Wants Pay Rise For Councillors

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 3

Wants Pay Rise For Councillors

r.V.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 11. A Wellington city councillor has decided to press for an increase in the annual payment to councillors. Cr. Olive Smuts-Kennedy said tonight that she considered the present payment of £7B a year completely inadequate. She will ask the council meeting on Wednesday to seek legislation to increase this payment. “Under the Municipal Corporations Act the same flat payment is made to a councillor in Wellington or the smallest borough in New Zealand,’’ said Cr. Smuts-Kennedy. “As a Wellington councillor, I attend two long meetings each month, committee meetings that sometimes last for most of the day, and 1 represent council interests on three ’ oards.

“These meetings take a lot of time and homework, i “I don’t think £7B is a fair 'remuneration. "There was a time in this country when Parliamentarians didn’t receive a salary. If people think Wellington councillors believe in that tradition, they are mistaken.” Cr. Smuts-Kennedy said if councillors collected a bigger payment they would handle their jobs more efficiently. “If we were paid more reasonably, we could afford to get people to help us with our work,” she said. She considered the proposal would win the support of

other councillors and the public. “I am not going to suggest a definite payment,” she said, “I just want everyone to think about the matter.”