THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8136, 16 June 1906, Page 2

THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

QUESTION OF BOROUGH GRANT. At the New Plymouth Borough Council last night, Cr Monteath moved to rescind the resolution granting £IOO towards the cost of the Technioal School construction. The resolution, he said, was a disgrace to the Council for, apart from the question of legality, they had passed the resolution without knowing whether it was legal or not. Cr Hutchen seconded. There wa* no guarantee that this money would be forthcoming out of this year's revenue, and he was quite sure tin Councillors would not have acted in this way concerning their own private affairs. The council had persisted in passing this resolution even when the legality of their action had ■ been questioned in open council. Mr T. F. Martin, counsel to the Municipal Association, forwarded an opinion that tho council was quite within its rights in making the grant to encourage the formation and increase the efficiency of manual and technical classes.

Mr 0. Samuel, standing counsel to the Borough Council, wrote that the resoluti6n passed was improper, and the expenditure would be illegal. The money could be paid, of course, in another way. He recommended that the Auditor-General should be asked if he would pass the payment, but that in the meantime the resolution be resoinded.

The Borough Solicitor's opinion coincided with that of Mr Martin. The Mayor said tho contribution was certainly legal, and he had obtained that opinion from tho borough solicitor before supporting the grant of the money. He ivas quito agreeable to have tho matter referred to tho AuditorGeneral for his opinion, ami th it the various opinion* be forvvirdo.l F.rllio • consideration of the Crown Uw offi,, i v His Worship tlnforrin,' nnu. sideration until this lnd been so that tho paint could bo cleared up.' The mover and seooutler declined to accept the suggestion to refer th matter to tho Auditor-General before taking action, nnd tho M'vyor put it in tho form of an amendment.

Cr Wilson seconded, and nr.mi"i that the Council had had a li'j-il opinion from Mr Martin for 11 1 months past. Bosides that, the, kn,.* other Borough Councils haJ v,t,-.' money, and that the Auditor-Gener i! had passed the payments. Or. Hutchen, tho secondor to the motion, asked Cr Monteath tn fall in with the amendment, and withdraw the motion.

Cr Monteath replied ho had not known of Mr Martin's opinion. Cr. Wilson : I know it.

Cr Monteath: But you'ro a lawyer, and it is questionable jhethcr you are right or not. Cr. Wilson: I ask Cr Montoath to withdraw that. It is a distinct personal reflection on myself. Cr Monteath: Well, I decline to withdraw it,

The Mayor: You must withdraw, Or Monteath. Cr. Wilson is not a lawyer here, but a borough councillor. Cr Wilson: Cr Monteath practically says I didn't know of the existence of Mr Martin's report. Ho won't take my word.

Cr Monteath explained that he did not insinuate that Cr Wilson spoko an untruth, but simply questioned the correctness of his opinion. He withdrew the words, as asked.

Tho amendment was carried by 6 to