ANOTHER BREEZE AT TUAKAU

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 471, 10 October 1919, Page 3

ANOTHER BREEZE AT TUAKAU

Smeed's Contract

A letter was received at TWday's meeting of the Tuakau Town Board from the Auditor General, who wrote stating that he was in receipt of information that notwithstanding the terms of a contract with a Mr Smeed, providing for the spreading of road metal, such spreading has been performed by the Board's workman to the substantial relief of the contractor, which, on the face of i f , would involve a surcharge on the Board of the amonnt concerned. The contract appears, in other respect?, to have been the subject of somewhat curious irregularities, and he requested the Board's version of the whole matter within 31 days of September 30 before he came to a final decision thereon. He suggested that it may be as well in the meantime to suspend payments to Mr Smeed.—The chairman said that the foregoing came along after the long debates the Board had on the matter. There was absolutely nothirg wrong, the Board had nothing to hide, as everything had been done in a clean and tibove-board manner, as far as he was concerned—and he spoke on behalf of the Board all the facts of the case would be placed before the Auditor-General. Mr Pirret moved that the chairman and clerk be empowered to reply giving the necessary information, and that the Engineer be directed to prepare a (opy of the specifications of the contract, and to forward his report on the matter, and that both reports be laid on the table at a meeting of the Works Committee to be held on Tuesday next. Mr W. Barnaby seconded. The text of the motion caused Mr Mungall to spring to his feet with a remark that the motion was unfair He protested against the clerk and chairman being deputed to report on the matter, and suggested that a report from these gentlemen would not state the real facts of the case. The chairman called Mr Mungall to a point of order and asked "Is there any amendment ? Mr Mungall " Yes, I will move an amendment, and 1 will put it in in writing " He then read from a piece of paper, the following: " That the clerk be instructed to forward a letter from Mr Smeed dated February 7th, 1919, also Mr Bmeed's contract, with interpretations, a copy of all minutes dealing with the contract, all protests, also minutes dealing with the confirmation of minutes of August sth, 1919, at the September meeting, also the account of £lO2 17s for final payment on the files, which is passed for payment by the chairman."

" What is that Mr Mungall asked the chairman. Mr MuDgall repeated the latter sentence, and the chairman rematked that he had pa.<sed no account for the amount named. Mr Mungall: "But you did, I can prove it." The chairman said he could not pass an account before it came before the Board. Mr Mungall demanded the clerk to produce the voucher file. ,Mr Tapper, at the direction of the chairman, submitted the file, but asked leave to remove some papers, that he had on the lie for his own information. This was granted. Mr Mungall (heatedly) "Produce all papers or else I will report the matter to the Auditor General." The chairman: "Go on Mr Tapper." Mr Pirret to Mr Mungall "Hit down man."

Mr Mungall continued his reading, "to the Auditor General for inspection, and also that this Board informs him, thi.tMr Smeed attended one of the Board's meetings, and informed us that he signed the contract under protest, and that the Board suspend all pajments to Mr Smeed, pending a reply from the Auditor General."

The clerk explained that the account referred to was merely a formal one for his personal information and convenience of checking. Mr G. Lapwood seconded the amendmenr, which was lost by five to two, and the" original motion then carried.