McCURDY'S TRUMP CARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7079, 17 March 1910, Page 1

McCURDY'S TRUMP CARD

TOWN BOARD'S DILEMMA IS PROMISED A BBaCE OF CLERICS. Word has gone forth that there was to be a fight to a finish last night between the" Upper Hurt Town Board's clerk and his two champions on the one hand, and five members of the board oi the other. And it was known that Mr McCurdy's friends had not been letting the grass grow under their feet. A petition had been circulated throughout the district, and signed by two hundred and twenty-two residents,- whose prayer read as follows: — We, the undersigned electors and

ratepayers, hereby testify to the uniform courtesy and consideration shown us at all times bj' Mr A. J. McCurdy in his official position as Town Clerk, and as we know of no reason or cause for his dismissal, we enter our protest against It.' The petition was to be launched as the people's reply to the following motion, notice of which had been given by Commissioner Martin at the previous mooting: That owing to dissatisfaction with.

ratepayers and members of the board, tho services of the clerk be dispensed with as from March 31st. "Beti'bions" was ■ the' second entry on the order paper, "notices of motion." the last.

Commissioner Martin (who, with his coadjutors, had arrived in a body tea minutes late) eprang the first surprise The minutes of the previous meeting having been, read, he asked leave, before their confirmation-, to withdraw the motion of which he had given notics No one objected, and leave was granted. Then Commissioner Harrison, who was in charge of the'pe'fcinion,, intimated that, seeing that the motion was not coming forraird, his item on the programme would be omitted. Seemingly the attempt to evict tho clerk had been.abandoned.

The order paper having been, disposed of, Commissioner Craig; moved, without comment—

Tho term for which the clerk was appointed closing on March 31st, fresh applications be invited for the position for the ensuing year, applications to reach the chairman before

.7 p.m. on March- 30th, (the board's next meeting night).

j, .Commissioner Wilkie seconded the resolution... \,v, ■

Thu-cliairinan suggested that as; . the board .would -go out of'office'' in «ix months'■ time the resolution be altered to read,'"for the half year/' Their successors should have a free hand. Then the clerk spoke—briefly, but to the point. "Have meiabers considered Under what terms the present clerk was appointed?" he asked, "because, if the appointment is a yearly one the board might possibly be "in the position of having two clerks 1 I don't know how members would like that!" "I think the board understands you are engaged fiom year to year," remarked the chairman.

Then ensued a long, and, at times, ivarai argument in which all the members took a part. The clerk insisted, and quoted bell and book in support, that his was a yearly engagement. He read the minutes of the last meeting at which his position was reviewed. The minutes affirmed that the board decided to increase his salary to .£7O per anuum for the coming year, and to vote him a bonus of .£lO for extra services. Commissioner Martin maintained that what the boaird did was.give the clerk a .£2O lisa for the ensuing twelve months, and that his engagement expired on the 31st.

Commissioner Wilkie supported this. Erom the discussion it appeared that he had acted as temporary clerk while tho question of, increasing Mr McCurdy's salary was beiDg discussed, and that hu had handed his rough minutes over to the clerk. He now demanded their production, affirmed that the chairman had undertaken at the time to keep them in his safe, nnd charged Mr McCurdy with entering up the minute book in a -way. to suit himself.

The chairman complimented Commissioner Wilfcie on his memory, but pointed out that he didn't own. a' safe. "Does Mr McCurdy mean to insinuat* that he's here fox life?" asked Commis* sioner Martin, warmly. Mr McCurdy merely smiled and the chairman remarked that he had no wish to see the ratepayers put to expense, but if Mr McCurdy had an advantage he was quite right to use it. He had served the board well and the ratepayers had nothing to complain about. Other members charged- the clerk with

" cooking" the minutes, whereon Commissioner Harrison suggested that thu minutes of the meeting at which they were confirmed be read. If there was u wrong entry, then was the time to challenge it.

The minutes having been read Commissioner Harrison submitted that that settled the matter. ' -' '

The contention was disputed, however, In the course of the discussion that followed the chairman said he took it the clerk was entitled to twelve months' notice.

Commissioner Craig persisted in pressing- his motion. Commissioner Harrison spoke in defence of the clerk and -moved as' an amendment that his services be retained. The chairman seconded the amendment, which only he and the mover voted for.

The motion, was then carried by five votes to tw»- ■ ■