COUNCIL SALARIES TO BE REDUCED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 222, 13 May 1932, Page 5

COUNCIL SALARIES TO BE REDUCED

sliding scale . CASES OF HARDSHiP TO BE CONSIDERED ON MERITS "GOES AGAINST GRAIN" The Rotorua Borough Council last evening decided that all wages and .salaries of employees over £156 per anrium and up to £286 per annum should be reduced five per cent, and all salaries over £286 per annum by 10 per cent. After diseussion, it was decided that the cut should apply to all employees without exception, but that the council should review any special cases of hardship. The Finance Committee, which recommended 'the reduetions, recomniended an exception in the case of Mr. F. Tschopp, having regard to the fact -that he is on a special engagement. "I certainly am up against this exemption of Mr. Tschopp. He is just as much an employee of the council as anyone else. He is an employee at so much a week just like the rest of them," said Cr. E. T. Johnson, when the matter came up for diseussion. Against the Graim "I confess that it goes against the grain to have to bring forward this reduction at all," said the Mayor, Mr T. Jackson. ?T feel almost as though I am compounding a felony, especially when I know that so far as our administrative staff at least is concerned, they have always been underpaid in comparison with other borough staffs and in proportion to the amount of work they are called upon to do. However, we are forced into a vicious circle. Our ratepayers have all been faeed with reduetions and hardships and in order to avoid placing further rate burdens upon them, we have reluctantly been compelled to accept the principle of wage reduetions. Personally, I very must regret the necessity and I for one, am very glad to see that the Finance committee has been courageous enough to recommend a sliding scale instead of slavishly following the principle of 10 per cent reduction." Cr. A. Smith asked how tlie proposed reduction would affect the borough engineer. This officer had already voluntarily agreed to accept a reduction of 10' per cent. on his salary. The Mayor said that the proposed cut would apply to Mr. Bunyard in spite of his voluntary offer. In this connection, the Mayor explained the circumstances, and said that possibly a misunderstanding had occurred. Personally he thought that the engineer was the lo'west paid officer in New Zealand for his capacity. Exception For Engineer Cr. A. Smith suggested that as a special exemption was proposed in the case of one officer, a similar exemption should be extended to the engineer. Cr. Johnson moved that owing to the special circumstances outlined, the engineer be excepted from the cut. Cr. W. Galbraith seconded the motion. The chairman of the Finance Committee, Cr. G. Urquhart, said that he could not support this. He considered that the engineer must have known that a 10 per cent. reduction was impending when he made his offer. If permanent officers were to be cut, all should be reduced. Ci\ Johnson: What about Mr. Tschopp? Special Arrangement Cr. Urquhart said that Mr. Tschopp was on a special arrangement and was only a temporary official who could be dismissed at short notice. He had also stood out of work for two months until he was re-engaged by the Council. He thought that the engineer would have to take the cut. Cr. A. Smith: Well I think that Mr. Tschopp could take it too. The Mayor said that he thought that if a cut had to be applied it should obtain all round. If there were any cases with special circumstances, they should be considered on their merits afterwards. Cr. Smith moved an amendment along these lines, and this was carried on the casting vote of the Mayor. The clause recommending the reduetions, was accordingly adopted .with the deletion of the exception made in favour of Mr. Tschopp and the inclusion of a provision enabling the council to review any special cases or cases of hardip.