Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-10 00:00:00

Recommendation to

_ during the pleasure of the
iry of £ll9 12s, being the amount paid

ant building surveyor

Itecowmmendation to appropriate, out of the surplus income
of this year, a sum not exceeding £2,000, to be expended in
eat Derby-road, the same being for the
'e inhabitants, and improvement of the

improvlng the
public benefit 0f t
borough..
Recommendation to accept th
Mullen to erect new bridewell and pr

tender of Mr. J H

specification, for the sum of £5,733 4s 11d.
Report of the surveyor as to the practicability of Illumi-
nating the clock of the Town Hall.
In reference to the latter subject, the surveyor reported
that, by the substitution of iron cylinders for the present
wooden framing,. the lighting of the clock would be prac-
ticable; that the cost of the necessary alterations for the
four dials would amount to about £2lO, and that the cost of
efficiently lighting it would be about £lB each dial, or
about £72 for the whole

Mr. Stewa
of Mr. Andes
ab3ve.

in th
1 Mr.

first instance that the salaries
Ellis be increased as specified

Mr. Mime seconded the motion
Mr. Kitchen : Before

the confirtnation of that motion.

I wish to ask whether the clerks to the magistrates and
their clerks are permitted to carry on any private business
of their own ? I ask the question because it so happens
that since our last debate upon the increase of Mr. Garnett's
salary, I have seen that he advertises himself as the agent
of a Life Insurance Compa: 'Fleet, hear.) I think that
if gentlemen are nermitte ' - husiness, it

to carry on private
is not right that-the council should be called upon to
appropriate an additional amount of salary to their clerks
in assisting them to discharge the business for which the
council' pays them. (Hear, bear.) I think we should
understand beforehand whether they are permitted to carry
on private business or otherwise. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Stewart : I am not aware of any regulation in that.
respect, but I have seen the announcement Mr. Kitchen
alludes to. I- apprehend it is a matter of a very trifling
nature, a life insurance agency, but I am not aware of any
rule upOn the subject. At the same time, Ido not thing:
the question effects the motion as to the salaries of Mr.
Ellis and Mr. Anderton.

Mr. Kitchen : I think it does sir, if we increase the
salaries of Mr. Garnett's clerks I think it does.
Mr. Stewart: This I do know, that Mr. Garnett's
attendance to the duties of his office is most indefatigable
indeed he is there very early in the morning and late in the
evening—much longer hours than any other clerk of the

magistrates.
Mr. JAL Jeffery : I am reminded of a piece of informs
tion given to me, yesterday, of the same character as that
mentioned by 111 r: Kitchen —that Mr. Garnett is also
Secretary of the Demerara Railway Company Now, the
chairman of the finance committee has stated that he does
not see what such a fact has to do with the advance of the
--;es of the two clerks which we are now asked -to ad-
. It may be quite true that Mr. Garnett does not
participate in any advance of salary made to his subordi-
nates; but, inasmuch as the question is before the council,
I take it that this is the proper time to ask any question
appertaining-to the duties of the magistrates' clerks, and
the mode in which those duties are discharged. If Mr.
Garnett receives £7OO a year for services rendered to the
Magistrates, and his salary has been augmented to that
amount from £5OO, in consequence of the laborious duties
which devolved upon him, it would seem that if those duties
were so very laborious as to call for such an increase, Mr.
Garnett could hardly undertake two other offices of a private
character, and fur which be necessarily receives emoluments.
(Hear, bear.) Further, I understand—and lead the
information been mentioned to me in time, I should have
called attention to the fact at the meeting of magistrates
on Monday—that the magistrates clerks are precluded from
doing any other business, and are expected to devote the
whole of their attention and time to the duties of their
; and certainly any man receiving £7OO or even £5OO
a-year, may with goo right be expected to devote the
whole of his thoughts as well as of his time to the ditties.
(Hear, hear.) I do say, therefore, if Mr. Garnett is dis-
charging duties otherwise than those appertaining to the
office of magistrates' clerk, he is violating the arrange-
ment entered into with the magistrates when he accepted
the office ; and I hope, therefore, the chairman of the
finance committee will be prepared to give us an answer to
the question, or will say that the finance committee will
make the necessary enquiries.
Mr. Alderman Holme was surprised that Mr. Jeffery
did not ask the question at the meeting -of magistrates.
Mr. Jeffery : I stated that I had no information then.
Mr. Holme said, if the question had been asked then it
could not have been answered at once when Mr. Garnett
was on the spot. He was not aware that there was any
order either permitting or forbidding the practice referred
to. If Mr. Garnett was agent of. an insurance company,
anything he could do in the evenings at his own house, be
did not think it was in the power of the council to prohibit
him from doing. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Holme) did not,
however, know anything upon the subject. Mr. Earle, who
was a much older magistrate, might perhaps be able to give
some information upon the subject.
Mr. Earle : No. Ido not know anything about it.
Mr. Holme said they could easily get the information.
Mr. Shell said, the principle of permitting an officer in
the employment of the corporation to engage his time in
any other avocations was essentially bad. (Hear, hear.)
He was very much surprised to hear the vice-chairman of
the finance committee saying that the council had nothing
to do with what any officer did at night. Every man must
know that if he worked at night, he could not work in the
day. Whatever the council paid their officers ought to be
sufficient for them, and they ought not to be allowed to
enter into any other engagements. (Hear, hear.) During
the time he had been in the corporation he had seen many
evil consequences arise from allowing such arrangements.
It was an injustice to the men themselves—it led them into
scrapes and difficulties which often brought them into very
serious injury at last. (Hear, hear.) If they were
kept steadily to their duties, and not allowed to
enter into other engagements, the duties would be better
done, and the officers themselves would be more contented
and more efficient. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alderman Cooper was not aware of any charge
against the two gentlemen whose salaries were now pro-
posed to be raised; and he did not see, therefore, what the
present discussion had to do with the question. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Anderson believed a similar question came before
the council upon a previous occasion; and he thought it was
then understood that if the clerks could undertake anything
which did not interfere with the duties of their office, they
should be allowed to do so. lie thought it was rather
invidious that the names of two gentlemen- should now be
brought forward, when, if he were not misinformed, there
were other gentlemen who did other duties not connected
with their office. (Hear, hear.)
principle he had laid down with regard to t
ieethq
Mr Stewart quite agreed with Mr. Sheil in tilei
h el. there was
any such resolution with regard p
to him, he was quite at a loss to_ to h
answerte i set igoenne put
tm.awka ge i
es tarraet, e
islso
we I
ee
vr ke
rs
as that referred to or not. He would
resided in that countr
that enqt,„iry should be made. As to the Demerara railway,
he believed Mr. Garnett's father
and Mr. Garnett might possibly perform some little b,
usiy-
ness or agency in Liverpool for that company. Mr. Stewart
concluded by moving that the increase of salary as recom-
mended to Mr. Anderton and Mr. Ellis be confirmed.
The motion then passed without a division.
Mr. Stewart moved that the second recommendation, for
the appointment of Mr. Hunter, as assistant building
ahmiguheelstllcleaismse,
and
surveyor, be adopted. lie remarked that the finance
committee were unaatimous in the recommendation of Mr.
Hunter,
reer,aosthh,rs, testimonials
was nded e
by re of
mr. the. s
were
carried.
big,
Stewart then moved the Phi_
rd resolution, re com-
w-
tr.nding the appropriation, out of the surplus income of
this year, the sum of £2,000 in the improvement of the
West Derby-road. He said, the matter had been several
times before the council
Aireviously upon the motion orthe
deputation
health committee. ueteamtiomnitotfe
ethaenhdeatbltey hcaogrmmeeidttetoe
had waited on the finanec
recommend the appropriation of this 'sum for the object
state&

Mr. Samuel Holum seconded the motion.
Mr. Mitt said he never supported a motion of the finance