THE CAMBRIDGE COUNCIL AND ITS CLERK.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3099, 26 May 1892, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE COUNCIL AND ITS CLERK.

« TO THE EDITOR. Sin.— I am sure the ratepayers of Cambridge feel thankful to you for giving an extended report of the meetings of tho Cambridge Borough Council, held last week and the previous one, as we now know exactly how the matter stands. As the councillors are the representatives of the ratepayers, it is only right that the latter should know what the former .'.ay and do when they are assembled to tiansact the business of the borough. There may. however, be times when certain business would be interfered with if the subject underldiscussien were fully renorted before the transaction was completed—such as the purchase of the piano for the Public Halibut such cases are tew and far between, and I presume the Council would then go into committee. I believe lam re-echoing the sentiments of nine-tenths of the ratepayers when I say I am deeply grieved to see the awkward fix in which the town clerk has placed himself: and further, that I would sooner see him filling the position than any other individual. When he is straight, no one could be more obliging and courteous or transact the business if the town in a better manner; but when he is suffering from this frightful disease—for I thoroughly believe it is a disease—everything goes to rack and ruin, and it becomes imperative that some capable person should take charge of the borough affairs, I see by the report in last Saturday's issue that one of the councillors blames himself for not having taken a stand ere that time. Well, I also blame him, but not him alone, fur I also blame the rest of the Council, and I likewise blame you, Sir, or I suppose I should say your representative, for not one word appeared in your paper about the apparently numerous " last chances " that have bean given the town clerk. If the ratepayers had known what a bad state matters were drifting into, they would have endeavoured to arouse tho councillors to a sense of their responsibility, and would most probably have averted the present difficulty. As tho Mayor said the Council has "acted like a lot of schoolboys, and has become the laughing stick of the town "; and I would remind one councillor that although the ratepayers may be " Old Mother Gamps,' " as he was pleased to designate them, nevertheless it is they that send him to do business on their behalf, and he should attend to it as carefully as if it was his own. The same councillor " does not care a rap for the talk of the streets," and for this I commend him, as " the talk of the streets," is generally confined to a few of the public house loafers, and does not eminate from the intelligent portion of the ratepayers. Again this councillor thinks the ratepayers should be thankful, as a reduction will probably be made in the clerk's salary. So we shall be, my dear councillor but I cannot see wherein we shall be indebted to you for the saving, for had it not been for four *' last chances" the climax would have been reached some time ago. I consider that the Mayor has more cause to cornplain than any other member of the Council, for ever since he has filled the office the town clerk's work has, I am told, been con ducted in a most irregular manner, and of late it has almost been neglected altogether. Mr Webber, when he accepted the office, would naturally expect the work to be carried out in the precise and systematical manner in which it had previously been done, or I do not for one minute think he would have accepted the position ; and the work being neglected has doubtless caused him great anxiety and worry. The problem is a difficult one to solve. On the one hand, the Council has been ridiculed and insulted (to which a portion wish to tamely submit) and tho ratepayers have found out that they are paying too highly for the work that is done. On the other hand, the ratepayers wish to retain Mr Thomson's services, but don't want to pay too highly for them, and certainly will support their Council in resenting insults, etc. I think it would meet the case if the Clerk were to apologise to the Mayor and Council for the manner in which it has treated them of l»te, and agree to accept a salary of say £50 per annum until the overdraft is extinguished. I make this suggestion hoping it afcay cause our worthy councillors to wash off the war paint, and give us " peace with honour." Trusting you will find space in your columns for this.—l am, etc., Temperate Ratepayer. P.S, —Why did not your reporter give the remarks made by a Councillor at the last meeting, who I am told, voted for the proposition and afterwards apologised for so doing ? A man who tries to run with both hare and hounds makes enemies on both sides, and is not fitted to be a councillor.