MARTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8712, 11 January 1907, Page 2

MARTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Town Clerkship. At Marton Borough Council meeting last evening the Mayor informed Council that the Insurance Company had recently declined to renew the Clerk’s fidelity bond. The Mayor at once requested the Clerk to take steps to find security elsewhere, and intimated that Council would allow him reasonable time to do so. This was about December 1, and as the Conned was not prepared to take any risks hp authorised the Librarian to act ag Treasurer. On December 14 be received a letter from the Clerk, stating that; be bad arranged for a fidelity bond in another office. The mattes had not yet been settled, and reasonable time had been allowed the Clerk to do so. Ho moved—“ That Mr Woodhouse be informed that bis engagement as Town Clerk will be determined without further notice on' 17th instant at 4 o’clock unless he succeeds in procuring a satisfactory fidelity bond in favour of Council lor £50(1, and that he be suspended Without pay in the meantime, pending his obtaining such bond.” The motion was seconded by Cr. Grove. Cr. McEldowney said he would no£ vote on this motion until ho'had seen the auditor’s report or until'ho had further information on the question. While he hud a duty to perform to the ratepayers, he felt it was also a serious matter for the Clerk, and might mean ruin to him. (Hear, boar.) He preferred to have the matter postponed for a week, so as to give the Clerk an opportunity. He'shodM given a fair trial.' - Cr. Little pointed out that it the Mayor’s motion was carried it Would, mean that the Clerk would be debarred from entering the office. He considered the Mayor’s proposal was toq drastic. 0 ’ Cr. Head was surprised at the attitude now taken by the Mayor. ’ At a previous meeting of the Council he (the Mayor) had objected to sign ijn application form for a fidelity'"bonq because he did not approve of something' it contained, which, he alleged, would make him personally liable. Under these circumstances the Clerk could not possibly have completed the bond'. The Mayor’s first was quite at variance with Id's present attitiple'.’ ' ! ■' * ,f: I The Mayor explained that he had since been advised he was in no way liable if be signed the form. Cr. Sutcliffe was not in favour of suspending the Clerk. The Mayor said the Clerk had ignored hfs Cr. Betid Wanted ‘Or. McEldowney to read the auditor's report, * An amendment was moved by Cr, McEldowney and carried, “That the Town Clerk be given to the 17th tb complete his fidelity bond, and thsidfe! special meeting be held next Thmkdky tu deal with the matter." •*

The Mayor and Cr'. Grove voted against the amepdmcpf.