MARLBOROUGH SCAB BOARD AND ITS CLERKSHIP.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 136, 9 July 1880, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH SCAB BOARD AND ITS CLERKSHIP.

Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes : —A few days ago the senior member for

Wellington, put a question to the Government oil the above-named subject. The question was somewhat mixed, and the answer did not tend much in the direction of explaining matters fully. A correspondence on the subject has .since been laid on the table, from which I make the following extracts. Insets out with a memorandum for theguidanee of Ministers, answering the question to the following effect : Mr C. J. W. Griffiths hold the appointment of Clerk to the Marlborough Scab Board, and the Board met at Mr Griffiths’ offices in Blenheim. When the Scab Act, IS7S, came into operation on the Ist January, 1879. Mr Griffiths, on the recommendation of the Chief Inspector, Mr Johnson, was continued as Clerk. Mr Bayly, Chief Inspector of Otago district, was removed to Marlborough district, on Ist October, 1879. and in January, ISSO, when in Wellington, he informed the Hon. Premier and Colonial Secretary, that public convenience would result in the removal of the Sheep Inspectors office to the Government Buildings at Blenheim, from the private office of his chief clerk, Mr Griffiths. This conversation led to the correspondence. It opens with negotiations between Mr Seymour and the Colonial Secretary, relative to the removal of the office to the Governmentßuildings. On February 13th, Mr Seymour writes—“ Pending other and more extensive changes in the location of offices in the buildings, Blenheim, I have obtained the consent of the Education Board, to hand over to Mr Bayly, the room which was set apart for the use of the Board.” On February 14th, the Under-Secretary writes to Mr Griffiths, relieving him of the duty of clerk to the Chief Inspector, and thanking him for the manner in which he had performed the duties. A note follows to the effect that the Chief Inspector, when in Wellington, received instructions from the Colonial Secretary to make arrangement for conducting the clerical work in his office, and he re-engaced Mr Griffiths at a salary of £SO; that arrangement to take effect from 10th May last. Mr P. Lawrence writes to the Colonial Secretary on the 10th April, applying for the clerkship. He adds—“l am an auctioneer and commission agent, and as the appointment has been held in the past by Mr Griffiths, who is in the same line of business, I submit that I am as well qualified for it as lie is, and beg to offer my services at the rate of £OS per annum, including office. If you -will allow- me the use of one room in the Government Buildings, I will then undertake to perform the duties for £lO per annum.” The Undersecretary writes in reply—“l am directed to inform you that there is no vacancy in the department.” Mr Lawrence writes again on 20th April, acknowledging receipt of that communication, andadds—“ I made my application because I understood that Mr Griffiths, auctioneer, land broker, and commission agent, who was cleric to the Sheep Department at a salary of £IOO per annum, had ceased to hold that appointment. However, if I was misinformed, and if Mr Griffiths is still to keep the office, I beg leave to bring under your notice, the unfairness of Government subsidising a person who is not a regular civil servant, and is competing with others in business at the rate of £IOO pel annum. It is not fair to myself and the other auctioneers in the town. It is unfair to the other commission agents. Why not serve all alike ? lam willing to accept any clerkship at £IOO a year. I beg to say that if the present state of things be allowed to go on, I shall take steps to have the matter brought uuder the notice of the House of Representatives.” On fitli May Mr Lawrence telegraphs to the Colonial Secretary— “ Unloss a Government officer is appointed clerical assistant to the Sheep Department here, I shall bring the matter before the Civil Service Commission on their arrival.” Geo. S. Stenhousc writes to the Colonial Secretary on the 10th April, applying for situation of clerical assistant to Sheep Department, describing himself as an accountant and commission agent, who has resided for many years in Blenheim, and he is willing to do the work for £SO per anannmn. The reply is—“lam directed to inform you there is no vacancy.”