CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 32, 7 February 1877, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Oui\ correspondence column being open, no responsibility can be accepted m respect to opinions expressed by correspondents.]

'.'.•:-; - TO THE EDITOR. : i Sic,— A' member of the Legislative Council while ; speaking last session .relative to the County ; Bill, derisively stated that no social or political position could. attach to the elected chairmen of these ; counties, : and he then proceeded insultingly to propose that those soi disant magnates should also be forced to accept the office and responsibilities of Cpunty* Clerlci 6c -These observations, reflecting strongly upon the position these gentlemen, by their election/ to that capacity were supposed to attain, received well merited censure both from the public and the Press. The force and value of the suggestion, however, has apparently not been: useless, for I perceive that the Chairman of this County has accepted it by magnanimously proposing and voting liimself into this inferior office of common clerk. He evidently does so. for the purpose of mpnopoiizing the salary attached to that office, and.it is a step, condoned by the Council, both degrading and insulting; to the whole community. , : : ; This district under the influence of misgovernment, jobbery, and indifference on the part of the inhabitants, has already sunk sufficiently low m public estimation without this further insult being put upon it. A mean and mercenary step it is, showing an ayarieious desire to grasp any smaiLfunds. that are likely to be f orthcpmfog ; one unbejepming of any high-mind|s -f |ntlepiatf, -^ The Chairman ofyiuiis^sCo^n^jr'iiiqiW holds an anomalouSijgo|iti§n. ': *Sse master and clerk. ■•■ Bi^^cajcoagipbe; supported. .- The Council wit^av.e^jagree. who amongst them is to 'su^pFrt the Chairman while the remnant criticise the inferior part of him. Nor can , the Chairman, under a heavy penalty, draw the wages of the clerk, and therefore he will: succeed m forcing the Council into the payment of an equivalent salary to him as Chairman. This will be found to be the sum total of : this clever opera-

tion, it not being the first time the hon. gentleman has shown equal ability m foreshadowing the future. The Council had now better proceed a step further. It should be resolved at the next meeting that the Chairman, having beeif proposed and elected to act as clerk, should be compelled to further officiate by sweeping out his office. It would facilitate matters, produce a further wage, and tend to throw dust m his eyes, rendering him more blind to his own meanness. The cloak of hypocrisy he wears will protect him m this dirty operation. There is another curious proceeding I notice on the part of the Council. An application has been made to Mr McLean, of Bulls, asking for his legal assistance to guide and. direct their footsteps. With two firms of resident solicitors why are they to be thus neglected and insulted. Discrepancies of this glaring nature are much discussed and canvassed by the public, and their continuance will soon tend to a total want of confidence m the proceedings of the Council. — I am, &c, Asmodetjs. [Our correspondent assumes that the amalgamation of the chairmanship with the clerkship is to be a ; permanent arrangement ; which, if we rightly understood the Council, was (? npt its intention. He also forgets that there is no salary attached to either office.— Editoe, M. Times.]