OPOTIKI BOROUGH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 542, 27 May 1933, Page 6

OPOTIKI BOROUGH

mayor's outline EMPHASISES NECESSITY FOR' REASONABLE ECONOMY IN FUTURE BUILDING FOR PROGRESS (From Our Own Correspondent.). Opotiki, Friday. In a speeiial interview with a "Morning Post" representative yesterday, Mr. G. S. Moody the newlyelected mayor of Opotiki, outlined, as far as is possible at this early juncture, his policy in the future affairs of the borough. At the present time he felt that it was somewhat difiicult to formulate a definite policy to cover the next two years as no one could tell what would happen. For the immediate present} he felt that a policy of carefully thought out economy should be followed. The borough, at the present time, was in a very good p-osition in comparison with other muriicipalities but the utmost .care must be exercised to see that the position was maintained and if possible, improved. It appeared to him that the trend of world affairs showed some promise of improvement and due regard must be given ,to this for if such were the case and the depression lifted, the borough of Opotiki must be in a position to march with the times^ Meantime, however, economy must be their watchword.

Essential Services He considered that the greatest care must be exercised to see that in making economies, essential services were not curtailed to such an extent as to be detrimental to th'e welfare of the borough. They must bear in mind the fact that if curtailed beyond certain limits, it would mean that the borough as a whole would suffer. Such works as prevention of serious river erosion, fiood prevention measures, upkeep of roads and footpaths and so on must be carried out or the borough would find itself drifting back. Reductions in expenditure had been made by the previous council and if further. reductions were found to be inevitable he would be in favour of reductions in the way of salaries and wages rather than in actual redhction in personnel for he considered that it was quite useless for the Government and public bodies to increase the number of unemployed, and thus aggravate the position. It appeared to him that it was the duty of every citizen to do all he could to relieve unemployment while at the same time studying wise economy and dismissal of staff either in th'e case of businesses or public bodies was not always true economy. Faith In Council However, he had great faith in the business capacity and public spiritedness of his couneillors and although several of them were entering on th'eir first term of council work, they were one and all exceptionally keen to do what was best in the interests of the people they represented without fear or favour and such being the case he felt th'at they would get through' what appeared to be a difiicult time with the least possible loss to the people o'f the borough.