IS HE A COUNCILLOR?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 360, 22 May 1928, Page 16

IS HE A COUNCILLOR?

CR. E. MORTON’S STATUS QUESTIONED At the Onehunga Borough Council’s meeting last evening the status of Cr. E. Morton, deputyMayor, was questioned, and legal advice is to be obtained as to his eligibility to sit as a councillor. COUNCILLOR E. MORTON introduced the subject by saying that a report had appeared in a certain Auckland newspaper implying that one of the Onehunga borough councillors was not eligible to sit on the council. That report, he said, was directed against him and it was a cowardly action to circulate s.uch a report. He demanded that the originator of the scandal should either prove his statement or apologise. The Mayor said that it had been reported to him that Cr. E. Morton was not a ratepayer, although his name appeared on the borough roll. Cr. Morton: Whoever reported that, should apologise. The Mayor: It is not my duty to take up the question. It is your place to deal with the newspaper that published the report. I will, however, ask the town clerk to make inquiries as to your legal status on this council. Cr. F. S. Morton challenged the Mayor to take action. The Mayor: I accept the challenge. Cr. F. S. Morton then asked the town clerk through the Mayor whether Cr. E. Morton was eligible to sit on the council. The Town Clerk: His name does not appear on the rate book. Cr. E. Morton: That’s correct. It hasn’t been there for the past six months. But if you think I’m here under false pretences, why don’t you take action? Why don’t you clear it up? The Mayor gave his assurance that he would obtain legal advice from the borough’s solicitor.