EX-OFFICIAL'S HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 7

EX-OFFICIAL'S HOLIDAY.

PAYMENT FOR SIX WEEKS. REFUSAL RECOMMENDED. The finance committee of the Sydney City Council has carried a recommendation to the council that payment to Mr. Norman Weekes, ex-city engineer, for six weeks' holiday leave, be refused. The town clerk, Mr. Layton, explained that ho officially directed Mr. Weekes' attention to the fact that he should take his holiday leave prior to the termination of his engagement with the City' Council on December 31, the date on which his resignation expired. Mr. Weekes did not take his leave, and the then Lord Mayor, Alderman Gilpin, initialled a minute, under date December 29, approving of the payment of salary to Mr. Weekes for tho period of leavo due to him. He (Mr. Layton) referred that minute to tho city solicitor, who reported that the payment was one that could not bo mado. Alderman Brooks said that tho then Lord Mayor asked Mr. Weekes to remain in charge of his department owing to tho very important work that was being dono for the City Council, and not to take his holiday leave until the termination of his engagement. It might be that in doing that the then Lord Mayor exceeded his authority, but he undoubtedly did that in what he believed to be the best interests of the City Council, and in order that there might be expert supervision of important. works that were then in a critical stage. Mr. _ Weekes met the then Lord Mayor's wishes, and remained in charge of his department. It was only fair, added Mr. Brooks, that the City Council should be generous, and pay for tho holiday leavo, even though "the Lord Mayor might have exceeded tho strictly legal limit in making the recommendation for payment, or in asking Mr. Weekes to remain in the service when he should have been on holiday leave. Ho did not think tho City Council should take advantage of a legal quibble to do an ungenerous act to an ex-employee. Alderman English moved that, as the payment was declared to bo illegal no action bo taken. Tho motion was carried on a party division, and the City Council was recommended to refuse the payment to Mr. Weekes for tho six weeks' holiday leave.