HUNTER ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1928, Page 4

HUNTER ENQUIRY

HEARING EVIDENCE. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, October 12. An enquiry into the circumstances of the resignation from the City Council of Mr George R. Hunter was conducted' by the Works Committee of the City Council to-day. Mr Hunter resigned, following on, a complaint by the Audit Office about two groups of transactions, one the purpose of coal by the Council from Mayo Bros., and another the hire of a truck for Council work, which truck being purchased from Mr Hw ter’s firm was a hire-purchase agreement. Mr Mayo had no hanking account, and the transactions went through Messrs Hunter .and V ebb account. The truck was the propeity of Messrs Hunter and Webb,* but it was in the possession of Mr Andrews, wno used it to do certain carting for the Council. At last Council meeting a minoritv of anti-Labour Councillors demanded an enquiry, as to all the facts, they suggesting that they were open to tlm construction that Mr Mayo was a “dummy” for Messrs Hunter and Webb, and that Mr Andrews was in a like position. The Works Committee of the Council to-day examined the officers of the Council. All of the officers declared that they had. no knowledge of any connection between Mr Mayo and 31 r Hunter’s firm. Their transactions had been with Mr Mayo only, and Mr Hunter had never tried to influence business.

Similar evidence was given regarding Mr Andrews and his truck. An independent witness, offering evidence, said lie had seen coal being supplied direct to a city road roller from Messrs Hunter and Webb’s lorry. Mr Mayo gave evidence that he was a part-time employee of Messrs Hunter and Webb, but that for the rest of the rime he bought coal from Messrs Hunter and Webb and sold it on his own account- at liis own price. In the case of his Council transactions this was an arrangement, and he charged a profit of tivo shillings per ton. Mr Mayo emphatically denied that in these transactions he was acting as a “dummy” for Messrs Hunter and Webb. Tiie Committee are now deliberating on the evidence.