WHAT IS CHEAPNESS?

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 164, 23 December 1926, Page 4

WHAT IS CHEAPNESS?

APPOINTMENT OF CLERK. An Outspoken Member. When consideration of an application for the position of town clerk was being undertaken by the Putaruru Town Board at its meeting on Monday night, an interesting discussion centred round the salaries paid to local body servants. The salary under discussion was that of the clerk at £9O per year, and Mr. J. C. Tomalin held that the figure was far too high. One of the main reasons he had stood for the board was the fact that in his opinion far too much was paid to officials. He would not be a party to anything over £SO a year, which he considered was all they could afford. Mr. Barr Brown : The part I don’t like is the extras. The Chairman : There are no extras. This is a straight-out price of £9O per year. Mr. Tomalin: I am here to keep down expense. That’s what I got on for, and I want that put in the paper. (Laughter). I move that £SO be paid, and that if necessary fresh applications be called for. There is nothing personal in my action, but I think we can get it done for less. I know we can; anyway it’s a question o-f what we can afford. The chairman: Oh, that is quite understood. Now is the time to thoroughly thrash the matter out. My own view is that £BO with a bonus for extra work in connection with bylaws and other non-recurring work would be a fair thing. I think we are extremely lucky to have struck such a clerk offering. Many local bodies are marred by cheap clerks. It is false economy. Mr. Neal: Raglan county, with its record of rate collection, proves that. Messrs. McDermott and Neal then moved that the offer before the meeting at £9O per annum be accepted.

An amendment that the sum be £75 was then moved by Messrs. Brown and Tomalin. Mr. Tomalin: I am looking at the ratepayers’ interests. Mr. Yandle: Well, I am the biggest ratepayer, and I also am looking after the ratepayers’ interests. The chairman: I think we are all doing that. It is only a difference in point of view. Mr. Tomalin: It’s always the cockey that has to pay. Mr. McDermott: The Puketurua Dairy Co. paid £75 for keeping their books, and they are cockies. This job is worth more. Mr. Barr Brown: Well, I still think the job could be done for less, but I will test the feeling of the meeting by moving* the salary be £SO per year. Mr. Yandle seconded this amendment, which was carried by four votes to three. Mr. Lindsay: I don’t believe in beating down a man’s price in regard to anything. It’s his price, and he will only take it out of you some other way. Mr. Tomalin: I want my strong objection noted. The chairman: I have if in the minutes. ' The amendment was then carried as the substantive motion by the same majority, the minority consisting of two commissioners who thought the price was too low, and one who thought it was too high. The matter was then left in the chairman’s hands, with power to act.