THE MAYORAL HONORARIUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14447, 13 February 1909, Page 5

THE MAYORAL HONORARIUM.

Sin,—Our gallant Mayor lias scoured in "Veritas" an ardent advocate, of a sort. Having jumped into the broach in defence of our Chief Magistrate—let us lioiw without }ihs cognisance,—" Veritas " should not have avoided tho gravamen of the complaint made against Mr M'Donald. He would liuve Ikgii on surer ground luid he met. the question fa.irl.y-viz., is the £400 allowed to the Mayor a salary for his somes or monoy granted to sustain tho honour of the chair? Honour and honorarium are very jnucli akin, and if honorarium lias nothing to do with the. honour of the chair, let "Veritas" scuts that point, if he can, to the satisfaction of the community. Why was the statement that tire Mayor declined to pay the expenses of certain civic functions not refitted ? The char g° was pin inly put, and, not. being nwt, must now !*> admitted to he correct. As the writer is not a member of t.lie Ratepayers' Association and never had any connection with that body, and, further, n.s he never wrote over the signature of "Lover of Sincerity" in your columns, " Veritas" i s left to make the amendo honorable to him. In conclusion. I noi.iosd in my former letter a-misprint in tho scntcnce quoted by "Veritas": "Tho honour of the position ought to bo considered ample ' reason' for his services." For " reason " the ivor<l " reward " should lie read. The error was noticed by me at tho time. but. thinking the meaning was obvious, I did not trouble to mako the correction.—l am, etc., Yop.ick. Dunedin, February 11.