A DEFIANT OFFICIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2313, 2 September 1881, Page 3

A DEFIANT OFFICIAL.

It is rumoured that, in accordance with the resolution of the Council, his Worship the Mayor yesterday handed to the several officials of the Corporation staff notice that their seivices would be dispensed with a month i'rom date. But, for some reason or other, the notice to the Towu Clerk was not given by the Mayor, and it is further stated that he defies the whole of the City Council to get rid of him, for some reason or other. Now that the motion is carried, there need be no delicacy in stating outright that it was intended to get rid of the present Town Clerk, and tho Mayor, as well as other members of the Council, was perfectly aware of this. We want to know —and we think the ratepayers will want to know—how it is that Mr. Haskins, like the rest of the officials, has not received notice? By what authority does the Mayor, who was requested by the Council to carry out the resolution, stop short and attempt to defeat the deliberately expressed opinion of the majority of the Council ? There are questions which, in the interests of the city, require an answer, and we shall be prepared at no distant date to deal with the subject of the power in the Council to dismiss any officer. Clause 102 of the Municipal Corporations Act says: —

The Council may from time to time appoint, and may remove or re-appoint, fit persons to be treasurer, town clerk, surveyor, cslleotorg, and all such other officers and servants as it thinks necessary to assist in the execution of this Act, and may pay suoh persons such salaries and allowances out of the borough funds as it thinks fit. We do not know what excuse the Mayor can offer for his peculiar dereliction of duty, but the citizens will hold him, and him alone, responsible.