OVER-RIDING COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1884, 1 October 1918, Page 3

OVER-RIDING COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION.

CLERK ACTS ON IDS OWN,

At last month’s ordinary monthly meeting of the Borough Council it was pointed out that a gas consumer was considerably in arrears with both gas and payments on gas cooker, and a motion was passed that unless all arrears were paid up within seven days the gas was to be cut off and the cooker removed. At lust Friday night’s meeting Cr Henderson asked what had been done in the matter. The Town Clerk said that he hud not cut the gas off, but had installed a. slot meter in place of the ordinary meter that was previously in use. He considered (hat if the gas were cut off and the cooker removed there would he very little chance of ever collecting any of the arrears, whereas, on (lie other hand, by installing a slot meter the Council was assured of payment for gas used in future, and he was confident that ho would eventually he able to collect the arrears. He would take full responsibility for what had been done, and Councillors would recognise it was the best thing to do under (he circumstances.

The Mayor said there was a principle at slake. The Council had passed a resolution to the effect that, the gas he cut off and the cooker removed, and no officer of the Council had the right to override the resolution. If officers of the Council were going to do as they thought lit irrespective of motions passed by the, Council, then Councillors might just as well slay at home and let Hie Town Clerk run the show.

The Town Clerk (to the Mayor) : 1 told you what I was going to do, and you said you would not lake any responsibility.

Cr Henderson said the terms of tin 1 resolution should have been carried out. No servant of the Council should he allowed to override resolutions. Cr Coley said no doubt Hie Town Clerk had done wrong, hut under the circumstances it was perhaps (he best thing that could have been done.

Cr Thompson said (hat recently two Councillors had resigned on account of the terms of a resolution not being adhered to, and this .sort of thing should no! la* allowed to continue. Possiidy the Council was a little hasty in passing the resolution. The Mayor moved, and Cr Henderson seconded, that the resolution passed at Hie last monthly meeting re gas consumer he carried out at once.

The Minor said Ihiil unless the Council wits going {o j)ni i|s foul down iind demand Ihnl lln* resolutions he curried out us passed they had better liave added to every resolution “unless the Town Clerk sees a better way of doing it.’’ Cr Me Murray, whilst agreeing that servants of (he Council must carry out resolutions, thought that it would he sufficient if in (ho present case the Town Clerk was censured and the slot gas meter left in the house, lie thought it was the best way out under the circumstances. The Mayor said the question of which method was Ihe best was quite beside the point. The Council must stand linn .and stale definitely that their officers must carry out the Council's resolutions irrespective of their own personal opinions.

The motion was (■iil'l'ii'd, I !lf> Vu( ing l)(‘in;_* —For: Tlk> Mayor and (’rs Henderson, Coley and Thompson. Au 1 :ii 11 s 1 : Crs McMurray, Bryant, iind Kempster.