TO BE REORGANISED

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 134, 3 December 1915, Page 3

TO BE REORGANISED

AUCKLAND COUNCIL'S AFFAIRS

AN EXPERT'S REPORT ADOPTED.

<BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL TO THE POST.)

AUCKLAND, This Day

Recently Mr. Robert MC. Anderson, former Town Clerk and City Treasurer of Sydney,- was engaged by the City Council to report upon the management of the affairs of the council. Mr. Anderson, in his report, which has been published, criticises the present methods of administration in a very free and frank manner. He says that the Town Clerk should really be general manager of the city's concerns, exercising full power and control under the guidance of the Mayor and Council. At present the Town Clerk was merely a sort oi chief clerk, and the medium of intercourse between the council and its com mittees and various departments. The Town Clerk had'no control, and whether it had been the fault of the occupant of the position in. not taking, or tne fault of the council in not defining his powers, thft unfortunate fact remained. It was an edd fact that he received less salary than several of the officers he was supposed to direct and control. This in itself was such as to undetermine his authority. He therefore performed the duties of chief dark, whoso work would consist of attending and keeping a record of council business, controlling the council properties, care and supervision of leases, etc. The gentleman at present occupying the position of Town Clerk would probably be happier in the charge of those branches of the city's services as Deputy-Town, Clerk. The department was understaffed for work required of it. "It is well to realise, therefore," adds Mr. Anderson, "that at the present time the work in the Town. Clerk's department is simply not being done. The officers there get through the absolutely necessary jobs, but only enough is accomplished to keep your machine moving, and the place is manifestly in disorder, through no fault of the Town Clerk or his over-worked assistants."

In the event of the appointment of a town clerk, Mr. Anderson expressed the opinion that much .better ihan importing strangers was to send the council's own promising men regularly afield to study other people's methods. "If, then, you have a man in your services likely to prove suitable as a town clerk," he adds, "you would do well to ponder carefully before going elsewhere."

The report was referred to a special committee, which submitted the results of its deliberations to the council last night.- The committee advises the council to generally give effect to the suggestions in Mr. Anderson's report. In regard to the present Town Clerk, the committee's report reads :—"lt is unanimously recommended that the clevk be transferred to another position on the council staff, where his long experience of municipal affairs can be utilised to advantage by the council." ■ The report was adopted.