Wellington Independent TUESDAY, JULY 19, ISSI. MORE COUNTY REFORM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 92, 19 July 1881, Page 2

Wellington Independent TUESDAY, JULY 19, ISSI. MORE COUNTY REFORM.

— - ■•- — The gigantic financial reforms re^ eently instituted by the Manawatn County Council so thoroughly accord with our own views as to the neces sity of local bodies being economically worked, that with the view of assisting the Councillors in their laudable endeavours we propose to make one or two suggestions. The excellence of these suggestions will be so apparent that without hesitation we may assure the ratepayers ■ that in the very next report the > Evening Post, the newly»appointcd

County G-axefcte, publishes of the Manawaiir Council meeting, rosolutions will' lie found embodying what wo are about to suggest. Briefly, our suggestion is this, that the scale of " expenses " paid to the Councillors for attending the meetings should be revised, with a view to such reductions being made as will prevent members making money through their holding seats on the Council. Our readers aro of course- awaro that some time ago the train did not reach Foxtou until nearly 2 p.m., at which hour the Council opened, and as the business was " hardly ever " (a la Captaiu Corcoran) fiuished in time for the Councillors to return bj r the afternoon train, the scale of " expenses " was drawn np in such a way as to include the cost of dinner, tea. and bed, as well as railway fare, the following amounts being fix<u! :— Kiwibea membor, 3us per sitting; Manchester members, 25» ; Oroua. Kawakawa, Taonui, and Horowhenua members,2o.s each ; Awahou,«?7. The " expenses " therefore amount to £90 p : oi' annum, and though we do not i'or one moment question whether the work done is worth the money, wo think the lieforin party in the (J juneil wi-1 agroe with us t>lm* in this matter there is nrnplo scope for their 'investigations. The train now arrives at 10 a.m., and as the Councillors invariably repair with all possible uaste to t!i.?ir place of meeting we imy conclude they are not put to the expense of buying breakfast at foxton. The train lcuves on the return journey long before the fcea-be!l calls •• hungry and thirsty souls " to the evening mea ; consequently tho only meal the members .ire put to the expense of purchasing at Foxfcou is dinner, which, at a first-class hotel, including one glass of ajo, —of course every public man is entitled to thit luxury, — costs only hall a-crown. If to this sum we add the train fare paid by each member, we shall arrive at what " The Counties Act Amendment Act, 1877," calls "such reasonable sums to defray the travel* ling expenses of Councillors coming from a distance to attend the meetings," which ourCountyrulersarc permitted to vote themselves. "Wo may explain that after going through the matter carefully deducting what each member's attendance costs him, from what he receives, we find, that for the twelve Council meetings cho members receive £83 I Is over and above their actual expenses.the largest sum in excess received by any one Councillor being £9 3s, or 15s 3d per meeting! This total does not include committee meetings, which are paid for at the same rate. We do not wish to be so invidious as to go further into detail over tho matter, but we think the Reform party will be certain to accept our suggestion in the liglit intended, viz., for the good of the ratepayers. "Wo do not of course ask that the excess moneys already paid should be returned, but we certainly hope to learn that the Finance Committee have investigated this matter fully, with tho v : ow of saving the aforesaid thirty-two oounds eleven shillings per annum to the ratepayers. Were we so disposed, we might remind the Councillors that, they are amply compensated for tho trouble and expense to which they arc put in attending the meetings by having the opportunity of gazing upon the lovely Mauawatu river, ambulating the well-pared streets of this embryo City of Poxton, and enjoying the conversation of their fellow patriots. We migh t plead th is view of the case, but refrain. All we ask is, that Councillors may be willing to receive, what the legal profession are always willing to accept, " costs out of pocket " for their attendance in the interests of the public.