THE SOUTH WARD ROLL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 10, 13 January 1899, Page 2

THE SOUTH WARD ROLL.

I OUTCOME OP THE ENQUIRY.

f The final stage of the enquiry into ilhe statements made by Cr. A. J. JCntrican regarding the state of the South Ward 1101 l was reached at the meeting of 1.2 City Council last night, after lengthy discussion.

. Cr. Entrican first moved 'That as the Municipal Corporation Act states that the Town Clerk is the officer responsible for the compiling of all rolls, and as for the past fourteen years that iduty has been delegated by the Council to the City Valuer, in future all _rolls shall be compiled in the Town Clerk's office, and by assistants immediately under his supervision; and that the present arrangement with the City Valuer be terminated in terms of lis agreement with the Council.' •Cr. Entrican, in speaking to the motion, said the City Valuer had been engaged by the Council subject to three months' notice on either side, llis duty was to compile the Burgess 1101 l and Valuation List in terms of the Act and subject to. the supervision of the Town Clerk. The Act laid it down very plainly that the duty of compiling the Valuation 801 l lay with the Town Clerk. The recent enquiry •Showed a grave error had been committed in leaving this matter entirely to the City Valuer. Under the new franchise the work was greatly increased as a freehold and residential list were now required to be prepared, co two extra rolls would be necessary. He did not envy the position of the compiler of +he roll for the present year, for it would be serious work, and that was of itself a reason, why the Town Clerk should do it.

Cr. Farrell seconded the motion He regretted that the circumstances necessitated such action being taken, but when beifore the Committee the Valuer took up the position that as the Council did not pass a resolution that he was not to do certain things ie therefore had carte blanche to do them or not. Considering the whole outcome of that enquiry, he failed to Bfee how the present arrangements ■with the Valuer could be continued. 3t was of the highest importance that .fresh arrangements should be made. Cr. Masefield asked if it meant parting with Mr Gulliver, or simply that the making of the rolls be placed in other hands. , - The Mayor said he thought it undoubtedly meant parting with Mr Gulliver.

Cr. Masefield: Then I shall oppose ifchis resolution, for there is the question of finance to be considered. This motion should be referred to the Finance Committee to ascertain the cost of the Town Clerk preparing the Tolls. It is clear that Mr Gulliver had to do this work under the supervision Of the- Town Clerk. It would not be rfair to terminate his engagement ■without further enquiry. I move that the motion be referred to the Finance Committee to report as to the cost of 'the work of compiling the rolls.

Cr. Hesketh seconded the amendment.

. Cr. Jamieson supported the motion, •but at the same time he thought all the blame should not be laid upon Mr Gulliver. Tne Council should take their share of blame for knowing this m&s -gmng- on, and . thus - condoning What was done.

Cr. Julian: Oh, no, we did not. Cr. Hesketh: Yes we did, Cr.?Julian; J-es we did. Cr. Trenwith said the report of the Committee said nothing against Mr Gulliver. He thought it unfair to part with Mr Gulliver when it appeared that, from what had been stated both the Council and the Town Clerk were to blame for negligence in the matter.

Cr. Hewson thought that as a special committee was likely to be set up it "would be better for this motion to be referred to that Committee. If the charges made about the valuations were proved correct, there could be Tio two opinions as tp the course the Council should adopt. Still, he would sooner err on the side of mercy than the other. His reason for wanting the Ratepayers' Association's letter referred to a committee was to have the statements inquired into. If the .Valuer could prove that merely a mistake had been made it might be looked over, but ■if they were shown to be deliberate acts, he, personally, would have ho mercy whatever. If there was a reasonable explanation it should be accepted, and the citizens could not Jose anything by this matter going to a committee. He would like to ask Council to adopt that course.

Cr. Entrican: That is for the Council tto say; I cannot withdraw it now.

Cr. Warren said the motion was too •sweeping altogether. Cr. Paterson said it Was from the valuations the Council derived its in■come, and if they were not fair it was a serious thing indeed. The Valuer should treat everyone alike. He thought if the motion was referred to the committee it would be a gentler Way of dealing with the matter.

The Mf.yor said it seemed that the Councillors were all afraid of doing what was their duty, and therefore wanted to shift it to a committee. He thought that course an tinmanly one. iWhen the matter came back from a -committee they would still have, to, vote in public, so why not settle it at once. It was also unfair to the man himself, for this matter had been before the public some time and should ."be settled one way or the other. As to the cost of the rolls mentioned by Cr. Masefield, that would have to be borne under any circumstances, ft was no use complaining about the new Act that increased the franchise, because it was the delegates the Council sent down to the Municipal Conference who asked the Government to pass the Municipal Franchise Act. Under it thousands would be put on the roll who had not the least interest in city property. Still, the Council's delegates asked for that measure, and it was granted. If the persons the Cduncil sent down to represent it asked for such things, the Councillors themselves were to blame. As to this particular case, the report said the names of 100 persons were on the South Ward Roll that had no right to be there; but because the Committee could not say why those names were put there the Council did not blame anyone. He quite admitted others were j to blame as well as the Valuer, because I the work was to be done under the supervision of another official. It was ! not fair to blame the Councillors for I not seeing that the work was properly ! tone. Councillors gave their time for j nothing, and when they paid an offi- I eial a high salary to see that things i were properly attended to they could not expect Councillors to see that the official attended to his duty. The i Committee reported that 100 names j ■were wrongly on the roll. It was no • use sending tT.e motion to a committee , from a simple desire to shirk responsi- j bility. They must either do their j: i Suty or give place to men who would. ] i

If they.were satisfied those 100 names should not have been on the roll, and that the Valuer put those names there, the duty of the Council was quite clear in the matter.

Cr. Entrican said* it v,-as not pleasant for him to bring forward such a resolution. Personally he had nothing against the Valuer, and did not like to see any man lose a- position. It was only out of a sense of duty be moved the motion as the logical outcome of the enquiry. Such grave errors had been made in the compilation of the roll that it was necessary there should be some change. His motion had nothing to do with the valuations referred to. After what had happened he thought the Council dared not refuse the pass the motion. He asked Councillors to do their duty in this matter.

Upon the question being submitted, Councillors Jamieson, Farrell. Entrican, Julian, Grey, Cairns, Becroft, Kidd, White, Courtney, Hewson, Paterson, and Lie Mayor voted for the motion, and Councillors Warren, Trenwitb, Masefield, and Hesketh against.