The Mayor’s Salary.

Patea Mail, 11 January 1882, Page 3

The Mayor’s Salary.

At Monday’s meeting of the Patea Borough Council, the following discussion took place : The Mayor said : Here is a motion of a personal nature to be moved by Councillor Mahony, that the Mayor be paid a salary of £IOO a year. I must ask leave to retire while this is considered. The Mayor left the room, and Councillor Aitchison was voted to the chair. Councillor Mahony then moved that the salary be £l5O (the figure being increased apparently at the seconder’s suggestion). Councillor Adams seconded, and said the Mayor ought to have some consideration in the first year for the initiatory work of the borough. He knew that for the last three months the Mayor had been hard at work daily over this matter. After the borough got into working order, the conditions would be different ; but at present the £l5O was as little as they should offer. Councillor Black proposed an amendment that the question be postponed, there not being a full meeting of the Council. Councillor Dixon (who had been absent) returned to the room at this moment, leaving only one absentee, Councillor Milroy. Amendment not seconded. Councillor Taplin supported strongly the motion for £l5O, and said no person in the town could have done the work which the Mayor had done in initiating the borough, and preparing every detail for the Council and for committees at every step, without a single hitch. It was time they recognised Mr Sherwood’s public services in an ungrudging manner, and vote him a salary for the first year that would be worth accepting. Councillor Gibson: What is the revenue estimated from rates ? Clerk: The Mayor’s estimate was £906, and the subsidy on that would be £309 more. Councillor Gibson : What is proposed would be voting half our rates for salaries alone. I fail so see where the work comes in that requires a salary of £l5O. (Councillor Black : Hear, hear.) If we can show we are going to get value for £l5O a year, I should vote for it. The Mayor lias very little to do more than other Councillors. The £l5O a year would pay half the interest on £5,000. We could borrow another £2,500 on that amount, and be no further cost to the borough. I propose that the Mayor be paid a salary not exceeding £SO per annum. Councillor Black seconded.

Councillor Adams pointed out that the £l5O was only for the first year, and said the honor of the office should satisfy other aspirants after the initiatory work was done. A salary of £SO would be paltry, even for the work the Mayor had done already. £l5O could not pay interest on a loan of £2,500 because the £l5O was not lo continue beyond one year. Councillor Taplin said £SO would be a mean thing to offer,, and ho would tell them that the ratepayers do not expect people to work for nothing. Councillor Howitt : I would have supported £IOO. Amendment for £6O was put to the vote ; Councillors Black and Gibson for it, the others against.

Councillor Dixon then moved that the salary be £IOO per annum, and asked the Council to be unanimous on this. Councillor Howitt seconded.

Councillor Aitchison would support £IOO. Councillor Adams offered to withdraw bis motion in order that the Council might be unanimous in voting £IOO. Councillor Gibson objected to the withdrawal, and insisted on a vote. Yote taken on (ho amendment for £IOO, when the only dissentient was Councillor Gibson. Amendment declared carried.