TOWN CLERKS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20672, 10 March 1937, Page 10

TOWN CLERKS

ANNUAL MEETING OF INSTITUTE

GATHERING IN TIMARU The annual conference of the Institute of Town Clerks was held in Timaru yesterday. The president (Mr P. Skoglund) presided.

The Mayor of Timaru (Mr P. C. Vinnell) was introduced by Mr J. F. Menzies, in the temporary 7 absence of the president. Mr Vinnell welcomed delegates and said that it gave him real pleasure to welcome them, for they were men who required a good deal of ability so as to be able to guide those who had been elected by the ratepayers on the lines they should be guided. It had to be recognised that successful management of any municipal undertaking was directly responsible to those who were paid officers. Councils came and Councils went, but the changes so far as town clerks were concerned were not nearly so great. It was necessary for town clerks to have the ability to guide their councils, for it had to be admitted that many people who were in public life, and who were elected on a democratic franchise, were not always elected for the ability they possessed for the work, but rather to be guided by officers on correct lines.

As the scope of municipal activity became greater, it would be necessary for them to have the latest knowledge of the development of legislation, so that that knowledge could be used for the benefit of those who employed them, and also so that the ratepayers would have no regrets. This was a serious responsibility, and he could not understand the mentality of any town clerk who belittled his own organisation and work and lauded to the sky private enterprise as against municipal undertaking. If he was a town clerk he would feel it his duty to do his job or get out. He did not suggest that they did not have an interest in their jobs, but to enable any job to be carried out properly, one had to have his heart in it. There were many capable men among the town clerks. He did not want to pander to their vanity, but town clerks were usually held in high repute. In the future it was possible that' a lot of the work being done by the Government would be decentralised, and greater responsibility would fall on town clerks, and when that time came he felt that town clerks would not lag behind. The Mayor said that he hoped the stay of the visitors would be pleasant, and they would take aw 7 ay with them the knowledge that the best had been done for them. /

President Replies The president, who was present at this stage, thanked the Mayor for his warm welcome. They were hopeful in the future of gaining an ever greater status, for they were hoping to get a Bill ’ through Parliament which would give them something to aim at. If it went through greater interest would be taken by the yonnger men, who would have something to work for. Annual meetings were well worth while, for they served to bring town clerks together, and the personal contact helped them considerably. Mentions of Sympathy Motions of sympathy were passed with the relatives of the late Mr W. C. Alexander (Paeroa), W. Patterson (Ashburton) and the Controller and Auditor-General (Colonel G. F. C. Campbell). The annual report stated that during the year the applications of nine new members were accepted, making the total membership 99. The present position of the Local Government Officers Bill was 1 '.rgely as it was a year agoawaiting an opportunity to be brought before Parliament. Earnest efforts were made by the Executive to move the Government to bring the matter forward, but Ministers regretted that the importance of their legislative programme was such that they regretted they were unable to accede to the Institute’s request at the present juncture. However, they were assured of the Government’s sympathy and felt confident that when the occasion offered the Bill would be submitted to Parliament and be passed into law. It would be recalled that at the last annual meeting an agreement was come to regarding the subjects of the syllabus for the examinations to be held under the proposed Bill. At the Executive meeting held in Palmerston North a conference took place with representatives of the Institute of County Clerks with the result that they expressed themselves as prepared to agree with the syllabus prepared by this Institute. A criticism of portion of the syllabus had been expressed by the president of the Municipal Asso-

ciation and this matter would require to be dealt with.

During the year a good deal of unsettlement and doubt had been created following the present Government’s enactment of certain industrial legislation, particularly the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1936. It was thought desirable to obtain a legal opinion as to the effect of the legislation mentioned on the salaried staffs of municpalities. The subject was discussed at considerable length with the representatives of the Institute of County Clerks at Palmerston North, but owing to the difficulty of interpreting the intention and scope of the legislation no satisfactory conclusion had been arrived at. that date certain unions had been established for local body employees, but at the present there was lacking a uniformity of policy in this important matter.

It was with much satisfaction that they recorded that two of then members (Messrs C. L. Bishop, Eastbourne, and A. Leese. One Tree Hill Auckland) were successful In winning the prize of one hundred guineas and the S* iety’s gold medals offered ' y the New Zealand Society of Accountants for a thesis on the subject of “Local Body Finance and Accounts.” Messrs Bishop and Leese were placed first equal by the judges. Members would be pleased to know that Messrs Bishop and Leese were collaborating in publishing a text-book embodying the subject matter of their theses. In view of the importance of the subject dealt with and the absence of information at present available the joint work of the authors should prove of great interest and benefit, particularly to those engaged in local government and concerned with local body matters. The Executive regretted to record that Mr Mourant had found it necessary to resign his office. He explained that he found it impossible to devote adequate attention to the interests of the Institute. He considered the time had arrived for an extension of the scope of the activities of the Institute and that the demands’of the situation could best be met by his retirement and the appointment of someone who would be able to undertake the work involved. The Executive took the opportunity of placing on record its appreciation of the very valuable service rendered by Mr Mourant to the Institute during the eight years he has occupied the position of secretary.

The president moved the adoption of the report and commented in general terms on the work during the year. He made particular reference to the success of Messrs A. Reese (One Tree Hill), and C. L. Bishop (Eastbourne) in winning the prize offered by the New Zealand Society of Accountants for a thesis on the subject of “Local Body Fnance and Accounts.” It was a great honour to the Institute, and he hoped that all local body officers would make a point of securing a copy of the thesis, which filled a long felt want in New Zealand. He would be retiring from the office of president this year, as he was no longer a town clerk, but he would continue to take an interest in the Institute at least until such time as the Bill was put through. The report was adopted. Election of Officer* The election of officers resulted: President, Mr B. S. Knox (Lower Hutt); vice-presidents. North Island, Messrs J. Hardie (Palmerston North), N. Harding (Hastings), G. March (Wanganui); South Island, Messrs J. F. Menzies (Sumner), J. M. Fraser (Rangiora), W. F. Sturman (Inver? cargill); executive, Messrs J. T. Bovis (Shannon), C. L. Bishop (Eastbourne), H. Firth (Petone). G. T. O’Hara Smith (Dannevirke) and H. L. Jenkins (Levin); auditor, Mr A. J. Gearing. The conference then discussed domestic matters.