SAVING TIME

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 636, 14 September 1933, Page 5

SAVING TIME

a new methodc BOROUGH COUNCIL DECIDES TO PURCHASE A DICTAPHONE SOME OPPOSITION A recommendation from the Finance Committee that a -dictaphone which has been on trial over a six weeks' period, should be purchased at a cost of £60 for the use of the office staff aroused discussion and some opposition at last evening's meeting of the Rotorua Borough Council. It was only after a motion that a recommendation to purehase the machine be deleted, had been -defeated that it was decided to instal the device. At a previous meeting of the council, it was explained that the machine would enable a considerable saving in the time of the town clerk and the typiste. It would be possible for the clerk to dietate his letters and memoranda into the machine which could then be used to dietate the letters back to the typiste when required Under this arrangement, the clerk would be able to dietate his letters much more quickly while the typiste's time would be saved by eliminating the time taken in transcribing notes and talcing dictation. It was agreed by the council that the machine should be installed for a trial period but with no obligation to purcftase. Some Opposition When the Finance Committee recommendation came before the council last evening, Cr. F. Goodsoh rose to oppose the purehase. He did not consider that the machine was necessary and he did not think the council would be justified in spending £60 upon it. The office work of the staff should now be decreasing in view of the fact that the rate demands were out and the spring carnival concluded. He moved that the recommendation to purehase be deleted. Cr. O. H. Coleman, chairman of tne Finance Committee, said 'that after seeing it tested, the committee had been unanimous as to the desirability of purchasing the machine. It could be b ought very cheaply and there was no doubt that it would mean a- great saving in time to the council's staff. If the machine was not b ought, the council would have to employ an extra cadet; if it was bought increases in staff could be avoided for some time to come. Work Increasing The clerk,' at the request of Cr. Coleman, briefly outlined the uses of the machine. He said that the office work of the council was increasing and not decreasing. Apart from anything else, the work of the Advancement Committee had increased 50 per cent. The position was that if tho council desired satisfactory service, it would have to make some reorganisation in its staffing. He was prepared to show the increase in the work by quoting facts and figures. He was i quite satisfied that the machinn was a time saver and during its trial it had saved quite a day and a half of the typiste's time in each week while his own time had been conserved correspondingly. Mayor Converted The mayor said that as a rule he was not in favour of "these new fangled notions." He had not, at first cjght been impressed with the proposal to instal the dictaphone but after seeing it tested, he was reluctantly compelled to admit its usefulness and to support its purchasm He thought that considerable time would be saved if the machine was installed. The machine would enable the clerk to give much more .time to ma.tters other than routine. The main difficulty, of course. was the provision of the finance. He thought that it would be a fair thing to charge a proportion of the administration charges against the abattoir account. This had never previously been done but as the account was revenue producing, it was a justified charge to Cr. Goodson said that he was not eonvinced. He thought that the dicHi- , phone would be very useful and rt the council's finances were in a more prosperous condition, he would be in favour of buying the machine. As it ; was, however, he thought the counci should do without the machine and : ' save the money. He knew that the clerk's time was largely taken up but he considered that if the clerk made

definite hours when he could De interviewed and was not availab.le to j the public at all hours of ^ the uay, j he would have much more time avail- . able. The council was obliged to con- ; serve its finances in all directions and yet it was prepared to spend £60 on a machine which he considered could *, be done without. _ Cr. Goodson's motion was then put to the meeting and lost on a show ;■ of hands.