Concern about allowances

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 12

Concern about allowances

PA Hamilton Hamilton City Councillors want urgent action by the Government to end delays in reviewing allowances paid mayors and local body chairmen. The city council learned on Wednesday that a review by the Higher Salaries Commission was delayed because two of its three members resigned last year and had not been replaced.

Until the review is completed no action can be taken.

The Mayor of Hamilton, Mr Ross Jansen, told the council’s management committee that local body allowances had not been increased for six years, apart from one cost-of-living adjustment. The Government

received submissions last year “on almost a weekly basis’’ from anxious local bodies. “The message coming from many areas is that local body members are not willing to stand again because of the financial disadvantages,” he said. Mr Jansen, who is president of the Municipal Association, said the Higher Salaries Commission had almost completed its review of mayors and chairmen when two of its members resigned late last year. Even when they were replaced the new commission would probably want to do its own background work before making decisions. He described this prospect as abysmal.