BOROUGH COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1090, 29 April 1913, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Foxton Borough Council was held in the Council Chamber last night, to deal with the Town Clerk’s resignation and general. There were present. His Worship the Mayor (A. J. Gibbs Esq.), and Crs. Coley, Speirs, Richmond, Hannah, Whibley and Adams. TOWN CLERK’S RESIGNATION. The resignation of the Town Cleik was read in which he asked to be relieved of his duties by May 31st.

The Mayor said it was a matter for regret that the Town Clerk should see fit to tender his resignation. However, be had done so and the present meeting was called to deal with same. CT Richmond said he was sorry that the Town Clerk had resigned at the present juncture and he was of opinion that it would have been much better if, he had waited until the new Council was in office before he tendered his resignation. Mr Fraser had told him that the work was getting too much and under these circumstances the only thing they could do was to accept the resignation. He intimated his intention of moving that fresh applications be called for the position of Town Clerk at a salary of per year. He said be thought the matter of setting out the conditions of employment should be left to the new Council. Through the resignation being put in at the present juncture the Council had been put in rather a hole. Speaking to the motion he proposed moving, Cr Richmond said the Council could not afford to pay more than ,£2OO a year. The trouble In the past had been that the Mayor and Councillors had put too much work on the Town Clerk, instead of doing the work which, as Mayor and Councillors, they themselves should have done. He was of opinion that any person seeking municipal honours should be in a position to give up a certain amount of his time for borough business. Cr Speirs rose to a point of order. Cr Richmond was getting away from the subject. Continuing Cr Richmond said he would like to see Mr Fraser extend the time of being relieved from his duties for another fortnight until June 14th, That would give the new Council plenty of time.

Cr Speirs did not think the present Council should interfere with the resignation at all. It was cnly two days off the election and it would be far better to let the new Council deal with the matter. He considered Mr Fraser had chosen the right time to tender his resignation and in any case the Council had no right to dictate as to when he should or should not tender his resignation. He was of opinion the Council should grant Mr Fraser three or six mouths leave of absence on full pay. Cr Hannah considered the present was not the right time to tender his resignation. He should have waited and sent it in to the new Council.

Cr Coley was of opinion that the resignation had been tendered at the right time. In any case the new Council would appoint the new clerk. All that had to be done that night was the consideration of inviting applications for the position. Cr Richmond thought it would be better for the new Council to call for applications as they might see fit to alter the duties and salary. Cr Hannah then moved and Cr Richmond seconded, that the Town Clerk’s resignation be held over for the new Council to deal with.

The Mayor said he would support the motion. The Town Clerk was an officer who had carried out his duties in an exemplary manner and although they might get as good a clerk it would be impossible to get a better. Cr Richmond : "I’m sure of that too.”

Continning the Mayor said the new Council might see fit to take off some of the duties from the shoulders of Mr Fraser or give him extra assistance and thus induce him to continue in office. For his part he would like to see him remain in his present position with less work to do.

CrSpeirs: ‘‘Hear! hear!” The Mayor said the new Council would meet on the 7th of May, and they could then call for applications for the position or make overtures to Mr Fraser to reconsider the decision.

At the invitation ol the Mayor, Mr Fraser explained the position as far as he was concerned. He said he was flattered at being asked to reconsider his decision, but this was impossible as he had made arrangements, to practice his profession as an accountant in Foxton as Irora June ist, and he therefore could not remain in office after the end of May. He had intended resigning at the end of April but had not done so as he did not consider it would be quite fair to the new clerk to have to start off with an election. He thanked Councillors for their appreciation of his work, but said he had finally made up his mind. He concluded by wishing the Council prosperity in the future.

As an amendment Cr Speirs moved and the Mayor seconded pro forma, that the resignation be accepted to take effect from August 31st, and that he be relieved of his duties on May 31st. In speaking to the amendment the mover said that to do as suggested in his amendment—grant Mr Fraser three months leave of absence on full pay—would be a

gracious act on the part of the Council as he had been a faithful servant and had carried out his duties without fear or favour. The granting of leave of absence on pay was a usual practice iu cases of the kind and he considered it would be a good way of showing their appreciation of Mr Frasers good work. Cr Whibley said he could not support the amendment. Mr Fraser had certainly been a splendid Town Clerk and he was sure it would be impossible to get a better one, and the majority of the ratepayers appreciated his good work, but he could not support the granting of three months leave of absence on full pay. Mr Fraser had been receiving a good salary and had enjoyed privileges such as holidays, etc., that some offices did not get, and he considered that as soon as his duties ceased his salary should also cease.

Cr Coley said he could not support the granting of three months leave of absence on full pay and would therefore vote for the motion.

Cr Adams expressed regret at the resignation of the Town Clerk and said that it would be very difficult to get a man' with the same knowledge of municipal matters as Mr Fraser. He would support the amendment accepting the resignation as he did not see any good purpose could be served by holding the matter over.

The amendment on being put was lost, the voting being ; For— The Mayor and Crs, Speirs and Adams ; against—Crs. Richmond, Hannah, Coley and Whibley.

The motion was then put and carried.