THE COUNCIL AND THE NIGHTWATCHMAN.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 January 1918, Page 4

THE COUNCIL AND THE NIGHTWATCHMAN.

At the meeting of the Borough. Council last night, the question of a nightwatchman was brought up, when, a clause embodied in the Town Hall and Reserves Committee’s report was under consideration The clause read! “With reference to the matter of the nightwatchman’s duties, it is recommended that the Taihape Tradesmen’s Association be informed that the Council considers that if tell-tale clocks are desired the Association should bear the cost of same.”

Cr. Joblin suggested that tbe clocks should be located at the Town Hall, the Railway Station, and the Tiki They should beVwound up every hour in proper sequence and order. The nightwatchman had inform* ed them that he was quite in favour of the clocks, as it w r ould show whether he was doing his duty. As the tradesmen were paying the watchman the least the Council could do was to pay four the clocks. The unsatisfactory part of the present arrangement was that some of the tradesmen were paying for the watchman and some were not. He advocated a special rate over a special area, and the duties of Hall custodian and nightwatch* man could be amalgamated and paid from this rate.

Cr, Wrightson said the clause dh not cover the ground outlined by th< deputation. He took it that what th< Association wanted was the Councl to control the nightwatchman. Cr. Reid said they could only haw jurisdiction over this official by pay ing his wages

The Mayor said the nightwatchmai had originally been appointed by tb< Council, and he then took his orden from the Town Clerk.

Cr. Healey considered the town had come to that stage when they should approach the Police Department to appoint a night polictoian He suggested the Police should

be approached to appoint a night constable for the borough. The Mayor said this would be a S0 ‘ lution of the whole difficulty, insteac of the present watchman getting his pay from this one and the other. With regard to the special rate idea, if they paid hinrfa would have to come out of the general fund. To show the neec of a nightwatchman, he had been informed by present official there was hardly a week in w r bich he had not to take the key out of some tradesmen’s door. He believed the Tradesmen’s Association was prepared to give a subsidy towards a nightwatchman.

Cr. Reid said it would not be right for residents on the hill and on the outskirts of the town to contribute towards a nightwatchman’s salary. Cr. Champion thought this a very narrow view to take. They were equally interested in the welfare of the town, and it was only the proximity of the town that gave those outlying properties their value >

After some desultory discussion, a committee consisting of Crs. Champion, Reid, Wrightson and Joblln, was set up to go into the matter, and meet representatives of the Tradesmen’s Associtaion.