A SPAR.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXIX, Issue 3944, 15 July 1918, Page 2

A SPAR.

CLERK ACCUSES COUNCILLOR.

A HEATED CHALLENGE,

A somewhat sudden and plain spoken passage at-arms was indulged in at the Borough Council meeting on Thursday last when the question relating to the new borough plans was under review. It was pointed out that it would be as well for councillors to make themselves conversant with the general details before the meeting with the engineer was arranged. The question then arose as to what means the councillors' could take to have access to the office and plans at night. The town clerk drew the attention of the Mayor to the fact that councillors would have access to everything during office hours, but he was not in future going to leave the office open in his absence, his reason being that on a previous occasion a councillor had interfered with papers in the safe and had' obtained information without his, the town clerk's, consent.

This brought Cr. Brenan to his feet fov a rulin,g from the chair demanding to know who ran the council, the town clerk or the councillors, and to whom Mr Mahony was alluding, and added: If he asserts that I went to his safe and obtained information he is wrong. I am just as honourable a man as is sitting round this table and absolutely refute the charge.

The Mayor : The councillors do, but you know, Cr. Brenan, there are proper hours and they should be observed. I will see that the plans are available for your inspection if you will let the clerk know when you ■want them. It would be unreasonable to expect the clerk to come back every night to give the plans out.

Cr. Brenan : The town clerk accuses me of a dishonest action and' I demand an explanation.

The Town Clerk : The papers in the safe had been interfered with in my absence. You can have the key of the front office but not to my room. I have already lost papers.

A Councillor : This is a pretty rotten thing to say, your worship!

Cr. Brenan: Your worship, I appeal to you. I have the , floor. The town clerk has no right to speak until invited to do so, and I want you to define our position as councillors.

The Mayor: I think, gentlemen, this is a needless discussion.

Cr. Brenan: No, sir; I have been accused by the clerk, and I insist upon the matter being cleared up.

The Town Clerk to Cr. Brenan : I am responsible for all 'the papers. You could not have gained the information you did unless you obtained it from documents in the safe, and you know that perfectly well.

The Mayor : Be quiet, -Mr Mahony

Cr. Brenan; This trouble is over the scarifying investigation which was important, and the papers which it was necessary '' for me to examine were left on this table by the acting town clerk for my use, and the town clerk's statement that they were taken out of the safe by me r is contrary to fact. I contend the town clerk is a servant, and at the call of the councillors as long as they are reasonable. When I attended the office to "get the information I required I was accom- 1 panied by another. gentleman who happens to be a councillor.

The Mayor: Councillors must try and work with the clerk and observe the hours as near as possible.

The town clerk: I wish, to say that I will at all times try to meet the councillors if;the office is required after hours.

The,- Mayor : There is no need for this discussion.

Cr. Brenan : Your worship, I have been accused, and I intend to clear the matter up.

The incident then closed,

Cr. Flatt: Do I understand, your worship, that we may have access to the plans and office at night if necessary ? " '

His Worshit): That is so,