BOROUGH SOLICITOR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 221, 16 August 1927, Page 2

BOROUGH SOLICITOR.

DISCUSSION AT COUNCIL ,-■> MEETING. Speaking at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening, Cr Hodgens said that, in his opinion, it would be better for the ratepayers if the council: were to give a portion of their business to every solicitor in the town. Fading this, he suggested that the council should engage a young solicitor at a fixed salary. “I don’t want to move a motion just at present relevant to the borough solicitor, but I do think that something is wrong when one local body gets work done for £lll odd that costs us £1350 for the same period.” Cr Fitzherbert: Don’t say that. That local body has probably not one-tenth of the work involved for a solicitor that this Borough Council has. After referring at some length to fees paid to Mr Cooke, and to one that had been questioned by the Auditor-Gen-eral, Cr Hodgens moved a resolution that any other payments made similar to the one questioned by the AuditorGeneral should be refunded by the borough solicitor. This motion was carried. TRIBUTE TO MR COOKE.

Cr Fitzherbert said that Mr Cooke was recognised as one of the leading solicitors in Palmerston North and he had rendered good service to the council during the past twenty years. He was thoroughly conversant with the business of the council. Cr Fitzherbert was of the opinion that the council should make a sporting offer, and in substantiation of this he moved that Mr Cooke, instead of receiving a salary of £3OO yearly, should be allowed to charge the fees specified by the Dominon Law Society for that period. It would then be found that Mr Cooke’s charges had been by no means excessive.

Cr Hodgens moved an amendment that at the end of the financial year the borough legal work ,be distributed among the solicitors of the town in rotation.

Cr Milverton , seconded the amendment.

Cr Fitzherbert: I have been a member of the council for over five and a-half years, and apart from Cr Hodgens I have not heard any dissatisfaction expressed at Mr Cooke. I think it is a great pity that Cr Hodgens should refer as he has done to Mr Cooke when the latter’s back is turned, and when he is not present to defend himself.

Cr Tremaine said that he heartily supported Cr Fitzherbert’s reference to Mr Cooke’s ability as borough solicitor. On borough matters Mr Cooke was undoubtedly one of the leading solicitors in Palmerston North. Hhe would oppose the amendment. Cr Eliott said that he intended also to oppose the amendment purely as a matter of business. It was entirely against the interests of the ratepayers to distribute the borough’s legal business among the solicitors of the town. Cr Clausen said that it was the duty of the council as representatives of the public to give other ratepayers who were solicitors an opportunity of doing borough business. Mr Cooke had had a good innings, having held the position for over twenty years. The Mayor: My own opinion is that w<f are getting good service from Mr Cooke at a salary of £3OO yearly. He thought that the whole matter should be allowed to stand over till the beginning of the next financial year. Both the motion and the amendment were defeated.