Section 26. The city or town clerk shall retain all reports and statements required to be filed with him until the term of the office the candidate is seeking has ended. In the case of committees other than those authorized by a candidate, the city or town clerk shall retain all required statements and reports filed with his office for a period of two years. Such statements and reports shall be available for convenient public inspection and copying at the office of the city or town clerk during normal business hours as soon as such statements and reports are filed with him.