CITY ADMINISTRATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16282, 15 July 1916, Page 9

CITY ADMINISTRATION.

POSITION OF TOWN CLERK.

COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

DECISION NOT YET REACHFD.

Proposals in relation to the position of town clerk of Auckland were placed before the City Council in committee 011 .Thursday evening. Purther consideration will he given to the matter on Wednesday afternoon.

A report was made to the council by the Special Committee appointed to report on the matter, advising "that the council now consider the question of inking a suitable appointment." On the motion of the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson. the council went into committee to consider this report and a supplementary statement by the Mayor. The council followed the unusual but orthodox course of adjourning in committee. The meetinc in committee ill be resumed next Wednesday.

J , t Explaining the position yesterday. Mr. [ Gunson said the effect of the report was it-hat the committee had carefully considered the matter of the town clerkship. I and now desired the council to determine ! the further action to l be taken. " The .importance of the matter requires that it i shall be given the most serious attention jby the council, said Mr. Crimson. "The j position in connection with the Town Hall | staff is now such that in fairness to l the I council s interests and of the staff, some definite decision should be reached. Negotiations are necessary in the matter, as in all matters of a personal character in connection with the corporation's business, and any announcement at this stage, would be premature. The terms recently advertised, including a salary of £1250, will be the main conditions of any appointment that would be made should the council decide to take action." The decision of the council to appoint a new town clerk was reached upon the recommendation of Mr. R. Mc.C. Anderson, of Sydney, in the report which he furnished to the council last December. In that report Mr. Anderson suggested that the town clerk should really be the general manager of the city's concerns, exercising full power and control, under the guidance of the Mayor and the council, who should be concerned solely with matters of policy as distinct from "administration. Mr. Anderson's report was . adopted by the council, which decided I that the present- town clerk should be ! transferred to another position on the i council staff, that of deputy town clerk, i where his long experience ~of municipal , affairs could be utilised to advantage. A ; salary of £1250 was offered, and 50 applii cations were received, but early in April i the council decided not to accept any of the applications. The matter was again referred to the Special Committee, "and it had not again been before the council until the report- was presented on Thursday evening.