BOROUGH CONTROL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1695, 25 November 1920, Page 2

BOROUGH CONTROL.

STIR KSGTU EMJ'JK AND SERVICES CO-ORDINATED. The question of the position o/' the Town Clerk and powers necessary to ensure proper co-ordination of Borough departments was the subject of a report prepared by the Fnance Committee and submitted to the Borough Council on Tuesday evening-. Tho committee gave a comprehensive report dealing with each department under the control of the Council. That portion of it which met with most discussion related to the responsibilities which should be borne by the Town Cleric. In the course of the report, the committee slated they did not consider it necessary to make a fresh office such as the appointment of a general manager, considering it better to strengthen the position of the Town Clerk by giving him certain extra powers set out in Ihe report in order (o define more fully his position as chief permanent executive of the Council, and to enable him as such, to properly supervise and co-ordinate the various activities of the Council. In the committee's opinion this was better, cuitl more desirable as carrying on the traditions of his office, and simply enabling him to cope with the fresh problems brought out by modern municipal development. Briefly, chief portent, of the extended powers recommended 1o he given to the Town Clerk enable him to exercise control ol' all Council departments without intervening directly between heads of departments and their employees; to report failings of subordinate officers or employees; to require written monthly re-ports through committees or direct to the Council, and to require them more often from each head of departments for submission to ihei Council without amendment; and to attend all meetings of the Council or committees of the Council and recommend to- them. such, measures as he might deem necessary or expedient, and to make verbal explanation sucit measures and reply to ponas made in discussion thereon. Cr. Oram asked if it had been submitted to the Town Clerk for comment? The various sections of the report were discussed piece-meal. The Mayor: I have discussed the matter with him. i'v. Oram: Where is the Town Clerk's comment The Mayor: There is none in writing. Cr Crabb explained that the engineer and the Town Clerk were both present when the report was being prepared, and that the Town Clerk hd.d made various suggestion which had been incorporated in the report. ('v. J. Hodgens asked if two of the head?; of departments (the engineer and Town Clerk.) had been present, why the other two heads of departments (the abattoirs and gas managers) had not also been invited, to comment, on the report ?■ The scheme was to affect not only the administrative heads, but the commercial head:. of departments also. <'\\ Crabb said the' only opinion asked for from the engineer was whether he thought there would* be any clashin;;' over the new arrangements, and he had said he thought there would not be. The point was whether the Town Clerk was to assume any responsibility outside his own office, and if he did have that responsibility it should be defined. The position was an aw kward One for the Town Clerk as the Government held him, responsible for the Council's finances. i'r Spooner in discussing Cue details of the report held that certain parts did not give the Town Clerk any further authority than he had at present. If the report required that they should make Mr Hardie responsible for the book-keeping of the departments then the speaker was with them. The Mayor explained that Mr Har- ' die would have tlte right to confer with the managers of depart meats and'make suggestions. lie had not J had that right before Mr Hardie could be relied upon to deal tactfully with the matter. Ci-. ~\i. A. Keoli considered the objectors to the proposal were creating imaginary difficulties which would no( i occur in pract ice. Cr. Spo.oncr said he was not opposed to giving the Town Clerk additional authority but wanted, to give him 'more and belter authority. He only wanted to bring oul weaknesses in the report. Cr Crabb pointed out that if was impossible to remove the control of the accountancy from the head of the department and make him responsible for the success of the department, lie strongly urged that, the Town Clerk should have no powers in connection with the accountancy, oilier than to make sugf-vi - : t ions. After furl her detail in connection with the report had been discussed Cr. M. 11. Oram congratulated Cv Crabb on tho The members ! of th" i 'ouneil would remember thai he bed tabled n notice of motion some lime back to ask the Town i Ici'k to bring down a reporl on Borough administration. Apparently he had made an error in asking that the Town Clerk instead of the K'iuance Committee should bring down the report. Thc> would remember then that one councillor had said there was : not it; v-; ong win '.be ."■ ■ i • '; <■ lion of the Uorough. The Council had turned down his proposal; yet a few meetings later they were prepared to adopt M ri port practically carrying or.l v. hat he had in mind at Ihe time. Cr. Crabb was to lie congratulated on succeeding where lie had failed. Cv. < Vabb said t hat < '"'. < tram's proposal referred to the appoint rnenl of : i <r<>poral m:i nne'or. and fiol to bor- | oug'li administration. I Cr. Oram, rose to a point of order, claiming that his mo'ion ;-.skcd for a the i Sorongh. Or. < 'rji lib sa id < 'r. < >r;i m was | srioakiii'" at the | hue in support of f he C'itizen's League proposals, which had included the provision of a general I manager, "so 'as to avoid waste through over lapping" in (lie BorCv < >rn ■•> si ill claimed lha I his notice of motion asked fur a report on iulmi nisi re I ion. iV. I lodgcns s.'i id he had 1)0011 mentioned tn- one ihe solu me. ;!e was going to vote laa'ainsl it, but his objection was solo- | !\ on ihe grounds i lia I, t he other Iu o | heads of depa rl incuts had not been j consulted. He predict* d thai the Council would later rescind some of ! the pi o\ isions of (lie report. Cr. Mpooner said li.ere would be no |ob jeei ion to ■; In proposal from the ! tibal t«»ir ilopai I inenl. The Mayor said he could not roply on behalf of the Una .Department

whether it v;as without a manager at present. What Or. Oram had said would no doubt read very nicely in print. The report was a very different thing from what < "r. Oram had advocated in the Council.'This was a totally different mutter from tlie appointment of a business 'manager. Cr Oram asked that the records should be looked up to see what his notice or motion had referred to. The report, was finally adopted on the motion of Crs. Crabb and JSliott.