THE TOWN CLERK'S RETIREMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3008, 3 October 1908, Page 5

THE TOWN CLERK'S RETIREMENT.

EULOGIES FROM THE COUNCIL,

NEW POSITION OFFERED TO

MR BROWN. A special meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening to consider the resignation of the Town Clerk (\lr R. Brown). There were present u,e. Mayor (Mr P. L. Rollings), and Crs J. H. Pauling, J. Elliott, J. Hunter, J. C. Ewington, J. rrentice, W. Pragnell, A. Haughey, and VV. Morris. The Mayor read a letter of resignation signed by the Town Clerk, the resignation to date from the 15th instant. The Major nrnved as follows: — "That the resignation of Mr R. Brown be accepted, and that a record be entered on the minutes of the Council expressing the Council's appreciation of his faithful and valuable services to the town during the past thirty-one years, and that he be given the opportunity of continuing the office of Returning Officer and Borough Valuer at a salary of £SO a year." The Mayor, in moving the motion, said he did not anticipate much hostility to it. He thought the Council would recognise the fact that Mr Brown had b in a faithf J and valuable servani. He was the only Town Clerk the town had had, and he had been true and loyal to the Council, and a loyal and faithful citizen, and as a public man his services had been most valuable to the district generally. His Worship would be sorry to see Mr Brown's connection with the Borough severed, and he would like, if at all possible, to see it continued. This was desirable, not only for the Council's sake, but for the sake of Mr Brown. It was wellknown that a Bill was before the House for the superannuation of municipal servants on a pension, and it was, he thought, the Council's duty to give Mr Brown an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the proposed legislation. A pension was proposed for servants over the age of sixty-five years, and Mr Brown was now sixty-two years. Personally, he thought no man in the community was more entitled to such a pension than Mr Brown. As Returning Officer, Mr Brown would have the conduct of the polls taken in the Borough from time to time, and the management of elections. As Jorough Valuer, Mr, Brown would find plenty to engage him, even during the coming year, as there was a lot of assessing to be done in Kuripuni Street and Makora Street, when widening operations were commenced. In the past the Council had found it frequently necessary to engage outside valuers at high fees. Even since His Worship's t resent occupancy of the Mayoral chair such a course had to be adopted on occasions. It was the least the Council could do, the Mayor thought, to give MiBrown an opportunity to continue in its service in the position he suggested in tha motion. Cr Pragnell seconded the motion. Cr J. C. Ewington gave the motion his unqualified support, eulogising Mr Brown for the faithful and valuable service he had given to the town and the Council.

Cr Pauling agreed with the Mayor in his personal -references to Mr Brown, and said he too would have great pleasure in supporting the motion, providing it was clearly understood that the position would not interfere with the Working routine of the ordinary office staff. He felt sure Mr Brown would fil} the position with credit, and as for the remuneration, it was not any too much for such an office.

Cr Elliott said he was strongly in favour of the motion, and made particular reference to the small cost to the Borough of the raising of the £25,000 loan (£25), stating he would like'to see how such compared with the raising of similarly large amounts elsewhere. Crs Morris and Prentice both supported the motion. Cr Haughey said he felt that all that had been said about Mr Brown was quite justified. The only "fly in the ointment," m the speaker's view, was that the office of Returning Officer was one that should be filled by the Executive officer of the/ Council. It would be more proper to appoint a deputy returning officer, and al'ow the Council's, executive officer to reign supreme. Mr Brown m'ght be made Deputy Returning Officer.

The Mayor said the duties attaching to the position of Returning Officer were really entirely apart from the other office duties of the Council. It was really desirable, for many raasons, to have an outsider in such a position. Personally, he was pleased to see the Council so unanimous on the matter, and if it pleased Mr Brown to accept the office, His Worship hoped he would live long to enjoy it.

The motion was put and carried unanimously. It was resolved to forward a copy of the resolution to x - Mr Brown, requesting a reply forthwith. It was also decided that the Mayor should write out a testimonial for Mr Brown on behalf of the Council, to which the seal of the Borough will be affixed. THE NEW TOWN CLERK. MR W. T. MANSFIELD APPOINTED. \ The appointment of a Town Clerk and Borough Engineer was the next business which came before the Council. Six applications were received for the position, the applicants beiog all resident within the Dominion. Two had had practically no colonial experience. One stated that, he objected to hold the two positions himself, but offered to, place his son under him in the clerical department. Another admitted having had no actual experience! in Borough bookkeeping, and a fifth, holding the position of Town Clerk to a town of similar size to Masterton, and having had engineering experience. The applications also included one from the Acting-Town Clerk (Mr W. T. Mansfield), and the Council soon reduced the candidates for the office to the two last named. Mr Mansfield retired when the applications were dealt with. The Mayor said he thought the proof of a pudding lay in the eating,

and though some good men were offering, the Council could hardly do better than appoint Mr Mansfield to the office. They had had experience ot him, and knew exactly what he could do. The Mayor moved that Mr Mansfield be appointed to the position. < Cr Prentice seconded the motion. Cr Haughey supported the motion. He thought that during the past; twelve months the/Council had learnt, a good deal trom the Acting Engineer, particularly in the way o* roadmaking. The speaker reterred to the great saving effected by Mr Mansfield in tar macadamising Queen Street on the estimated cost as fixed previous to his coming to Mnsterton. Mr Mansfield had filled the two positions for twelve months, and knew exactly what wa3 required and how to do it. The motion was then put and carried on the voices, Crs Ewington and Hunter being apparently the only dissentients. The Mayor then appealed to the Council for loyal support for Mr Mansfield. He hoped all differences would be siink and the Council work harmoniously together. Every Councillor was entitled to his opinion, but nevertheless he hoped they would respect the opinion of the Engineer, otherwisa it would be impossible for him to do justice to the position. Cr Morris rose to explain that in 'connection with the matter he had been accused of being a turncoat, and in connection with such statements he felt bound to say that he might at one time have felt a little prejudice against Mr Mansfield on account of his extreme regard for Mr Brown. Since Mr Mansfield's appointment, however, the speaker had been gradually won over to recognise Mr Mansfield's abilities by the way he had served the Council during the past year.

Cr Hunter thought that the Mayor's remark in regard to every Councillor being entitled to an opinion told most against His Worship. It seemed that the exercising of this opinion in the past was what had caused difficulties.

The Mayor replied that in matters affecting the Engineer's duties he wpuld always be guided by the expert advice of the Engineer, and he thought the Council would not go far wrong in doing so ten. Cr Pauling agreed with this remark, and said that he believed that in the past Councillors had professed, to know too much, even in Mr Dobson's time.

The Town Clerk was then called in and notified that he was appointed to the position, the Mayor, assuring him of the Council's hearty cooperation and support. Mr Mansfield briefly thanked the Council for its expression of confidence, stating that he had done his best in the Council's interest during the past year, and hoped to merit the appointment they had conferred on him. The Council then adjourned.