TOWN CLERK'S RETIREMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 15

TOWN CLERK'S RETIREMENT.

ALLEGED UNJUST TREATMENT.

STRONG CRITICISE OF BOROUGH. I'.y Tol.-^raph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. "This is an example of the worst tyranny and injustice ever done in the work of local government," declared the Hon. T. W. Hislop in the Legislative Council to-day when the Public Petitions Committee reported upon the petition ot Mr. R. T. Esther, of Wairoa, who nought compensation in respect of his dismissal from the service of the Wairoa Borough Council. Petitioner, he said, was clerk and treasurer of the Borough of Wairoa for 15A years, and during the whole of that time no complaint whatever was made against him. Certainly a little disagreement occurred between him and one of the councillors concerning a threat of prosecution for alleged cruelty to an animal, and the councillor thereafter showed his animosity. Petitioner got on well with all the other councillors until there was a disagreement with the Mayor over an election. By a mistake on the part of two clerks a friend of the Mayor was thought to have been returned, but on the following morning, when the figures were checked, it was found that the counting had been wrong and that the other candidate had been returned. The Mayor then showed a bitter spirit to petitioner, and threatened him, as much as to say that he should have let well alone and left the figures as they had boon counted on the previous evening. From that time on the Mayor showed animosity to the clerk, and took an opportunity of having a resolution passed dismissing him from the service of the borough at a month's notice. No notice was given to petitioner to enable him to defend' himself against the accusations brought against him, and to this day he did not know the reason that actuated the council in dismissing him. The council might have softened towards the clerk if they had had any generosity by passing a resolution to the effect that ill-health was sufficient to justify his retirement and a claim for compensation. The committee was so shocked at this display of lack of English fair play that, even though they were convinced of the truth of statements made in support of the petitioner, they communicated with the Mayor, informing him of the nature of the petition, but he did not avail himself of the opportunity offered to give evidence.

"It must be a shock to the people of thn Dominion," said Mr. Hislop, "to know that there is a community in New Zealand which is ruled by persons who arc so absolutely devoid" of the chief foundations, not only of personal conduct, but also of the public good." He hoped there would be some means of compensating the petitioner, and to give him that which the council refused.

The committee expressed the unanimous cpmion that the petitionei was entitled to hiF superannuatioa allowance, aiirl ■ recommended the Government to take steps to assure it to mm.

The report was laid on thj table.