CORRESPONDENCE.
We do not hold ourselves responsible lor the I opinions expressed by oar correspondents. I
The lite borough clerk and ENGINEER.
TO TEX EDITOR. Snt, — To be told the truth Is not always toeeptable. Thia la why Mr Outhbertson does not seem to appreciate the remarks I made In my last letter, and, apparently out of revenge, he aoomei me with being guilty of all sorti of nasty things, euoh as mad-throwing, bad grammar, eto. Well, Sir, I won't be nasty m return. I shall not paaie to consider the justness of the nnklnd rumors, whioh are whispered about Mr Solicitor Oathhertson being very wroth at losing such a rare obanoe of airing his eloqoenoe bafore a Judge of the District or even Supreme Oeurt, m faot of rnitsing ■taking his mark for good. I shall, therefore, content myself with naylng, that, if this yonng Atcorney-at-L»vr'a advice to the late Town Olerk was not baoked up with sounder law, than hli epiitle was with common tense, I am very glad, indeed, for Mr Braddeil's sake, that the matter la settled. And now let us. see how far Mr R. M. Oothbertson is correct, m saying that the Borough's Retrenchment Policy has cost £160, and whioh he makes up as follow*:—
Allow me to tell Mr Cuthbertson that Mr Fooke had a moral claim against the Council for work done and that this claim had been before the Oounoll several times Mid long before the Retrenchment Polfoy was thoaghb of, to that this item of £50 oaonot, m any fairness, be made a charge •gainst the sa»d policy. That reduces this imaginary £150 to £100, To Mr Brad dell there wm due for salary cearly £30 which haves only £70 to be dealt with. Now I claim, that the Town Clerk w»a entitled to some consideration for past good services, md tbe only regret I have m the matter for Mr Braddell, is, that he should hare allowed his otherwise always generous mind to get the better of himself, and that he should have followed such injudlotoos advice as that given him by this young Solicitor, the champion of rnanllces. But taking even for granted that tbe Council hid to pay Mr Braddell £60 for compensation, and allowing another £10 for Incidentals, the total amour t the retrenchment policy has coat the Borough would be £60, Now considering that the Council will have saved ne»rly that cum In salaries by the end of the present year, and afterwards a sum equal to about £100 per annum, the Retrenchment Committee deserves every oredlt for having effected ■uoh a considerable amount of economy m be Borough's annual expenditure. In conclusion, I wonder if Mr Outhbert■on Is rosily so shortsighted as to think thai no o}ber ratepayer but himself could gee that the Coonoll had perhaps made a mistake. And let me ask this experienced young m»n if It did not chow more discretion on the part of tbe Council, seeing that they had always intended to deal liberally with the Town Clerk, to settle the matter amicably m preference to Spending the ratepayers 1 money m useless and expensive litigation. And having efieoted a settlement, what does it matter jf yon afterwards call it " bonus " or VpompemaUon." Was it pot more creditable to all conperned and to the lafa Town Clerk In particular to part m harmony with each other and thus bury tbe batohet ? Will it not be more serviceable to Mx Braddell, should he ever wish to apply for a similar situation, to have the good wishes of the Council and a "bonus" besides, instead of "compensation " and a bad feeling, which a bitterly contested lawsuit always produces ? Why drsg the whole affair afresh through the mire? But Mr Solicitor Outhbertson Is to be excused ; he la young, and I hope that age will improve him. I am, etc., Hugo Fbiedhnder,
£. b d. MtFooki 50 0 0 Mrßraddeil ... 80 0 0 Incldem»U 20 0 0 Total £150 0 0
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG18880704.2.15
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1884, 4 July 1888, Page 3
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669CORRESPONDENCE. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1884, 4 July 1888, Page 3
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