TOWN CLERK RESIGNS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 171, 22 July 1931, Page 3

TOWN CLERK RESIGNS.

MOUNT ALBERT COUNCIL

SALARY FOR SUCCESSOR.

MEMBERS UNABLE TO AGREE

The Mount Albert Borough Council last evening decided to accept the resignation of the town clerk, Mr. H. Utting, who eaid that, on the advice of his doctor, _e had decided to apply for 12 months' leave of absence. He appreciated the fact that the time was perhaps inopportune for such a request, and said that if the council could not accede it he would be forced to resign.

The Mayor, Mr. W. F. Stilwell, said that the situation being as it was, it was impossible to grant Mr. Utting leave of absence. He moved that the leave asked for be not granted. The motion was carried, and Mr. Stilwell moved further that the resignation of Mr. Utting be accepted as from March 31, 1932, and that he be granted leave of absence on full pay as from October 1. This was carried as also was a resolution expressing appreciation of Mr. Utting's services to the borough. Varied Opinions. On the question of the salary to be paid to Mr. Utting's successor there was a great number of varied opinions. The Mayor moved that an application for a successor at a salary of £500 be advertised. Mr. J. H. Langley moved an amendment that the salary be £400. There would be any number of men applying for the position at that salary. In seconding the amendment, Mr. F. H. Jarrett said that executive officers' salaries had been built up above the services they rendered. They had no capital in the business and theirs was a permanent job. They expected an increment in their salaries as the yeare went on and he submitted that they should not start with too high a salary.

The opinion that the salary should be fixed at £450 was expressed by Mr. P. Flovd. He was supported by Mr. V. A. Coyle. ' "With all this uncertainty in the borough at the present time," said Mr. G. E. Carr, "we should not employ a permanent town clerk. We are not likely to get the best men offering for the job, as no man would give up a good job to come to an uncertain one." "Worth Paying Well." "I think that a man worth having is worth paying well," said Mr. Stilwell. He felt that £500 was little enough to offer the town clerk of a borough with a rating bill of approximately £80,000 a year. A capable administrator and a man with considerable ability was needed. Mr. Langley's amendment that the salary be fixed at £400 was lost and the Mayor exercised his casting vote in defeating the other amendment, that the salary lie £450.

Mr. Carr then moved that the matter be deferred for eix months and that a temporary appointment be made, but the motion lapsed through want of a seconder. The Mayor put his original motion that the salary be advertised at £500, but this was also lost.

It was eventually decided to refer the matter to the staffing committee for report to the council.