CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 128, 10 May 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Wo do not hold ourßclvcs responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents). BOROUGH AUDITORS. TO TUR EDITOR, Sib, —Recent events have shown that the office of Auditor of the Borough is one of considerable responsibility. The very fact of the Government having placed the election in the hands of the burgesses, indicates that the Legislature considered the appointments of too much importance to be left in the hands of councillors. I take it that the auditors should be quite free from any influence which the council might wish to bring to bear upon them ; that their duty is to watch the interests of the ratepayers who cleet them, and in their report to write any matter in connection with their office, which they consider should be fully known to the public. If councillors are led away by their private feelings to deal with the Borough funds in a manner not strictly in accordance with some business principles, it is not surprising that they will endeavour to treat any fair, honest, outspoken criticism on their finance, as impertinent. But the auditors should be men who are not to be deterred from performing their duty thoroughly and well, by any fear of such consequences. The ratepayers should see that they elect only such men as will perform the task allotted to th m without fear or favor otherwise it is of little use having auditors a all. The purse-strings are, however, in the hands of the Council, and this I think a serious error in the Municipal Corporations Act, as where there is any desire to lower the status of the office it is easy for that body to fix the remuneration at so absurdly low a figure, that the men best qualified for the position will not contest the appointment. I beg to express a hope that the Cooncil will, in carrying out the provisions of clause 95 of the Act, which should be their guide, fix such a salary as will be commensurate with the duties of an office at once honorable and responsible.—l am, &c., Vox Populi.