COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SEXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 939, 10 January 1911, Page 3

COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SEXTON.

DISCUSSED BY THIS COUNCIL,. NO ACTION TAKEN. At last night’s Council meeting the sexton was in attendance to answer a charge brought by Cr Robinson as to the manner in which he was carrying out his duties. This matter had been brought up by Cr Robinson at the December meeting of the Council and discussion of same had been held over in order to give the sexton aii opportunity of attending the meeting and giving any explanation he desired. Cr Robinson’s complaint was that some little time back he had occasion to arrange for the burial of a child and upon approaching the sexton in reference to a site the first question asked was “ who is the undertaker?” Upon being told that the other local undertaker was conducting the funeral, the sexton asked What time the funeral was to take place and learning that it was two o’clock the following day said, ‘‘be at the cemetery at half-past one tomorrow and pick the site then.” Cr Robinson said he remonstrated with him stating that it was not a fair thing to expect anyone to go to the cemetery at half-past one to pick out a site and then rush back to get ready for the funeral at two o’clock. The sexton then said that if Cr Robinson would hire a horse and trap he would go with him that day. This request was refused and Cr Robinson said he then went to the Borough office and picked out a site irom the plan and afterwards marked the spot at the cemetery. When he informed the sexton, he argued that there was no site where marked and that he (Cr Robinson) would have to take his turn and take the next site available. Eventually, he brought the sexton to the Borough office and convinced him that the site marked was vacant. On the day of the funeral it rained heavily and when the funeral reached the cemetery it was found that the sexton’s horse and buggy were in the shelter shed, where the burial service was to be read, and the children , bearing the coffin had to squeeze between the wheels to get into the shed. Still the sexton did not remove the buggy, but left it there until the minister commenced the burial service, when he started to back it out, interrupting the service. He was of opinion that an undertaker should not hold the position of sexton. He moved that the present sexton be given one month's notice to terminate his services and that applications be called for the position. The motion was seconded pro forma by Cr Adams.

The sexton said that the statements made by Cr Robinson were not true. When Cr Robinson approached him in reference to the matter he asked what time the funeral was, and then asked who was the undertaker. It was necessary for him to enter these particulars in his books. He said he asked Cr Robinson where he wanted the grave, and he said in the centre of the ridge. Told him there were no sites vacant there, an.l in order to convince him offered to get a horse and trap and go up to the cemetery, pointing out at the same time that to make two trips to the cemetery and dig a grave was not sufficiently well paid at 7s 6d. He said there was no need to get the horse as he would pick a site from the plan at the Borough office, and then go to the cemetery and mark it with a peg. The site picked out by Cr Robinson was a long way from the centre of the ridge. He said this was the first complaint that had been laid against him, and he had held the position for nearly 40 years. Apparently Cr Robinson had “ a set ” on him. In any case there was not enough money in the job, and he was not particular whether he resigned or not. In reply to questions by Cr Robinson, the sexton said his horse and buggy were not in the shelter shed, also that he did not go to the Council office with him about the site. The sexton then withdrew. The Town Clerk, replying to Cr Robinson, said that he fCr Robinson) and the sexton certainly came to the office for the purpose of inspecting the plan of the cemetery. Cr Ross said that if what Cr Robinson said was correct —and to his mind it was correct, as Mr Jouson had somewhat evaded the questions asked —then it was a state of affairs that should not exist. Then there was the matter of the horse and buggy in the shelter shed. He thought the easiest way out of the difficulty, seeing there were two undertakers in the town, would be to have the position of sexton apart from undertaker. He did not know of this trouble before, but he certainly would not sit at the Council table and let such a state of affairs exist. Cr Adams agreed with Cr Ross that it the state of affairs as stated by Cr Robinson were correct then it was time something was done. Cr Rimmer said from what the sexton had said it appeared to him that he intended to resign, and this would get over the difficulty. The Mayor said that a good deal of reliance must be placed on what Cr Robinson had said. He believed the statements, and he certainly did not Hhe the shelter shed incident. Mr Jouson said the job did not pay him, and the Council would, therefore, not be doing any harm to invite fresh applications. Cr Coley said he bad known Mr

Jonsonfora long time, and had had a lot to do with funerals, and had not seen a single case where he had treated anyone unfairly. Only recently he had lent all his appliances for use at a funeral conducted by the other undertaker. Cr Ross said that after hearing what Cr Coley had said he did not think anything harsh should be done. The Mayor said that even if no action were taken in the present case he felt sure it would be a warning to the present sexton, and he would be better for it in the future. Cr Coley : It won’t do any harm. The motion was then put and lost.