Civic Bumbles.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 83, 12 April 1904, Page 2

Civic Bumbles.

"WASTE OF TIME," "TOMMyHOT," ANIJ OTIUSU SUBJECTS. A 1)IS SEHTATION THEIIEON. Messrs Aliier and Cliff, borough councillors, are not satisfied with the manner of checking the llorough Council accounts. (Jr. Clifl opened the ball on Monday luglvt bj referring to an account [ifi.ssed recently (or £(S for certain work done at (lie lfallis It wasn't word, anything, like the money. Why weren't the accounts always presented to a committee to lie checked ? Were that done there would Ife no mistakes such as this. (Jr. Ahier followed. lie had never seen such loose -business as was done in the Council.

,Sevei al animadversions occurred oil the system which was (lectured absolute.

The Town Clerk stated that the accounts were always placed before the Finance Committee on the I hursday prior to the Council iniviings. The Einance Committee consisted of the whole Council, so that membprs had every opportunity oi inspecting the accounts to be passed.

(Jr. ,'CliWf 'delivered n f,. xv more caustic remarks, Inn, those dealt more with th c . Works CommiUee IUISIIIPSS tllllll anything report of that (-iiitiiiiil1(.<>, he considered, slum Id have been taken serin I im.

11'. tarter asked whether Iho Council was inviiru dial a museum account. had been charged to the borough lands, unit bv whoso authority this was done. Cr. ('lilt said they could not. expect to be Ireu of mistakes when the accounts were not read out. •N r 0 councillor evidently had authorised thc work, so 'the account was reterred to a commit tee. Cr. ClilT spoke on the gxnioral laxity of municipal methods. Some councillors, he thought, wasted a Rowl deal of time.

Ihe Mayor ; When you've finished talking toinmy-rof, we will gvt on with the accounts.

Cr. ClilT : I beg your pardon ? The Mayor : J repent wlmt I said. You're talking tommy-rot and nothing else. As soon as you have done I'll start. Tho Mayor sat down.

Or. Clin again referred to tho Works Committee.

The Mayor : The Works Committee qkiestion has I>o£>n threshed out time and again, Cr. ClilT, wlieu you were at home ill 1>«1. We are not going to be dictated to by anyone. As to the accounls, it is councillors' own faults if any mistakes occur. The Town Clerk does his duty thoroughly, and it is left for councillors to go through the accounts. If they can't do "it in one nig'iit then they must come next evening, and if they can't get. through by 10 o'clock thev must stay till 12, that's all.

Or. Cliff said lie meant no reflection on the Town Clerk. Someone, though, was responsible. The Mayor: It's your business as much as mine.

Cr. (JlilV : What resolution tin* you pulling? The Mayor : X"one. Cliff : because I was going to move an amendment.

r riu' Mayor : Well, move one, and lei's get to 'business. Cr. ClilT then moved that. the Council do now adjourn until ten o'clock on 'Tuesday evening lor consideration oi' the accounts.

The Mayor commenced to put Ihe <|jirst'ion when Cr. ClilV interjected : Not leu o'clock.

Tile Mayor : You said ten, any Iww.

Cr. Cliff : 1 mean nine. I want to suit (he councillors. What are you putting/? The Mayor : Your resolution to adjourn till Jo-morrow. Cr. Clil'f : What, for ? The Mayor' To consider the accounts, you said.

Cr. Ahier suggested that the Finivncu Commi I 1 ee should nuvt half un hour before the Works Committee meetings la traverse the accounts. lie objected to the slipshod way of passing the account;;. Me moved that three councillors check them li'elore being passed. Cr. Cliff iiiov* d his motion.

Cr. Carter ed thai it would not be legal alo appoint 11 new I'Mnnnee Committee. They linil one already. Why not leave things as they were until (he rnd „f ()„, year ?

Cr. Ahier : Well, if tliat won't do, I'll move that the lirst halfliour of tlje Work.s Committee meetings l;e devoted to the considerotion of accounts. This was carried, the Mayor remarking (hut it was the right thing to do. The Town Clerk stated tliat several accounts were uncertilied, owing to fcto: changes in the engineer's ollice. vfe* Those mil bo inquired into by Crs Medley, Wilson, and Carter. After an npology by Cr. Cliff for " milling his Worship's feathors the incident closed..