MONDAY, JULY 16, 1923. APPOINTMENT OF TOWN CLERK.

Northland Age, Volume 23, Issue 13, 16 July 1923, Page 5

MONDAY, JULY 16, 1923. APPOINTMENT OF TOWN CLERK.

By a- letter in this issue Mr. H. G. Dean criticises the recent appointment of Mr. J. G. Dennison as Town Clerk, etc, to the Kaitaia Town District. Because we recog' nise that Mr. Dean has always the courage of his convictions we always treat with respect anything he may have to say. But we can assure him that neither “fear of the powers that be,” nor “the apathy of the North,” restrained us from comment on this appointment. And in what we say following, is criticism, not of the actual appointment, but of its manner.

What happened in connection with this appointment may be summarised briefly. The Town Board invited tenders for the preparation of apian of theiTown District — something very necessary. Some tenders were recdved, and at the same time Mr Dennison put in a letter retailing his qualifications and experience, and making an offer to act as Town Clerk, Building SurveyoT, Engineer, etc, to the Town District for a yearly remuneration of £75. Included in the work to be done for the £75 was the preparation, and keeping up to date, of a plan of the Town District. By resolution of the Board Mr,

Dennison was interviewed and, at a later meeting, was appointed Town Clerk, etc. We heard a great deal of comment about the manner of appointment, but purposely, in this case, refrained from any action, waiting to see how many of the objectors would voice their objections publicly. Webelieve no one can say that we have ever shirked our duty to the public, whether the person or institution requiring comment happened to be friend or otherwise.

So far as this appointment is concerned w« have no hesitation in expressing our opinion that the Town Board made a mistake in not publicly calling for applications. As a matter of general principle applications should be invited for all positions of a public, or semi-public nature. The reasons are so perfectly obvious that there is no need to go into.them. That Mr. Dennison, with the services he offered to render for the £75 per year, would probably have received the appointment in any case, does not affect the principle involved in the matter. A certain amount of allowance must be made for the Commissioners, who, in their anxiety to accept what they honestly believed to be a good offer, overlooked the general principle which should have governed their action.