THE MAYOR’S RIGHTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19670, 12 December 1933, Page 4

THE MAYOR’S RIGHTS.

To the Editor of “ The Tlmaru Herald " Sir,—The Town Clerk successfully side-stepped the two main parts of my letter, which were, that, the Mayor, having decided not to read Mr Holler's letter, should have let Mr Roller know of that decision before the end of the meeting; and that, the Town Clerk, knowing that the letter was not to be read, should have made that fact clear, instead of talking about deputations, and saying that the letter would be dealt wtih at the conclusion of the meeting. I hold that Mr Roller's letter should have been read, along with the other letters read, and that the Mayor should have then Informed Mr Roller how matters stood. That would have been the correct way, the gentlemanly way, the friendly way, and the legal way to have dealt with the subject. I am of opinion that the Mayor had no legal or other right to withhold a letter addressed to the Council. If he had that power there would be nothing to hinder him from suppressing letters dealing with the most vital and pressing subjects,—l am, etc., A. M. PATERSON. Timaru, December 9. [Obviously our correspondent has overlooked the rather important fact that while the Mayor Is not invested with autocratic powers, he has, under the Standing Orders, definite discre-tion-ary powers. Moreover, the Mayor would have exceeded his authority had he taken the course demanded by our correspondent and deliberately Ignored the decision of the Works Committee to send the deputation to meet the Finance Committee at its next meeting. Our correspondent ought to know that the Mayor has authority to “decide all questions as to which no provision, or not sufficient provision Is made in the Standing Orders.”—Editor of “The Timaru Herald.”]