MARTON BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12636, 25 October 1905, Page 7

MARTON BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

To the Editor

Sir, —During my absence un Wellington last week a meeting of ratepayers was called by the Mayor of Marton to consider Trafalgar Day and municipal matters. At this meeting ratepayers, non-ratepayers, youths and 'boys were admitted, aud mamy of such non-rate-payers and youths and boys voted. Nevertheless, for the resolution expressing continued confidence in the Mayor and Councillors of Marton there was, out of the "good attendance of ratepayers" (and others), not 20 hands held up (including those of the youths who , iheld their heads down and their two hands up and of such of the non-rate-payers as voted). Various excuses for not finding out earlier the late clerk's defalcations were made. Practically it was insinuated, -by way of defence, (I quote from the local report of the meeting) that "increasing the price of gas," "allowing larger discounts," etc.. had in some way (it was not dear how) hindered earlier detection of the defalcations. The Mayor alleged as an excuse "the impossibility of detecting defalcations by ordinary vigilance," and said that "no suspicions weire laroused," yet, sir, Mr Becke is reported to have said at this very meeting "that his suspicions were aroused eighteen months ago. Mr Becke added that "it was utterly impossible for any member of a Council to prevent clerks embezzling." The proceedings of the promoters of this meeting of "ratepayers" (?) and their friends remands me of a mutual admiraton society. The "lucid" way in which the Mayor explained everything and in which the explanation was accepted made them all quite happy and satisfied them that nobody was to blame; that embezzling clerks were a 'necessary evil, that by no possibility could it be avoided, amd that by the prompt payment of rates, together with the do-nothing-to-the-roads policy, which has prevailed so long sn Marton, that by these things, I say, sir, " the financial position of the borough could be maintained and " the affairs of tthe borough would not be interrupted in any way," and the words of the recent play bill, with a slight alteration, be made to apply, namely : — " The vanishing £750 and Invulnerability." What brooks it that the Council's banker should sometimes ask about figures? Bankers are, it cs notorious, of I quizzical bent; but Councillors should, of oouree, possess Japanese equanimity. To me, 'however, the . most annoying feature at this homogenous assemblage (otherwise meeting) was that motion of Mr Beckett's shifting the blame entire- ! ly from the shoulders of the Mayor and Council on to the audit department and asking the Government to request the Audit Department (as if that department had not enough to do already) to help the Council to keep their officers honest. Was ever such a thing heard of before? It is, I conceive, not only Marton, but the whole of the local bodies and the whole of the ratepayers in arrears throughout New Zealand that would be concerned. Does Mr Beckett think that it is Marton only that needs such help? But whatever he thinks or whatever he means, one thing is certain, viz., that the boon of, local self-govern-ment is lost upon us, for Mr Beckett's resolution is nothing more nor less than an admission on our part that we at any rate cannot manage our own affairs. The question still remains to be answered—ls the Council cleared of blame in the eyes of the ratepayers? Is it absolved? Are the Councillors proud of the position? Some there are, myself included, who (the confidence resolution notwithstanding) are cruel enough to have misgivings, which are intensified by the farcical one-sided character of the proceedings, and also by the statement of the suspicions of eighteen months ago. I ask does the Finance Committee ever look inside the Council's, bank book? If so, how is it that it was hot discovered that certain cheques had not been presented to the Bank for payment (thus keeping down the overdraft). Is it not clear that had this been found out it would have led to the defalcations 'being found out also? Surely it did oiot require the Audit Department to discover at an earlier stage the nonpayment of these cheques. The borough has fallen upon evil days; but the absolving process may cheer us along our troubled way, though it may be that the borough banker will not credit such absolution to us at an £ s d value. What matters it? Possibly we could arrange another meeting (this time ratepayers only) to see if a deputation' could be formed tb oajole (or kick) the Audit Department into inducing our banker to accept our resolutions of "absolution and sihirk" (not of penitence, please note) at a monetary value and crediting such value to the reduction of our appalling overdraft. Mone anon. —Yours etc., ;, JAMES GROVE. Wellington RoadV •Marton, October 20th, 1905. "t- -To the Editor. Sir,; On Monday last a special ineeting of the Marton Borough''Council was held to consider the appointment of a Town Clerk. It is stated that when it oaime to the voting Councillor Grove persisted in asking that the decision should be made by open voting. The Mayor in reply is alleged to have said that ihe supposed Councillor Grove desired to 'have published the names of the Councillors in the same manner as ihe hod secured publication of disgraceful letters re borough affairs. The Councillor retorted with warmth, and is understood to have given a Roland for an Oliver. Thereupon, Councillors Little and Dommett, with a"~due sense of injured dignity, called for a vote of censure on Councillor Grove, who in answer put the blame on the Mayor for using language which that Councillor designated as not in accordance with the strict rules of Parliamentary etiquette. Lively, eh? Now it turns out that Councillor Grove was light after all in lira contention, and the form of choosing tho clerk will have to be gone over again iand the selection be made by open voting. Wihat, pray, can the ratepayers think of all this? Instructive, isn't it? The old members receiving tuition •in municipal procedure—like babes receive milk—from the newest arrival at the Council board. What a dreadful Councillor this is; naughty old man not to fall into the same stride as everybody else, but to have a mind of his own and to think and act up to 'his convictions and pursue .it with grim steadfastness of purpose. But how deeply grateful the long suffering ratepayers should be to such a deliverer. " He comaes the creaking throne to shake." —I am, etc., RATEPAYER. To the Editor. Sir, —I think the only solution of tho above matter is for Cr. Grove to call a meeting of ratepayers only. The ono recently hold was farcical, and had it nob been for the personal popularity of our Mayor, an almost unanimous vote of censure would havo been passed.—l am. etc., " £700.