THE CLERK’S SALARY.

Shannon News, 1 May 1923, Page 2

THE CLERK’S SALARY.

During tli'e course of a meeting of ratepayers at Levin on (Saturday, to inquire into County matters, and in reply to a question by Mr Vincent as to tire dual position held by the County Clerk, Mr Monk, chairman of the Horowlienua County Council, said that he was glad the question had been raised as it would enable him to explain the position of the County staff in relation to the Dower Board. The Power Board paid the County Council £250 for the year for Mr Goldsmith's services. The Power Board had made an excellent ar-

rangement as they tvould probably have had to pay twice as much for a outside man with the same 'experience. Mr Goldsmith received £-100 per year from the County Council. This was his only salary. The £250 from the Power Board went to the County Council, and out of that they had, according to their agreement 'with the Power Board, employed a typist at £9O per year to attend especially to Power Board work. Out of ihe remainder of the money a grant had been made to Mr Goldsmith of £6O for his services for the year. Further grants had been made of £lO to Mr Hudson, the first assistant, and £lO to the clerk, .bringing her salary up to £IOO. The County was making"'£so out of the arrangement, and as the work had practically all been done after ordinary office hours, they Were not. losing any efficiency of the staff., ‘'Since he was on the question of the Power Board," he said, "he would like to mention another matter. The Power Board was originally elected for three years, but by an alteration of the Act, every Board which had been in office for 12 months had to face the electors again so as to bring all Boards level. Jf there was any criticism of the work of the Board he would ask people to come out into the open and give tongue to it, so as to give the Board a chance to reply. There had been a lot of criticism of the Board's decision to lease offices instead of building. He would remind those present that the main duty of the Board was the reticulation of the district. It was only when this was done that they would know the requirements of the district as regards buildings. Frankly, he was a bit seared of too heavy a capital expenditure on building at the present time.''