The County Minutes.

Northland Age, Volume 27, Issue 39, 19 October 1927, Page 6

The County Minutes.

Question By Mr Houston,

Motion To Suspend

Not in Printed Minutes

Mr McKinnon Not To Blame

When the Mangonui County Council meeting opened on Friday, Mr Houston drew attention to the fact that the motion to suspend the County Clerk, moved in committee and seconded, did not appear in fhe minutes circulated among councillors. He asked why this was. Mr McKinnon : It is in the minute book.

Mr Houston : I am asking the chairman.

Mr Long : I can only answer that by asking our friends the press representatives. Mr A M Shugar, Editor of the “Age” replied: I was the only press representative present when this motion was considered in committee, and as the Council on coming out of committee did not confirm what was done in committee, the Press could not publish that resolution. That is the simple explanation. Mr Long then read the following from the County minute book: “Moved by Cr Houston and seconded by Cr Wrathall, that Mr “McKinnon be suspended from “his office of clerk and treasurer, “until such time as the cases for “which he has been committed “for trial have been heard when “the-Council will further consider “his position.” The motion was lost, the voting being: For the motion—Crs Houston and Wrathall; against Crs Long, Berghan Evans, Kitchen and Barriball.

The minutes were confirmed after this motion had been read

In order that the public may understand the position concerning the copies of the minutes, circulated among the councillors, it is as well that it should be stated that these consist of a copy taken by the County Clerk, and handed to the press for publication. They are invariably accurate, and it is a rare thing to find a county clerk so obiigit g as to assist the press representatives, to the extent of giving them a copy of the resolutions passed on any matters which come before the Council. While the “Age” invariably reports discussions of interest to the ratepayers at length, it has also accepted gratefully Mr McKinnon’s voluntary assistance so far as the resolutions go, although a shorthand note of such resolutions are taken* and printed in connection with a report of any subject under discussion. In addition we also publish the minutes as compiled by :Vlr McKinnon. On the occasion under review, so far as publicity went, Mr McKinnon could not hand the resolution quoted above for the very reason stated by the Editor of the “Age.” No publicity could be given to the resolution until it came up fpr discussion in open council on Friday. The Counly Clerk cannm be held blameworthy for this, arid if blame is attachable to anyone, the chairman is responsible, but it is only common fairness to say that as a result of the circumstances and the discussion on die motion that ensued in committee, that the failure to confirm in open council, what was done in committee was an oversight.—Editor “Age.”