Civic Waste Inquiry No Further Advanced

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 272, 7 February 1928, Page 1

Civic Waste Inquiry No Further Advanced

WAITING SPECIFIC CHARGES NO MOVE;* POSSIBLE That procrastination is the thief of time has been little better demonstrated than in the case of what are known as the Murray charges of waste and negligence in connection with City Council activities. At present the inquiry appears to be little further advanced than it was three weeks ago. ’W'O move has been possible to expedite the Government inquiry into the allegations, and at the present rate of progress it will be little before the civic elections, a year or more hence, that the business is cleared up. Reporting to the council, at its meeting nearly three weeks ago, Cr. J. Dempsey, chairman of the inquiry committee, stated: “It would, of course, be necessary that these allegations should be formulated more definitely before this request (for an inquiry by a magistrate or other Government judicial officer) goes to the Government, and Mr. McDiver, acting for Councillor Murray, has assured the city solicitor that this would be done within a week, if the council decides to ask for the setting up of such a commission.”

On this report the council decided to ask for an official inquiry, but there the matter rests. On Thursday three weeks will have elapsed since the council decided to ask for the commission, but so far the specific allegations have not been presented for submission to the Government, and the request to the Government for the commission will npt be forwarded until they are. According ’ to Councillor Murray's latest statement he is preparing printed copies of the evidence for circulation to ratepayers, but these only cover one side of the question, and the other councillors, at least, are waiting to hear both sides.