SEVERE CRITICISM.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2323, 27 August 1880, Page 3

SEVERE CRITICISM.

The Dunedin “ Star ” (bus deals with the kind of retrenchment which is being carried out by the Dunedin Corpora iion : With regard to the reduction of salaries, by which a saving of £799 4s 9d is to be effected, we fail to see any valid reason why the principle of a per ccntage should not have been generally applied. It seems on the face of things most inequitable that the City Surveyor should be reduced from £7OO to £550, or at the rate of a fraction over 20 per cent ; the valuer reduced • from £350 to £3OO, about 15 per cent. ; wliilc the Town Clerk loses only 10 per cent, being reduced from £550 to £SOO. This may be capable of explanation ; but surely the explanation should have been given. £9lO is to be saved by dispensing with the services of certain otliccrs, amongst whom we are not surprised to find the name of Mr Buchan, who, as inspector of works on the Silverstream water-race, was more conscientious than worldly wise, and exposed a system of expensive jobber}"- to the great disgust of his former patrons. Had this officer preserved a discreet silence, passed all the work, and signed any vouchers submitted to him, there is every reason to believe that his services would have been considered indispensable.