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Bush Advocate, Volume XX, Issue 1003, 15 April 1908, Page 5

A sperial mooting of the abotr« was held last evening. Present — ;His Worship th« Mayor (Pastor Kites), and Crs Ransom, Bain, Jolmstoue, Drummond, Haines, and Wrati. Apologies for absence were received from Crs Thomson, Coin ii. and Mclntyre. APPOINTMENT OF ENGINEER. Cr Bain said that as t .- Coilett, the mover in re«jpa.rd to the ajjpointment, was absent, he thought that it should be deferred until they had a full Council. The councillors present concurred, and the matter was deferred. CLERK'S SALARY. This question, which, had been before a previous meeting, and deferred, was then dealt with. Cr Ransom said he thought that the matter should be referred to the Finance Committee. His Worship said that at the previous meeting the Finance Committee evinced no desire to deal with the question. His Worship said the clerk could give, more information on the point, .and called upon him to do so. Mr Magnusson then detailed his duties, which had increased since he first took 'up the position four years ago. He quoted several other' bortiughs, notably Feilding- and Master--ton as paying highej* salaries than the! Dannevirkev borough. : , Appealed to by'Cr Drummond, hisWorship said he thought the clerk < | was underpaid. He 'thought the* clerk should be deprived of the vain-? ation work, and his salary increased) Lto a decent salary. .The" clerk had' I saved them a- considerable sum. ill putting lpans through. He was of; opinion that the clerk's salary should r be increased to £'275, and his services, would, then be absolutely at the disposal of the. office, and the clerk would* have absolutely no outside Work at all. ;'•,:■•■■ Cr Wratt thought that the clerk was underpaid, but lie would like to know in what proportion their office expenses compared with" other boroughs. ; . i Cr Bain said that as far as he re- v membered, the Finance Committee; had discussed tile- rise in salary, and' 5 they were in fvwor of it, but the; chairman (Cr Thomson) had expressed a desire, to knpiv what their office expenses 1 were compared with other boroughs. : Cr Drummond moved that the sal-i ary be raised to £275, to include everything, there to be no valuation, and no bonuses at all. — Cr Wratt seconded. The motion was carried unanimously. Cr Ransom said that as the matter had been under consideration for some time, he would move that the increase take place from the Ist of January last. — Cr Johnstone seconded, and the motion was carried. CR HAINES' NOTICE OF MOTION His Worship said with regard to the notice, that he was afraid that as the required notice had not been given, he could not take the motion. Cr Drummond said he would like to say a few -words. He thought a good way to get over the position was for the Council to grant him leave of absence from meeting to meeting. He left the position entirely in the hands of the Council, and" if they thought that his absence hampered the Council, then they Avere quite at liberty to declare the position vacant. He had noticed a letter in the paper stating that h© (the speaker) had asked for leave of absence. His Worship knew this was a deliberate mis-statement. He had served the Borough of Dannevirke for 15 years, and it seemed a small thing to'do to grant him six months' leave. Cr Haines said that the notice of motion had been given at the request of the Mayor, and he thought it was a discourteous thing to refuse to put it. Cr Bain attempted to make a motion, but the Mayor said he could not take a motion. Cr Haiues: I must say you .have changed your mind, your ' Worship. The Mayor : If there is a mistake, I take the whole blame. When he had asked for notice of motion he overlooked the fact that the meeting would be held within seven days, and the mistake was entirely his. The matter then dropped. Cr Bain moved a motion of sympathy with Cr Thomson in his sad bereavement. — Cr Johnstone seconded, and the motion was carried by the Councillors rising. _____