THE QUESTION OF GRAFT.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 631, 10 May 1921, Page 5

THE QUESTION OF GRAFT.

OFFICIAL EXONERATED. BY BOROUGH COUNCIL. The Pukekohe Borough Council room presented something of the solemnity of a Police Court on Saturday morning when the Mayor and Councillors were assembled to clear up rumours in connection with a case of alleged “graft” by one of the officials, which had been brought forward by the Mayor on his inauguration With one exception there was a full Council, Cr T. Brownlee being an absentee owing to being laid up. In the room were several members of the legal profession and several citizens who showed deep interest in the proceedings. ' The Mayor (Mr J. Routly) in opening the proceedings said that the allegation that an official had accepted a bribe of £5 to expedite either a water or electric light extension had certainly been made, and as Mayor of the borough he wanted the matter cleared up immediately. He had been asked why he had not spoken to the official in question before bringing the matter up in a public council meeting, but he felt that no secret methods would do and that it was best to fully investigate the matter openly. He read over the notes of his inaugural address, in which he first mentioned the allegation and trusted that it would not be found to be true. In regard to the matter of his being in the wrong, he would even if the official in question succeeded in getting damages against him, always treat him as if nothing had happened. Cr. Armstrong said that as chairman of the committee under which the victim was working, he wanted to know who the person of high standing was that the Mayor had stated came into his office in Auckland and told him of the allegation.

The Mayor: Mr Dynes Fulton, Cr. Armstrong then outlined the history of the electric lighting plant and gave an instance where the official in question could have pocketed without being accused of bribery the sum of £3OO, but his loyalty to the borough had made him refuse it. He instanced several occasions on which at auction sales the official referred to had given up his own time to serve the borough. Now a paltry £5 was brought up, as though a man who saved the borough £3OO would for one minute do such a thing. The Mayor: I take it we did not come here to extol the official in question, but to find out the truth of these rumours. Do you consider these rumours paltry?

Cr. Armstrong: The amount is paltry but the rumours are very serious.

The Mayor: Then Cr. Armstrong, do you think no notice should be taken of these rumours floating about? Cr. Armstrong: Certainly not.

Cr. Patterson, to the Mayor: You make these charges or allegations and produce no witnesses. Even your principal witness, Mr Fulton, is not here. You must father the statement.

The Mayor: Please do not cast any slur on Mr Fulton. He is a straight man and will not go back on his word.

At this very moment, as though to substantiate the Mayor’s statement Mr Fulon strode into the room.

The Mayor: Mr Fulton, do you remember coming into my office just after the recent elections and stating that you had beard that, an official of the Borough Council had delayed either a water works or a electric installation, but upon being given a pvesnt of £5 got the work done without delay? Mr Fulton: I will make a statement as to what actually took place. Tam grieved to be brought into this matter. . I went to see Mr Routly in his office and have a chat over matters in connection with the Tuakau Town Board. We discussed the iocaj elections and things concerning Pukekohe. Mr Routly said he had built a house and could not get electrical installation, while later built houses had been able to get connected.

The Mayor: That is a corrct statement of fact.

Mr. Fulton then went on to say he had heard the allegation made against an official and that the Mayor took a very serious view of the matter. Me (Mr Fulton) ha,d heard the allegation in the presence of Mr Pollock and Mr Mc.Gough.

A Council io: then rose and asked ( •' Me Gough to vty what he knew.

C r McGougt: I absolute's deny auything about the matter.

After further fruitless effort to sheet the matter home, Cr Hamilton i-i.su and said the Council wanted to know what it was brought here for, an accusation or an allegation, though | u . could out tell one from the other, had been brought against an official. The whole inquiry showed that the official had not done as alleged. This usually peaceful councillor waxed most indignant at the Mayor’s action in bringing the matter forward before he had satisfied himself of the truth of the assertion. He pointed

out to te Mayor that he was exceeding his duty and that in future he would he made to feel that he was one of a number. After a little further discussion, Cr Armstrong proposed and Cr Patterson seconded the following resolution: -

“ That this Council is unable to find that there is any evidence whatever in support of the statements contained in Mr Routly’s allegation against Mi Wyatt. And, further, the Council take this opportunity of expressing its appreciation of Mr Wyatt’s very capable and loyal services to the Borough throughout the time he has been employed by it. The Council further expresses its deep regret that the Mayor, should have publicly made so serious an allegation without having taken any ordinary precautions to ascertain its truth, and entirely dissociates itself from the Mayor'*, action in this matter/ -

On being put to the meeting this was carried unanimously.