CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7340, 29 May 1885, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

COUNCILLORS AND LAW BOOKS. TO THK EDITOR. Sib, —According to my way of thinking, % vut deal too much is being made of this paltry question of the statutes being supplied to eaoh of the oity councillors. The statutes are admittedly furnished in order that the Councillors may make themselves acquainted with the laws bearing on the: baeinees they are called upon to administer, and consequtintly they require them for frequent personal reference at times most convenient to themselves. If this small assistance is refused to the councillors, why are the} not called upon to supply the pens, ink, and paper wbioh they may individually use whilst transacting business in the Council Chamber? The abuse whioh has been heaped upon councillors in this miserable affair is enough to make any good man vow never to serve in 'the Council again. The duties involved by the holding of weekly meetings and the time taken npon committee business, is far greater than most of your correspondents can have any conception of, and conduced to the speedy resignation of Messrs. Boardman, Pbillippsc and many other good men whose names could be mentioned. Let a gentleman once become a city councillor and he is considered fair game for every one to buttonhole in the street, or to carry away from his private business, however urgent, in order that some Little Pedlin&ton grievance may be gone over a<2 nauseam. And yet after sitting long hours, neglecting his. own business, to eet right the grievance of others, the only thanks he gets is to be designated (see letter of "Civie" to-day), " a civic muddleheai," &c, Ac. Can any person wonder that he should in disgust resign such a questionable honour as that of being a city councillor of Auckland.—l am, &c, C. Willi amsos.

[Mr. Williamson misunderstands and obscures the objection made. No odo would objeot to the councillors obtaining for their use whatever they require for the proper discharge of their public dutiea. But to obtain (or each councillor a copy of the whole of the (few Zealand statutes is simply waste of the public funds. Two or three copies in the office, which they may refer to when they ohodse, is all that is required. These copies should be offioe copies, and no councillor should claim a personal property in them. These statutes hare cost £55, which we submit is a clear waste of £50. We are always glad to recognise public services, but wasteful extravagance like this must be resisted.— Ed.]