A REFUND.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 38, Issue 966, 22 May 1908, Page 4

A REFUND.

'.to TUB EDITOR. I noticed With surprise an item , that appeared m your report of the M.C.C.'s last meeting under the above heading Which it is set forth that an official in the service of that body ap plied for a certain consideration on account of his being mulcted in the sum ;of £3 10s for non-attendance, at a military review, being a member .of a mounted company. That he sho.uld be successful in convincing the council that his request was a reasonable one is a ' posei;' ; also the .mover of the motion who was evidently inspired by the sentiment contained in tfie old truism "a fellow feeling' makes us Wondrous kind, " when he recommended the relief'applied for must have had unbounded faith in the gullibility of the ratepayers. Now, Sir, what I am anxious to know is by what process of reasoning or definition the action of the 'council in this connection can be termed a refund. Had the official in" question made any disbursement on behalf or on account of the council the position could have been intelligible. In such a case he would have perfect right to be 'recouped for such outlay and the' term refund would legitimately apply. No.such disbursement having beenmade the consideration extended can only be regarded in the light of a gratuity, the amount of which is significant of a disdainful disregard for the opinion of the ratepayers. I ask, Sir, in the name of reason why should the ratepayers be caljed upon to make good.any monetary penalty imposed upon any individual who voluntarily and of his ownfree will elects to bt'eome a member of a milituy corps, when he knows or should ■ know the punishment thut is likely to be meted out to him should he fail to ob seve the regulations pertaining thcrc- ■ to. Why on earth such a matter should cause concern to his employers is to me incomprehensible. Are the ratepayers in the future to be called upon

to shoulder the burdens and responsibilities involved in the recreative aims and aspirations of their emyloyees. No, Sir ! if a person is desirous of gratifying, any commendable ambition he might be possessed of apart from the duties he is paid to discharge by allmeans let him do so, but it would be absurdly- unreasonable to expect that those uy whom his services are employed should recompense him for any delinquencies the pursuit of anysuch ambition .might entail. This and other matters ; tend to indicate the

desirability for : a change in the

personnel of the M.C.C. The election is coming round ; meantime »the ratepayers might do well to care fully note the doings of their representatives with a view to the possibility of further improvement, in the administration of their affairs.-*—l am, &c, ■':.'.. Ratepayer.