunc. An opinion was obtained from the borough solicitor on tho subject as far back as August, 190-1. The charges were an act ot absurdity, and arose; from an improper suspicion in the liinid of ono councillor. In regard to tho other charges, made, Mr.'Bunny exonerated councillors from the allegations, and paid a high oomplimeiit to Councillor J. T. Hawthorne, who has left tho district. Councillor Ball congratulated the Mayor on the way ho had Jilaeed tho totters before the council, lie intended to reler to tho questions himself, but under tlio circumstanccs would loavo tho public to -judge, of his actions himself.