TOWN CLERK’S SALARY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2599, 28 June 1923, Page 3

TOWN CLERK’S SALARY.

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting the question of raising the Town Clerk’s salary was again brought under consideration.

The Mayor, who was appointed at the previous meeting to go into the matter, said that the position was that Mr Trueman was receiving- CJ9O per annum from the Council, ucludiug a payment of £4O for the management of the Town TLi!!. He also receive- £55 per annum from an Insurance company, inn!-.! g a gross amount of £445. (ini of that amount he had to pay fo” an a-sisiant. at 22/6 per week. He said that Mr Trueman was a man of exceptional ability. Since the water and drainage .scheme bad been commenced hi- work bad greatly increased, lie considered Mr Trueman wa- worth at least £4OO to the Council. The Mayor then moved, seconded bv Cr. McMurray. that the office salaries be increased by £s(l per annum.

Cr. McMurray pointed out that the £4O earned by Mr Trueman in connection with the Town Hall was overtime. lie said that good opportunities were offered at present for good men and there was always a chance of losing Mr Trueman. The Council did not want to lose him. as they bad bad peculiar experience- with Town Clerk- in the past.

Cr. Coley and Bryant took strong exception to Cr. Me Murray’s remark that they bad had “peculiar experiences in the past with town clerks” and said that their past clerks had all been brilliant men. Cr. Bryant said that for the pas! few years it bad been nothing but increase, increase, increase. The borough couldn’t stand this. He considered the town clerk’s salary was quite sufficient. There were plenty of men willing to do the work for the money.

The Mayor: I would like to find the man that would. C'r. Bryant : I have never yet seen the man you couldn’t replace. Cr. Walker said he would support the motion. Other towns paid £-150 a year to their clerks. He also pointed out that Mr Trueman's work was increasing.

Cr. Smith said that be realised Mr Trimman wa- a capable man and considered he was worth £8 a week. But. lie considered that at that wage the insuram o work should be discontinued. The doing of this would relieve hint of a good deal of work and give him more time. Cr. Smith moved, seconded by Cr. Walker, pro forma, that the Town Clerk he paid £390 per annum, including management of the Town Hal], that insurance work be discontinued and that applications be called for position of assistant at £fis per annum. Both motion and amendment were lost.

Cr. Bryant said that he objected to the manner in which this business had been sprung upon the Council at the last meeting by Cr. McMurray. He cosidered that notice should he given of such business. Cr. Smith then gave notice of motion to move that the town Clerk be granted an increase of £l9 10s per annum, it to be paid from the Ist July, 1923.