A WARM DISCUSSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 151, 26 June 1894, Page 2

A WARM DISCUSSION.

APPOINTMENT OF VALUER.

BOROUGH OF PARNELL,

In accordance with a resolution of the Parnell Borough Council adopted at their laeb meeting, held on June 11th, tenders were called by advertisement for the appointment of valuer for the Borough for the enaning year. The replies to the advertisements were read and discussed last evening, when a very heated discussion ensued upon the merits of some of the applicants. The following tenders were received :—J. Hendry, £13 7s 6d; J. G. Duke, £15; R. Burrow, £18; Thomas Cheesemon, £20; H. Ashton and Son, £20; Thomas Ussher, £20 ; and George Fraaer, £30.

After the letters of each of the tenderers had been read, several members expressed their approval of the application of Mr Duke (the former valuer) being accepted.— Cr. Pollard said he would move in thab direction. Cr. Withy said aa this teamed to him to be a convenient time he would like to say a few words regarding the way in which the ratepayers had been treated in past years when attending the Court for the purpose of making objection to too high rates on their properties. He had himself been present ab one of these sittings of the Courc and was positively astonished to see the indignities which respectable citizens were subjected to. When the new valuer was appointed—be did not care who it was—he hoped that a little more courtesy would be shown to the ratepayers than hitherto. The Mayor said that he entirely agreed with Mr Withy's remarks, but he thought it was not likely any alteration in the present mode of dealing with applications for a reduction in rates could be effected. The law allowed it,- and although the matter bad already come before the Judge, nothing had came of it. For his part he did nob care for Mr Duke's application for reason a which be mentioned ; he thought it would be better to give the appointment to the lowest tenderer, Mr Hendry. The Mayor was then proceeding to explain his reasons why he came to this conclusion, when Cr. Pollard interjected: You are out of order, sir; this is nob the proper time for those remarks. The Mayor: How am I out of order? I am speaking on the business before the meeting. I never heard of the like of this at any meeting thab I have been to yet, and I have been to a good many. I rule you out of order. Cr. Pollard : You can't do that; lam nob on my feet. The Mayor then went on to give his opinion about Mr Duke, when Cr. Page said : You are out of order. It was your duty to compare your candidate favourably with Mr Duke. You should have spoken on the motion. Cr. Pollard: Quite right. He is oub of order. Why did you nob keep to the motion ? The Mayor : That's my business. Cr. Gilmour said that as there seemed to be a feeling against Mr Duke's application, he would propose thab the tender of Mr Burrow be accepted. The amendment was put and lost. Cr. Walker then moved and Cr. Gilmour seconded, thab Mr Cheeseman be appointed. Cr. Wibby Baid that he had no feeling whatever againsb Mr Duke, but they must look to their finances, and as Mr Duke's application was £6 less than Mr Cheeseman's he would certainly vote for Mr Dnke. Cr. Whitley agreed with Mr Withy. £5 was £5, and as the applicants had evidently considered they could do the work for the figures stated by them, it was the Council's duty to save thab amounb for the borough. The Mayor said thab £5 spread over such a large number of ratepayers made ib a very small consideration. Cr. Gilmour thought that £20 was not too much to give to the valuer for the large amounb of work he bad to do. He considered that it should nob be the tendency of the Council to countenance "sweating." If a lower sum than £20 was offered for the position ib amounted to nothing else. Cr. Pollard: Thab is nob sweating, the man pats in his own tender. ■ Cr. Thorne said that the duties of valuer were much lighter this year than previous years, and the sum of £15 was quite ample to attach to the position. The amendment that Mr Cheeseman'a tender be accepted was put to the meeting, and was lost by a majority of two. Mr Duke's application was then accepted. Cr. Walker wished that the Council would have a clear understanding with Mr Duke thab his tender, £15, would include the whole of the expenses to be incurred by him in the course of his duties as vainer. Several members said thab such would be the case. .