The Pukekohe and Waiuku Times WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25, 1912. TOWN BOARD ACCOUNTS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 30, 25 September 1912, Page 2

The Pukekohe and Waiuku Times WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25, 1912.

TOWN BOARD ACCOUNTS.

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" You're all right, anil I'm all right; anil We're all as i iglit As right can be." Last week the Town Board accounts (instructions for the preparation of which were given in March last) came to hand. It is admitted that the accounts even now are inaccurate, but the balances will serve, at any rato, as a foundation for the borough's bookkeeping system. At the public meeting t];o Mayor indulged in a somewhat elaborate white-washing. Of course if the Mayor felt that he had done the late Town Clerk an injustice it was his duty to makoan ample public apology. But in doing that ho has involved us also. Unfortunately we published the Mayor's utterances of loud condemnation —which utterauces have now boon viitually unsaid. If readers will carefully read the Mayor's " supplementary report," printed on page 1, they will have a better appreciation of our dilliculty. Afuongst other things the Mayor during the recent discussions said tha', at his own expense, he had taken legal advico and found that the position of tlio lato Town Beard and the clerk was not tin enviable one. It was the Mayor who D'oved for Mr Patterson's suspension and the handing over of the books to a solicitor, and in Juno when Mr PattiT.on excused himself for not even then having the accounts ready the Mayor said " if an employee of his came with Mr Patterson's excuse lie would say that the books were in a disgraceful state -in fait that they had not been kept at all." Believing that the;-! word., had been weighed wo reported iheni But with llie Mayor's retraction \\e cannot do less than o\pri"-> "in I • i. ! to the late Tow n < lei K lor publi hue; w li.it Mr Dunn said then, and to "ive equal prominence to what the Mayor says j Uow. At the same tiiuo we desire

that our position should not be misunderstood Wo no ici uto ho Inyonci contradiction that the Town Board's ooK-kP9'>in<r system was altogether inadequate, that in that system there was culpable negligence, and that when the borough was formed there was gross unreadiness in presenting the Board's accounts. Still tho accounts are now to hand ami there need be no more fretting over tho matter. So far us the pronouncement is concerned the late clerk may repeat with relish that "he laughs best who I'iughs last." I[e emerges from a long periol of condemnation to enjoy ;i hymn of praise to his honesty, lih frankness and his industry. In this world of eternal anxieties no man dare hope for finer testimonials. Wo should imagine tliaf nobody expected such a Gilbertian climax as this a few weeks ago.