COUNTY CLERK MUST BE A SPECIALIST—PLUS!

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 December 1950, Page 3

COUNTY CLERK MUST BE A SPECIALIST—PLUS!

“To be successful in his profession, a county clerk must, above all things, be a specialist in his department. He must also be a man of wisdom with loresight beyond the ordinary, an able administrator and one also who is noted for his general tact and the manner in which he meets and deals with his ratepayers and the public generally.” These attributes were listed by Cr. G. P. Hawkins, when he welcomed delegates to the annual conference of the Wellington-Hawke’s Bay branch of the New Zealand Institute of County Clerks, held in the Wanganui City Council Chambers yesterday. Cr. Hawkins officiated in the absence of the Mayor, the Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C. He also officially opened the conference which was attended by County Clerks from Tauranga, Hawke’s Bay, Poverty Bay, Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, Horowhenua, Rangitikei and Taranaki as well as Wanganui district local bodies. Stressing the importance of the work the county clerks were doing, he said: “The county clerk stands, in an administrative sense, directly between his council and the ratepayers and inhabitants whose voting power is responsible for the election of those who hold office in local government for the time being. “Therefore, the county clerk, like the town clerk and the executive heads of other branches of local government, is called upon to under take, in the course of his official duties a heavy responsibility, for it falls to his lot not to frame policy, this being the function of his ccvmcil, but to ensure that it is implemented in the interests of the people of the locality,” he said. The responsibility was becoming greater because modern requirements were increasing the complexity of local government, stated Cr. Hawkins. Cr. A. H. Collins, chairman of the Wanganui County Council, and Cr. G. Palmer, chairman of the Waitotara County Council, also welcomed the delegates. They referred to the great assistance county clerks gave county chairmen, though their specialised knowledge. Replying, the branch president, Mr. W. J. O'Connell, thanked the speakers for their welcome. It was the first time a city council had tendered a welcome to delegates attending a conference of the branch, he said. The honour was appreciated.

On behalf of the city council • Cr. Hawkins presented all delegates with a brochure of Wanganui.