BOROUGH COUNCIL AND TENANT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2148, 6 July 1920, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL AND TENANT.

DEMAND FOR RENT. PRODUCES A VOLUBLE PROTEST. The correspondence in connection with an endeavour made by the Town Clerk to collect a small amount duo to the Council for rent, which had fyeen outstanding for over (wo years, read at last night’s Council meeting, created a good deal of amusement. The Town Clerk forwarded the following letter to the debtor: “I have an account on my books, nearly two years old, amounting to £1 4s Od for rent of Prances Street cottage, and unless (his amount is paid into my office within seven days the matter will be placed in the hands of the Enough Solicitors for the necessary action.” The above brought forth the following effusion: “In consideration of the fact that it is quite within the realms of possibility an error has occurred relative to the subject matter contained in your communication, I beg to inform you that it is very much like your confounded cheek and impertinence to dare, to (much a letter to me in such terms. I will just have you to understand that on any future occasion upon which you are called upon to address yourself to me, oral or written, I expect nothing but the utmost respect and civility, otherwise I shall require a reason. I have yet to learn that the Borough Council has endowed its servants with the prerogative to intimidate or bully anyone —an illusion pure and simple. A communication in a strain compatible with your honourable position,' and one respected by your predecessors, would have elicited such information as would have satisfactorily explained and adjusted the matter. Presumption is, to my mind at least, not in the interests of the Council, the community, and your advancement.” To this the Town Clerk replied that his former letter did not call for any other reply than the settlement: of the account, and advised that the matter of his “confounded cheek” would be dealt with by the Council at its next meeting, when the correspondence would be read. A reply to this stated that apparently the previous Town Clerk had overlooked adjusting the account as promised, the debtor stating that 1 the matter of some little expense he had incurred in papering the inside of the cottage and the purchase of bricks for the purpose of making,the backyard a little more cleanly and habitable than it was would be held to be sufficient to offset the amount of £1 4s Od, which appeared on the books. He was under the impression that this matter had been ffxed up, and stated the letter recently received from the Town Clerk' was the first intimation he had that (he matter had not been adjusted.

The Council having no knowledge or record of any arrangement being made as claimed by the debtor, passed a resolution authorising tho .Town Clerk to immediately place the account in the hands of the Borough Solicitors for collection.