Opotiki News

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 540, 25 May 1933, Page 7

Opotiki News

A BOMBSHELL ' f COUNCILLOR PROPOSES . " f WHdLE STAFF BE . : tilSMISSED " !

DRASTiC EGONOMY SUGIIESTED— "(Froiri Our Own Correspondent.) The real bombshell of ' the evening ;; > "was let. loose by Cr. A. Anderson at ,r ?TriesHay "riight's meeting of the Op6f ' .-"tiki Borough Gouricil wben he moved I ' that- the t'owri clerk, Mr. Fleming, be " • -asked to resigri hii 'position ris clerlc ? of the borough' aiidf givb the'!'cbuKcil (jhe'month's notice and. tliai the , elefk'b'e also iristrii'cted to dismiss all ! '"the bbi'bugh staff '^vith the exceptibri i of tbie ofiice girl, the remMMder to rb--ceive one week's notice. ! ' " • Cr. Short interjected tftai Cr. Anderson was quite out of order as this was not ih his ilotiee of riibiion whicfr read:., _ _ • : I hereby give notice bf motion tfikt T intend tb rribve at the nehi meeting of the -,hbrough council, "That in view ,of *"dre hrgent nece^- " • sity for economy, the position, salaries and wages of the whole of the i* bdi'bugh employees be reviewed " and that a definite policy for reduced experiditur'e on road works ' be considered and dealt with." Cr. Andersbn then moved the nqiti* ■ ice of motion as put in and in speak- • ing to the motion^aid that he-thought if his suggestions were carried out it • would involve a wholesale saving in ,/the expenditure of the borough's fitt.ances. ' :- He hoped that those members o^., " the staff concerned would . not think _ • that he had any other end in view than the economy of borough finance^ and he hoped that all the. staff .co'ttcerned would put in an application , . , for re-engagement at their next meeting. "Ridiculous" '■ Cr. Short. said that if Cr. Ariderison would stick '^o the ribtice of riib;tion and leavd his driggestions , for wholesale resignatioris and dismilskis _ ; out of it he would support him, but 4he considered the other suggestiohs made -were ridiculous. ' f •' Cr. Anderson said that he was new ^ to the proeediirej/ But he thought he" was at liberty tb ihake these sugges- , tions after making his notice of motion. Cr. Anderson then said that he was qnite prepared to leave his l notice of motion standing, as it was . apjp'arently the only thing to do and would at least open the matteri fbr diseussion. Cr. Short then seconded the nbtice of motion. Adjournhierit Suggested • Cr,,Maine suggested that the matfter should be postponed until a later 'meeting bef ore being dealt with 'to allow eouneillors to consider the suggestions put f orward. Cr. Short moved that the matter be adjourned until July 25 as Cr. Anderson would be -away at- the next monthly meetiiig. ■ Cr. Shalfoon asked why the matter should "be adjourned until after tHe ,striking of the rate. : . . .. Cr. J. J. Moody suggested that a • special mepting be ealled to disctiss .•this particular matter. The Mayor expressed the opinion /that a month should be allowed to • elapse for consideration. It was resolved to hold a- special meeting on July 4 to discuss the mat- - /ter. Cr. Shalfoon then asked tHat the balance sheet for 1932-33 also 'be presented to the council at tHat meeting if possible. The clerk ad- - vised that he would be able to place the balance sheet on the table for the Juhe monthly meeting.