MATAMATA COUNTY CLERKSHIP.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15361, 9 October 1923, Page 6

MATAMATA COUNTY CLERKSHIP.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln your issue of October 6th appears a letter over the nom-de-plume of "Conservative," giving reasons why the clerk should not have been made to move to Tirau. After quoting the intolerable amount of travelling between Cambridge and Tirau, he writes: "Worse still, that he would have to live at Tirau. a typical New Zealand country township, but only in the making—the social life of Tirau cannot be compared with Cambridge. Let us think what sacrifice that would entail." Evidently your correspondent is of opinion that the ratepayers should pay the clerk his salary and also arrange the social side of affairs for him. Perhaps the people of Cambridge are better educated, jazz better, play golf, tennis, bowls, football, bridge and poker better than the poor unfortunates who reside in the typical N.Z. country township. I feel sure "Conservative" is- having a smack at the councillor who proposed that the clerk be shifted. He can please himself as regards that, but I do resent his disparaging remarks as regards Tirau and the comparison of the social life of the two places (must be awfully humiliating for the clerk to have to mix with the councillors, who are all typical country township residents). Certainly it is a quaint reason to adduce why the clerk should remain at Cambridge; but if your correspondent would accompany the clerk on his next visit to the typical country township the writer would be pleased to introduce him to pejplc whom I assure you it would not be infra dig for him or the clerk to meet socially. In fact, sir, the trip would more than repay him; it would be an education, and he would go back to Cambridge fully convinced that all the intelligent men are not confined to that dear old town. In conclusion, I would point out to "Conservative" that Tirau can do without one thing that Cambridge has—viz., a resident doctor. We have had three at different times, but they have had to seek fresh fields, the reasons given that they could not get a living on account of the residents being so sane and healthy.—l am, etc., TYPICAL COUNTRY RESIDENT.