MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3398, 1 March 1879, Page 4

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

CHRISTCQURCH. A special meeting of tho City Council wa3 lield last night for the purpose of discussing "tho question of tho re-orgtuiisation of the City Council official staff. Tho following were pr sent — His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), aud Councillors Wilson, Treuiaync, Jenkins, Clifford, Lezard, Ayere, Gapes, i\nd Binstcuri. The Mayor said that ho hm\ received a couple of letters from T>r Foster, which he would lr.y upon the tablu lor the members to examine for themselves. Ho thtu explained the object ot f tho apodal meeting. A -resolution for tho Te-organisiitiou of the staff had l)cen passed by the old Council end renewed iby the present. There would bo no doubt therefore that ehango was necessary. He was glad that delay had taken place, us the question could now be discussed calmly. The beet manner of "conducting tho business would bo ■remitting it to a Committee, with powor to Hake evidence and report to the Council. If lie consulted hia own convenience he would like to postpone tho question till the termination of his year of office, for any change would give him much additional labour. He would not, however, Bhirk his duly, and trusted that no member of tho Council would. Christchurch was now so rapidly Hdrancing that it was time the offices of legal adviser and Clork should bo united in the same person. Economically it would ho an advantage. The Clerk's salary was £ 100, and the legal expenses were £200 n year, to »ay nothing of money lost to tho city by law suits lost. Eron if the Council had to pay £700 a yenv to a legal gentleman (and there iTero several who would act as Clerk), the Council would save money. For some time jjast the heads of departments in the Council's office had not worked harmoniously. This had not been conducive to the welfare of ihe city, and it would thorefore be well to Jhavo the duties of all the olliciuls defined. H'hc Nuisance Inspector had had to do office work, bo had the rate collector. Hence tho duties of these ollicoro had been neglected. 'l'he Council, by tho resolution which hail been curried nt the last meeting, was empowered to will for evidence to prove tho truth of this statement. He had now said enough to intro duce the matter. Tho Council would probably not be able to conclude tho business at one oitting. He would like to hear the Counvillors' individual opinions. TTlie Clerk read the resolution which was to be discussed. It was to the effect " That Iho meeting consider the advisability of re-organis-ing the staff, including tho City Solicitor, and to examine the Council's books and to obtain evidence if they consider it iiecesfnry." Councillor Wilson thought, the Mayor had iiot touched tho matter in hand. As fur us J»jj experience went, tho Councillor:) had always been treated most kindly by tho City ofliciald. Ilia Worship said that Mie resolution had been proposed by Cour.cillor Binstcad and aecoucfed by Councillor ChlVyrd. lie was not responsible tor it. Councillor Wilson ventured to say that the City Council had as fine a sot of scrvauls aa liny public body in the world. Would his Worship tell him could they get a better Clerk, Engineer, Inspector, or young men tlmn they had in the Council's present official stuff ? He wjis prepared f o defend thnn to tho best of his power. They, many of thorn, Lad ;t#tvcd tlio ciiy well for years, and should not •bo treat i'd with capriciousness. Ho understood that the servants of the Council were all to be dismissed. His Worship said there was no question of the kind before the Council. Councillor Wilson asked how thero could bo u re-oi'gaivsation without a dismissal. Beyond the necessary change that had already been made, he should be sorry to see Htij other. His Worship said that Councillor Wilson #va3 mistaken in supposing tho staff was going to be dismissed. Ho had simply called the Council together to consider a resolution wluch had been passed unanimously. He hud mado no charge against anyone, but Lad apoken einiply to tho principle of having a legally qualified person to occupy the position of Town Clerk aud Solicitor. Councillor Gapes thought Councillor Wilson had forgotten himself altogether. That gentleman had been present at tho last meeting and had not opposed tho resolution. The Mayor had called the meeting in conformity with that resolution. Ho (Councillor Gapes) imd understood the meeting to have beon called principally to define the duties of the officials. He was much surprised to hear tho peculiar remarks of Councillor Wilson, who tlid not appear to know whut ho was talking .about. The Mayor, ho thought, had made a »latcmDnt of tho business before the meeting as well us it could bo clone. Councillor Binstend said that tho resolution "was much abbreviated. No charge hud beon made, nor Imrl nnything been said about dismissing. Words hail been included in it lothe following effect :— " That it would be necessary in order to obtain their end, to examine books and documents pertaining to Jjjedulics of the oflie.rs for tho past twelve months, and also to call living witne-ac?, if Jieceßsary." There had undouMnih existed a strong focliii" of antagonism between tho '.Town Clerk and the City dolichor which must have militated against tho inlereslu of Ihe city, and had pcwihly led to the mistakes in the matter of Carter's lane, the by-laws, &c. Councillor Aym thought the Cmr.ril had met for nothing. If it waa necessary to call for the bouks and documents and examine Ihein and living wUmum-vb, it would be impossible to finis) i the bueine3S iu one silting, or two. or three. His Worship had already pointed out that Hid matter could not bo decided at tho pi-escnb mooting. There mu»t be iv first meeting. No Commit tro of the Council could bo appointed ■without a meeting. Councillor Wilson had been frying to tLink whnt was the object of tho uiueling. Coum-illor liu.atead proposed — "That the Council either name a small Committee or begin to oxamino tho evidence at once. Councillor Luzard thought, if wit nesses nnd documents were to bo examined it, should be done by Lho whole Council. Tho question was a He-nous one, involving possibly the dismissal of old aud tried servants of tho Council. He thought Iho Committee should be one of tho whole Council. His Worship took it Unit thn idea had been to consider the manner in which tho stafi" was working. Sit-in bcrs seemed to fi^ht shy of iho real question. Councillor Gapes was afraid that tho combination of Town Clork aud Solicitor would lie too expensive. Such an offieoi 1 would require a clerk under him whoso ailury could not be less Hum £300— £1000 at once. With the oilier officers the saluri- b would he £2000 out of their income of (say) £20 000— a proportion altogether too grout. Ho would not way that the appointment would nob bo an improvement, but tho time for it had not yet arrived. Couneillor Clifford thought tho last speaker mistaken. lie believed that a solicitor could fco obtained who would siel ns Clerk for JEGOO. Couneillor Gi^es thought they mu&t have an able inun. Councillor Clifford thought thcjlmd lmcl a HiO3t ablo man. Councillor Wilson : Name. Councillor Clifford would not give a iwme. Ho was sure that u capable man could be obtained for even less than £GOO. Councillor Avers concurred with Councillor Onpes that no solicitor " worth his palt" could he obtuinofl for less than £700. The Council would require also a Treasurer, as the present Clerk did tho duties of that office. Ho spoku from information ho had g.«inud outside. His Worship had not intended that a professional inun would yito hid whole lime. Ho Itnd not supposed that thon? would not- bo an .-assistant us there was ut present. Ho had mado inquiries, a* Councillor Ayora hat! rii.nf, <md had been uonflruicd in his con jeetn ro that t\ legal practitioner could be obtained for tho money he had ;>fute(l. Counuilltir Ayera said that the Clork would jiavo to sign so many documents that ho ■would havo to bo const uutly in tho office. His WuMhip aui i that surih signing was 4}j\\j clerical work, which might bo dpuo by tho as^i^tant. Councillor Trpinnyno thought fho motion jpri) mat ure. It blimM bo j> sfpoiGfl till the x-aloitb.'tf value of t.hc dty iva- £500,000. Tha Town Clo k blkiuM be iilwmvs ,ih the ctnoe. Ifo ('...'otiticiJior iion jne) .»ouM I ko to aco the duties of every o, cor defino I. Be hr.u no eonijjluint to nuU o lho p vtcii* i;!.ifi', who had treat. (1 him ki ; 'l\, nrr.l hud f.:i- ' lushed him with cv.rv ..■: >w\l .>n ho •";- quired. Tim past soliei'ior lad >-e it-m-d. and \ 1m ni-rm should not b- in'toduo d into (.Mb clMoueaion. ' GcHixtoiJlor Gapos jpreaumod that oa ih. office;- :

when engaged had his duties defined in writing. His Worship: " Oh yes." Councillor Gapes thought that if a Com- j mittee was appointed, it could examine the books and see whether the officers did their duties. Councillor Clifford agreed with Councillor Wilson that the officials were very civil. He thought, too, that they were kept very late. By-laws had been received from all parts of the world, and a portion of these was made into a " conflammification," which was never submitted to Dr Foster. Dr Foster was required to go into Court and conduct cases j brought under the by-law, and no wonder he lost them. If the books were examined, it would be found how much money had been loafc through this. Councillor Ay era moved— "That a Committee be appointed to inquire whether the staff are carrying out their duties with efficiency, according to the terms of their engagements, and to report whether any change is necessary ; such Committee to consist of His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Wilson, Jenkins, and the mover." Councillor Jenkins seconded the motion. Councillor Wilson would move as an amendment — "That in the opinion of this Council the remaining officers of the Council should continue to hold office until some distinct breach of duty is brought against them; no such charge having been brought against thorn, thi3 Council 13 of opinion that it would be unwise to cast any reflection xipon them by dismissing them." At this stage Councillor Cass entered the chamber. His Worship ruled that Councillor Wilson's resolution was not an nuienduient. Councillor Ayers' resolution was then put and carried, the only dissentient being Councillor Wilaon. Councillor Wilson then .moved his resolution, and spoke at some length in support of it. The officers were sober, punctual, and indefatigable, and their pay wa3 not large. The Town Clerk was highly intellectual and an able man. The Engineer was a most efficient officer. Young Mr Murray wa3 a clover young man, and the whole staff as efficient* as could be found. They must be treated with respect. To act otherwise would impair tho Council's chance of securing good men in the future. No < ouncillor seconding Councillor Wilson's motion, it was declared by the Chairman to have fallen through. His Worship then adjourned the Council ill Monday evening at 7 o'clock.