LOCAL BODY REPRESENTATIVES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2237, 10 February 1921, Page 2

LOCAL BODY REPRESENTATIVES.

THE Mayor of Masterton, at a recent Council meeting, in referring to the defalcations by the ex-town clerk, James Archer, said he resented the statement that the council had been loose and unbusinesslike in its methods. He denied that “the council was either loose in its methods or unbusinesslike, and explained the methods of the council, it would almost appear from the remarks made, said Mr Jackson, that the council was the culprit and Archer the victim." It is, however, an undeniable fact that in the case of many governing authorities the clerk is the tail that wags the dog, and beyond a casual attention to business at meetings, many of the elected representatives and trustees of the people are not aware of the responsibilities and powers which devolve upon them. Too often the representative who does dip into the hinterland of administrative control is looked upon as a nuis 7 a nee. The clerk, as a paid official, has no power of initiative. He receives his instructions from the

Council or its executive head. Such, however, is the indifference and ignorance of many governing body representatives that the clerk or other official is the-real head, and the elect of the people are mere automatons. A condition attached to the nomination of a candidate who aspires to represent the public on any governing body should require that he has a knowledge of the Act and other regulations which he is called upon to administer.