th reference ixcne of to T should itis such that sure by all friends of then k, will believe t wied at the with regret mew ut Knoles the et thie [intended te bri we forward, exphin to of his mind that I do not consider 7,200 taels or even a larger sum to high who earnestly terest of the salary 0 a Secretary ites his ne to the in-payers.
Tam, ete., Gestay L. Onere. 1th March.
To the Editur of the Sm,—I defer to the statement con! in your leading article to the effect new contract with the Secretary had already. been signed before the ratepayers' meetin atthe fi ated in the Budget, and to cull the ratepayers' atter tutional question this involves. In discussing the point I want as far as possible to treat it impersonally and irrespective of the present Mun cipal staff whose good services are well known, When the amendment. was read by Mr. Oberg, the Chairman of the Council is reported to have said: "Tt is quite useless for you to speak on that point, reason, a three years' contract 1 state, comprises the budzat Let us consider if he was right.
XXIV gives the Council power ter appoint and dismiss a staff. Tt neither limits their numbers nor apportions their duties, so that it is a matter purely for the vuneil what are the numbers and what the ys that no officer shall ppointed for any to ind than thre years unless the ssu tinent cher with the salary appertaining thereto public meeting electors duly. conve The Seeretai appointed to the staff in 1896 new three years' appointment of 1899 the salary' ut period of three years is signed by the Council with-cut reference to the ratepayers and the ratepayers refused to ratify it, what interstation would the lawyers put upon it?
ight well consider it binding until taken, but after the vote it s-ems to me they would consider it waste Paper, as the Council can only enter in such contracts as the Regulations permit. 'The matter is no trivial one but of far-reaching importance if extended periods of service granzed before the ratepayers' meeting make it useless body. to discuss a heavy item in the budget, or, if they are allered to discuss it, make it plain that can save the speakers from being in a position of sheer impotence. It is quite understood that when an agreement expires before the meeting, it must be temporarily but if Regulation xxiv means ing, it must mean that a period of service renewed aiter three years requires the ratepayers' approval. As the matter it most important "now stands we have happily nothing re t, hut the statement of the Council's rman yesterday may lead to the gravest misapprehension, may in years to come put some of the staff in a very false position, and may create a precedent most dangerous to the future administration of this growing community.
Lam, ete., A Briros.
10th March.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.