ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1921, Page 6

ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

BETWEEN TWO COUNTIES.

A SUPREME COURT SEQUEL.

At the present sessions of the Supreme Court in New Plymouth, legal argument is being heard on a motion by the Inglewood County Council to set aside an award made by the AuditorGeneral in the adjustment of accounts between the Inglewood and Taranaki County Councils, subsequent to the formation of the new Inglewood County. The grounds for the action, it was contended, were that the basis of the award was inequitable and unjust. Affidavits filed in connection with the motion include one from the AuditorGeijeral (Mr. R. Collins), who stated that the course followed in the adjust-, ment •-i s the same as that previously adopted in all similar cases. For the Inglewood County it was stated that the new Inglewood County commenced in April, 1920, the district under its jurisdiction being portions of the Taranaki and two other adjoining counties (Clifton and Stratford), but the greater portion of the new Inglewood county was originally part of the Taranaki county. The council in charge of the Tsranaki county had accumulated a large plant, and under the Taranaki County Reserve Act of 1877, had also an endowment of 1350 acres, the income from which had to be devoted to the improvement of the route known as the Junction Road. The greater portion of this road was now situated in the new county. Follpwing a conservative policy, the Taranaki county had also writ- • ‘■n down its assets considerably, and. was stated, whui the I:mc came for an allocation of the assets and liabilities with the new county certain difficulties arose. Numerous attempts were made to come to an agreement, each council setting up sub-committees, and finally the Taranaki County Council applied to the Au-ditor-General, who became the arbitrator in the matter As stated above, the Inglewood County Council did not agree with the award of the Auditor-General. The case will be continued to-day. Mr. C. 11. Weston, with him Mr. H. R. Billing, appeared for the Inglewood County Council, and the Taranaki County Council was represented by Messrs, -f. H. Quilliam and R. H. Quilliam. Mr. J. C. Nicholson appeared on behalf of the Auditor-General.