HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2570, 18 September 1915, Page 2

HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

RETRENCHMENT DISCUSSED. A special meeting of the Hutfc ough Council was held last evening for the purpose of considering the question of reorganising the council's engineer" rag staff. There was a full attendance, and the Mayor (Mr. H. Baldwin) presided'. Councillor M'Dougall stated that ho felt that some retrenchment was needed, in view of the fact that the borough overdraft had increased b'y £2000 in the last three years. He expressed the opinion that there Was no substantial reason why the council; should retain tho services of an engineer at £350. per year if a suitable overseer could do the work. Tho borough revenue was £14,000, and the cost of administration was £1200. _ It was due ■ to tho ratepayers that this expenditure should be'reduced. Councillor Purdy doubted if anything could be saved by adopting the suggestion, and stated that he Believed their engineer was underpaid. The speaker suggested that the only way to retrench was to amalgamate with the Hutt River Board. Councillor Clendon pointed out that eight years ago the council had attempted to carry . on .without an engineer, but found it impossible. Councillor Hobb's did not favour retrenchment, and mentioned that Councillors forgot that the borough had an asset in improvements which accounted for the increase in overdraft.

'The Mayor suggested that the matter might be held over until a report as' to what each man actually did was obtained. Mr. Baldwin added that he' considered it suicidal to attempt to do without an onginoer.; ■ Councillor Meldrum' then moveffthat a committeo should be set up to . inquire into the working of the council's staff. ; • ;An amendment by Councillor Hodgins, however, to .the' effect that Mr:. Gardner, (of the engineer's, staff) should be transferred to the gas department, : aud Mr.'-.Keir bo .put in Mr. Lusty's position,' was -earned. Itis estimated that £150 per year, will thus be saved.