CLERK DISMISSED

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1933, Page 8

CLERK DISMISSED

DECISION AT OPOTIKI. OFFER OF SERVICES DECLINED. Opotiki, September 22. At a special meeting of the Opotiki Borough Council this evening the motion to dismiss the town clerk and authorise Mr. W. H. Briggs to advertise the position at £3 a week, plus licensing fees, and that he act as temporary clerk, was moved by Mr. A. Anderson and seconded by Mr. S. Patterson. The Mayor, Mr. G. F. Moody, at a previous meeting on July 4, had ruled the motion out of order and refused to put it to the meeting. Supreme Court proceedings were then taken, with a view to having a writ of mandamus issued to compel the Mayor to put the motion. When the Court sat on September 13 to hear the application it was announced by Mr. Moody’s counsel that the Mayor had agreed to put the motion, and the application was adjourned -for a fortnight.

When the meeting opened this evenMr. Anderson moved that the dates mentioned in the original motion be altered to read: “Applications to dose on October 9 and the new town clerk to commence on October 16.”

An amendment was moved by Mr. F. Short that after the dismissal of the clerk he be allowed to act until the new clerk was appointed, instead of appointing Mr. Briggs. Mr. Short said it would not be possible for a temporary clerk to take over the books at a moment’s notice, as he w’ould not be conversant with the position of the bank account and other important business, and that confusion would follow.

Mr. S. Shalfoon suggested that the amendment was not necessary, and that it should be brought forward as a second resolution.

The amendment was seconded by Mr. J. Main.

The town clerk, Mr. C. H. Fleming, suggested that he should be allowed to hand in his resignation immediately, but carry on until the appointment of his successor. He recognised, he said, that his fate was sealed, and he was prepared to meet the couficil in any way to straighten out the position. Mr. Short said the town clerk’s suggestion should be acted upon. The Mayor asked Mr. Anderson whether the town clerk’s offer appealed to him. Mr. Anderson replied that it was not entirely satisfactory. Mr. Shalfoon said the suggestion was rather late. The amendment was defeated by five votes to three.

The motion to dismiss the town clerk was then put to the meeting and was carried by five votes to three, the Mayor and Messrs. Short and Main asking that their votes be recorded against the motion.

It was decided that Mr. Briggs should take over the position on Monday morning. . . '