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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1933-12-14, Page 2THURSDAY, DECEMBER X4, 1033 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE Huron County Council County Council has Hectic Session—New Clerk and Treasurer Appointed—Warden Ballantyne Caned. Huron County Council opened the December session in Goderich Tues­ day afternoon of last week and it will go down in history as a most mo­ mentous one. Reeve Goldthorpe ,of Colborne, .gave a vernal review of the deliberations of the Warden’s Committee. Warden Ballantyne in a bried ad­ dress expressed his pleasure in seeing all Councillors present. In the 7 De­ cember councils he had attended there was hardly ever a full council. "There has been quite a stir around here, but I think I will have little to say regarding what has happened; probably the least said, the better. Mr. Gibbs said he would come here and give a report if the council want­ ed it, but I have not asked him. I leave that with you." The affairs of the Warden’s Committee made the year a hard one; though some might criticize it because of the set­ tlement made with tne Bonding Company, but he felt it had done Its duty as far as possible. Connnwnicati ons Ian McLeod, Agricultural repre­ sentative enclosed a cheque for $25 for publicity purposes, and expressed the wish to appear before Council regarding Junior Agricultural work. The letter was tabled. Mrs. Thomas H. Wilson, Secretary of the Auburn Public Library Board, ■which has a membership of liO'O, and a library of 2,0’0'0 books, asked for grant in order to purchase new books Executive commitee. A communication from Magistrate C. A. Reid complaining of the posi­ tion of the office where he tries ju­ venile cases: Property Committee. The letter of the Huron and Bruce Old Boys’ Associations of Western Provinces addressed to Registrar Neeb, advised that they had appoint­ ed the Wardens of both counties as their Honorary Presidents. The reports of the inspection of the boilers at the House of Refuge and County buildings, being in sat­ isfactory condition were filed. The gaoler’s report showed 7& prisoners for the year; at present 11. The average for the year was 10. County Councillors Take Money Unlawfully The following letter was received from Messrs. Gladman & Stanbury, Exeter, and referred to the Execu­ tive Committee: "We have before us a copy of the report of the special audit of the county treasurer’s books in which there is a paragraph charging mem­ bers of the county council of former years with taking pay and mileage unlawfully. "On September 9, we requested the Warden’s Committee w have Mr. Gibbs make a detailed report to them giving the names of the mem­ bers who have profited in this way and showing the amounts so taken, but Mr. Gibbs barely mentioned the matter without particulars. “Thousands of dollars are involv­ ed in double and triplicate pay and dishonest mileage. This has been filched from the ratepayers by men who are supposed to be guarding the county’s funds. "We are writing on behalf of cer­ tain ratepayers of the county to re­ quire the county council to take im­ mediate action to recover the large amounts illegally taken, as indicated "You will appreciate that the charge of the special auditor touches the honor of every member until such time as the guilty ones have OFF COLOUR? HOW IS YOUR LIVER? Wake up your Liver Bile -—Without Calomel Your liver's a very small organ, but it cer­ tainly can put your digestive and eliminative organs out of kilter, by refusing to pour out its daily two pounds of liquid bile into your bowels You won’t completely correct suoh a condition by taking salt a, oil, mineral water, laxative candy or chewing gum, or roughage. When they ve moved your bowels they’re through—and you need a liver stimulant. Carter’s Little Liver Pills will soon bring back the sunshtno into your life. They re purely vege­ table. Safe. Sure. Ask for them byname. Refuse substitutes. 25c at all druggists. 48 Shingles! No. 1 B. C. XXXXX EDGE GRAIN The best grade made at a low price No. 1 Dry Hemlock barn siding 10 in. wide, any length Matched 2 in. barn flooring at $30.00 per M A. J. CLATWORTHY Phone No. 12, GRANTON been named and we cannot imagine that any member who has nothing to hide will vote against compelling those who have taken the money il­ legally paying it back to the county." Fire Escapes Placed J. M. Govenlock, inspector of the House of Refuge, reported that fire escapes had been placed. The cost per day is 20J cents per inmate, radio has given great pleasure to the inmates, who were happy and con­ tented. The report of the Mothers’ Allow­ ance Commission was read by Clerk Holman. The number of claimants had increased while the amount de­ creased. The highest payment was $5.5 and the lowest $2 Of per month. The Old Age Pension (Committee’s report submitted by J. W. 'Craigie, chairman, reported having held six meetings. There are 194 cases on the roll, of which 157 are new appli­ cants; 37 are reconsidered or de­ ferred cases. Too many of the lat­ ter are due to insufficient informa­ tion on the forms sent in. There are thirty in the House of Refuge on the list in November. The total pay­ ments for the past year, including December, 1913'2, amounted to $l|3i,- 697.14, of which 10 per cent, is paid by the county, 1'5. per cent, by the province and 75 per cent, by the Do­ minion. Reeve Haake: "Is it necessary to appoint a commission? According to the report they haven’t much au­ thority. What is the cost of the Old Age Commission this year?" The clerk: "I haven’t got the pay sheets here." Warden Ballantyne promised to get them. Reeve Eckert: “How imuch does the government get back on .Old Age Pensions fom the estates of deceas­ ed pensioners?" ■Clerk Holman advised him that amounts retained for County Provin­ cial and Dominion were in the same ratio as that paid by each. At 4.30 p.m. there was no business ready to be presented, it was decided to hear the report of the warden’s committee and Reeve .Goldthorpe, the chairman, was asked for it. He gave a review verbally and council decided not to deal with it until the official report was presented. Reeve Goldthorpe said in part, and the members of the council and occu­ pants of the benches sat up to lis­ ten: "In June it was decided to have chartered accountants audit the books. The responsibilty was thrown on the warden's committee. After that meeting in June I met the war­ den’s committee here and they in­ structed me to employ a chartered accountant and Mr. Gibbs was em­ ployed. Mr. Gibbs came on his work on June 28, 1933, and from that date on I attended at least once a day. On July 4th I called this war­ den’s committee as Mr. Gibbs was stuck. He wanted to- go back to 1932. We .granted him permission. Mr. Gibbs and his learned staff got no as­ sistance. That was' his complaint from day to day it went on from time to time." Tells of Difficulty Mr. Goldthorpe described the dif­ ficulty explained in getting vouchers etc. "If Mr. Holman was m his of­ fice, I didn’t seen him. It went on and on and Mr, Gibbs wasn’t .getting very far, and he called us In coun­ sel on August 1'5." The speaker des­ cribed in detail the events leading up to Mr. Young’s arrest. "The next man was Mr. Holman," he continued, "who appeared with a lawyer. We didn’t get anything out of him when it came to a question of invoices. Why were they not taken care of?" The committee were told invoices from a typewriter company were in London. When London was com­ municated with they advised they were in the head office in Toronto, and from there referred to Montreal. "I suppose we should have been told there they were in London, England" said Mr. Goldthorpe. "On September 8, we were called in to settle about the bond. We had a bond of $2'5',0'0’0; and another for $5,0(00 which was not worth 25 cents.” The "battle" with the com­ pany was described, the final decis­ ion of the company to pay $7,500 be­ ing accepted. Reeve Goldthorpe suggested that when the new treasurer is appointed that he be required to put up a per­ sonal bond of $5,00'0 vo $10,0'0'0 with security behind it. "Don’t blame your former auditors too much. It took Mr. Gibbs and his learned staff 7 or 8 weeks before they had Young cornered.” Reeve Haake, of Goderich Town­ ship asked; "What is the cost of the investigation? Did you make any arrangement with the auditor after the first five months?” Mr. Goldthorpe: "No, he said he would do It as reasonable as he could.’* Reeve Hake; "Has this account been paid yet?” Warden Ballantyne; "Fimen hun­ dred dollars has been paid. The total bill Is $3,298.60,” 'Council adjourned to meet at 9.30 a.m, Wednesday. Wednesday Morning On. Wednesday in County Council Reeve Wilmot Haake, of Goderich Township, made public retraction and an apology for a statement he had made in his nomination speech at Holinsville 10 days ago when he said he sometimes wondered whether or not it was cheaper to engage charter­ ed accountants to mace an audit or to permit a dishonest treasurer to keep on stealing. The statement was made by the reeve after he had announced the cost of the county audit made by F. P. Gibbs C.A., to- ■tailing $3,928." Reeve Haake said; “Due to inac­ curate figures the warden gave me I made a statment at the Goderich Township nomination meeting which A; was not correct and for which I of­ fer Mr. Gibbs an apology and I want to say right here that I never either on the platform or off intended to cast any reflection on Mr. Gibbs or his profession.’ In the afternoon the County Coun­ cil temporarily lost its home and had to take an enforced holiday, due to sessions, being engaged with a court case. The deed of the Canada Com­ pany, in donating th site for a court­ house, gives the law courts priority rights. Cost of Trials Wednesday morning, under the heading of inquiries, Warden Bal­ lantyne answered Reeve Isaac Wright by stating that the auditor’s trials had cost $283.52, of which the coun­ ty paid $76. .He promised to se­ cure figures on the cost of the treas­ urer’s trial. He said that the cost of the inquiry held under the Mun­ icipal Act before Mrs. Edna Reynolds special examiner, was $96, and of this $50.70 was for the examination of ex-Warden Louis Rader. The War­ den said that Reeve Haake had mis­ represented certain things at Goder­ ich Township nominations. He had said that Mrs. Edna Reynolds, sten­ ographer, had been paid $15=0 for tak­ ing down the evidence of L. Rader, one hour and a half’s work. Four or five days were required to trans­ cribe the evidence and four copies were made, said the warden, but Reeve Haake had neglected to say so. The actual charge for taking down the evidence, lie said, was $.3.- 75. Said Reeve Haake, addressing the warden: “I asked you for the figures as to the cost of the audit. You said Mr. Gibbs’ time was $3,38’5.6'2 and his expenses $5,43.16, or $3,928.78 all told. You said that the bill would probably be cut to $3,50'0, I presumed the figures were correct and that the bill would not be sub­ ject to a $400 or $i5 00 cut." Here Mr. Haake read Mr. Ballantyne’s let­ ter to the press in which the cost of the audit is given as $'3,,29 8.5 6, add­ ing:" The figures I received from the warden were not a rough estim­ ate; they were down to a cent. I don’t know of any higher authority I could go. If they were not right it is not my fault. If the bill is low­ er than at first stated I am only too pleased to hear it." Referring to his statement that Mrs. Reynolds had been paid $>5'0.70 for one hour and a half’s work, Mr. Haake said he was sorry he had not stated the notes also had to be trans­ cribed. Warden Ballanyne: "I said the fi­ gures were around $'3/500. I said that distinctly when I was talking to you, Mr. Haake, and I asked you to use those figures. I wrote the same information to Reeves Stewart, Matheson and Johnston. I said it wouldn’t be safe to use the $3,928.- >56 figures for there would be a re­ duction.” Reeve iStewart: "My letter says the bill was for $3,900.00 and you expected to settle for $3/5<00.” Accepts Explanation Reeve Haake: "I am pleased to accept the warden’s explanation. I wanted the information I asked for an express purpose.” The auditor’s report was tabled, but not read, as was the auditor’s account for $3,298.'5i6, on which $1/500 has been paid. The account detailed what the work of the audit constiuted, but was not itemized. Council defeated a motion to sum­ mons Auditor Gibbs- for an explana­ tion and adjourned until evening to receive the written report of the warden’s committee. Hectic Session Wednesday Evening In a lively two-hour, session, pan­ demonium at times reigning with the sound of the gavel and several members on their feet at the same time, Huron County Council Wed­ nesday night unanimously ratified the report of the warden’s commit­ tee, embodying drastic clauses, the most contentious of which was that calling for the dismissal from office of George W. Holman, 77-year-old clerk and deputy treasurer, after 16* years’ service. ,Thls action was not taken before Mr. Holman was given full oppor­ tunity to defend himself against charges contained in the auditors’ report that he had blocked and ob­ structed the investigation which ev­ entually led to the arrest and con­ viction Of the county treasurer and two auditors. After two hours’ discussion the Council unanimously adopted the auditors’ report also that of the warden’s committee, both of which strongly cOHdetMSd. the attitude of the clerk toward the audit; it car­ ried a clause to appoint a new treas­ urer and to rescind the old by-law also to repeal the by-mw appointing Geo. Holman deputy-treasurer and county clerk and to appoint a new of­ ficial to their positions. Three times the clerk rose to his feet to appeal to some members to ask for the "yeas" and "nays". Each time the request was met with a chorus of "carried.” Challenged By Clerk The fireworks took place while the council was in committee of the whole with Reeve B. M. Francis, of Exeter, in the chair. The report of the warden’s committee had no soon­ er been read than Mr. Holman was on his feet. He challenged the le­ gality of appointing the special au­ ditors and their efficiency. He said he had himself been an auditor for 25 years and 16 years county clerk and that in all his experience never had he witnessed so many irregular­ ities in the conduct of county busi­ ness as he had in the past six months A reevd: "You mean in the past six years. You had better sit down." “This thing involves my honor and everything that belongs to .me," dramatically shouted the near oc­ togenarian official. "You have spent $4/510'0 of the county’s money illegally and paid it over to a foreign auditor and, by foreign, I mean he does not belong to this county. He has made all sorts of accusations as to how I blocked his investigation. I say he had no buiness in my office. He was not engaged to audit my books. He says he could not get invoices and you, did he ask for invoices from the highway department, from the House of Refuge, the Children’s 'Shelter?" Chairman Francis-: “I won’t have this form of questioning. Make your speech or I will have to ask you to sit down.” Clerk Holman said he followed the same procedure that he had been followed in Huron Co. for 5 0 years He complained he had inadequate filing equipment. No Need of Lawyer "The auditor makes much of the fact that I had a solicitor with me when I appeared before the examin­ er.” Reeve McNab: "Why should a wit­ ness need a solicitor?” The clerk- here started to fire ac­ cusations at Warden Ballantyne and other members of the warden’s com­ mittee and repeatedly was called to order. He defended his purchases of sta­ tionary and gave reasons why he had collected his salary in advance. “I defy any man or woman to say that I ever took one dollar that was not mine.” said Mr. Hol'man, as he related how the arrest of the treas­ urer had so shocked him as to put him in bed for ten days. "I will admit I did not put tissue paper around the records for these auditors. I did not greet them in plug hat and frock coat, nor did I run up the courthouse flag when they arrived. What right have they to padlock the door of a county of­ fice where people have lived in peace for 50 years? What a spectacle? A guard on the county buildings for 22 nights. This chartered accou- tant would have better employed his tim,e sticking to his own business rather than putting on a show and generally making a fool of himself. He had no business in my office at all; Warden Replies Warden Ballantyne; "I locked the door. I caught a man stealing, and what could I do? I put on the guard. When Young was caught stealing Holman called me in and said: ‘I am deputy treasurer. You are go­ ing too hard on Young.’ I simply walked away from him, disgu sted,” the warden shouted pointing an ac­ cusing fingeT at the aged clerk. "You didn’t do a fair thing, Hol­ man, and you know you didn’t. You locked your office door then went away. When I got hold of you, you said your nerves were bad and the grasshoppers were eating your son’s crops in Saskatchewn.” Before things had quieted down, County Solicitor R. C. Mays was call­ ed in to answer some of the charges of legal irregularities, and Mr. Hol­ man immediately proceeded to take a fling out of the solicitor for the part he had taken in the investiga­ tion. The time-honored system of ap­ pointing the Warden of Huron Co. in a caucus of Liberal or (Conserva­ tive members alternately will be dis­ carded and the elction of the War­ den in future will be made in open Council. This- was decided at the Thursday morning session when a motion of Reeves Melick and McNall to that effect and unanimously car­ ried . Warden Ballantyne was ap­ pointed this year by Liberal members in caucus and the honor would have fallen to the Conservative forces- in January had the historic rule been followed, Roy Patterson, County Engineer, gave a brief address on the county roads. He said his Department was unable to do as much work as they would have liked owing,to lack of funds. He emphasized the value of using ldw cost surfacing. Mr. Patterson then made a verbal application for the position of clerk to be carried on in conjunction with the work Of Ills department. The du­ ties of the clerk’s ottice were not heavy, he said. At this point Clerk Holman interrupted him by asking at LESS .1 IColeman Model 141 Coleman Sunabina Lamp. Ua» with or without g-iobe as iUustratod. Fries only ««.»•; Shade »1.00 extra. Model 118B Instant* Lite.Beautiful ivory Kremelito shade. Built* in Pump. Generous fuel capacity. Price 312.45 complete. SEE YOUR LOCAL DEALER —or write us THE COLEMAN LAMP & STOVE CO., Ltd. Toronto, 8, Ontario (SL-1X) Mr. Patterson what he knew about it and the Engineer retorted "There might not be so much time for people to visit in the office." "Gen­ erally speaking," said Mr. Patterson “in other counties it is the practice to combine the offices of Clerk and Treasurer, one officer for the jobs.” He explained that the chief work ot the clerk was that involved by the sessions of the County Council and he thought he could easily do it with his own work. "It has been suggested that the work of clerkship be handed to me." He intimated that he would do the additional work for $2i0'0 a year ex-1 tra. When asked by a Reeve if he said $2'0’0, Mr. Patterson said that amount but would leave it with Council to set the salary. 'Reeve Douglas: "If you say that amount, council won’t pay you any­ more." Clerk Calls It Unfair 'Clerk Holman :"Mr. Patterson came to report on roads. He is en­ tirely out of order in being allowed to make a speech in support of his application. It is unfair to have any applicant come up and make a speech. There are applicants in. this room.” Mr. Patterson said he in­ tended putting in a written applica­ tion. The pay sheets of the Standing Committees asked for by Reeve Haake on Wednesday, were submit­ ted by Warden Ballantyne as fol­ lows: Old Age Pensions, $740.04; Good Roads, $418.1'3; Children’s Shelter, $7i5.85; House of Refuge, $143.20; Property, $36.7'5; Agricul­ tural, $138.99; Warden’s Committee $1151.4(5. Clerk Holman: "What did the Warden get for his attendance?” Declaring that though no warden was ever asked this question before Mr. Ballantyne said he was- not ashamed to give the amount which Was Seriously Troubled With Boils All Over Body RLRDOCK 1 Rlood Bitters For ttw |NMrt 55 yMtn MANBPACTWMEB BIU.Y BY THE T. MILMJRN CO., Limited Toronto, Ont. SUNSHINE LAMP Now it’s more econom­ ical to have and to enjoyF good light.. . the clear, steady brilliance of a Coleman... than to be without it. For small cost, you can get a genuine Instant- Lighting Coleman SUNSHINE Lamp that produces 300 candle­ power of soft, natural light. PAYS FOR ITSELF IN SAVINGS can use your Coleman for a and save from $5.00 to $7.00 the cost of using an old-style You year over coal-oil lamp. In the meantime you are protecting your eyesight and keeping young and strong the vision of your children. 5 TO 20 TIMES MORE (LIGHT! The Coleman gives 5 to 20 times more light than any kerosene lamp. Fuel cost is only about a night for the finest light. A safe, depend­ able lamp ... can’t spill fuel even if tipped over ... no “crawling” flame. It’s a clean lamp... no soot or smoke. Makes and bums its own gas from regular, untreated motor gasoline. Save rtioney; use a Coleman. was $3 37.85 outside of the Commit­ tees from January 3 to November. This included his salary of $7'5.00. "When this affair started,” he said, "there was no treasurer and no clerk Mr. Holman was sick." It cost me $2/5'0 a day at the hotel and $1.00 a day for a man at home.” "I felt responsible," he said." Do you think I was going to stay away from here when we had no bonds? Not much!” Taxes Still Owing Warden Ballantyne submitted the following estimate of the amount of taxes owing municipalities at pres­ ent, elected by the -County: Aahfield $169.93; Colborne, $669.76; Grey, $600.42; H-owick, $191.69; Hullett, $-3 0-.00-; McKillop, $513*6.87; Morris, $124.6.72; ,rI)uckersmith, $/H91.0i4; East Wawanosh, $66.60; Exeter, $271.90; Hensail, $44.!3(0i; Total $3,- 01'9.23. The Warden also present­ ed an estimate of the finances as fol­ lows: General account: Total reven­ ue, $2’0'4 ,'07 8.47; Total expenses, $134,10.8.90; County Roads: Total Revenue, $57,9'70.43; Total expense, $10'5,082.81; Provincial Highways, Bank loan, $17,236.74; Owe Govern­ ment $13,656.'0i6; Debentures owing on Provincial Highway at the end of 193'3, $12,9’50.46. Under inquiries Reeve McNabb ask­ ed "How often did the Road Com­ mission meet?" and was told by chairman Elliott that it had met once a month. -Reeve McNabb said men had to wait too long for their money and Reeve McKibbon ex­ pressed the opinion that it is unfair to have the laboring man wait for cheques. It was only fair to devise' a means whereby the Road Commis­ sion could pay him when the work is done. (Continued on next page) Perfect men are as scarce as four- leaf clovers. And the girl who finds one can call herself lucky. Mr. D. Stein, Lcduc, Alta., writes: "I had serious trouble with boils. My arms, legs, neck, in fact, my whole body broke out with them. I tried’salves, ointments, poultices and many different medicines, but they did hot help me. Then I tried Burdock Blood Bitters and was surprised at the results. I only took two bottles and the boils disappeared and I have never been troubled with them since.”