COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ TRAVELLING EXPENSES.

Shannon News, 11 August 1925, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ TRAVELLING EXPENSES.

AUDIT OFFICE ENFORCE RIDICULOUS PRO VISIONS. DEMANDS REFUND OF PAST PAYMENTS. In common with other Comity Councils, the Horowhenua County bus come in conflict with the Audit Department over the travelling allowances .paid to mumpers. These have been frugal enough, in comparison with the allowances legitimately paid by power, hospital and education boards, but it is contended that there is no statutory authority for paying more than bare railway fare and tile cost.ol' a meal, though this interpretation of the Act is combatted by competent legal authorities. The subject was introduced at Saturday’s meeting by a .letter from the Auditor-General giving a schedule ol approximate travelling expenses which would be allowed each member ol' the Council, and stating, further, that the difference between those amounts and the payments made in the last audited year would have tq be refunded. According to a schedule worked out by the Audit Department, the actual travelling expenses per meeting necessary for

each councillor, allowing for train fare and 2/6 for a meal are approximately as follows: —Crs. Whyte 8s id, Barber 6s 7d, Broadbelt ss, Catley 3s 2d, Harkness 3s 2d, Bryant 5s sd, Ryder 7s 2d, Jensen 7s 2d, Monk 3s

lOd. In lieu of this payments ranging from 20s to 33s per meeting bad been made.. Audit was unable to pass the allowances as paid, but would raise no objection to such fixed rate per meeting, based on the actual expenditure in each case as - may be agreed upon between the chairman or Council and the Audit inspector. The actual payments to councillors for travelling to meetings lor a year ranged from £ll 10s to £lB 4s. The chairman said he had discussed the matter with the Audit Inspector, but had not got very far. He had also made general enquiries amongst local bodies. The County was advised legally that they had power to pay reasonable expenses, but the Audit Department held that, according to the law in force, they could only pay what was prescribed in their letter merely taking into ac count railway fare and a meal. The chairman said that amending legislatiou would bo sought to enable a reasonable rate to be paid, and pend iug that the matter could.be taken up with the Audit Department as to fixing a fairer rate than was laid

down in the Department’s letter. Speaking generally, the chairman said it was absurd to say that County ‘ Councillors must, travel by rail. Take > Cr. Whyte’s case. If he had to travel by rail he would need to leave home at 7 o’clock in the morning to attend the Council meetings and he would get back home at 9 o’clock at night—all for the munificent sum ol 8s i Id per day. Furthermore he would have, according to the Department, to limit his sustenance to .one meal during that time. Then there was Cr. Broadbelt allowed 5s and Cr. Harknets 3s 2d, the presumption being that the latter would go to.the Ohau station, which was further from Cr. Harkness’s home than the Council Chamber. In his own case it would bo necessary if travelling by rail to leave home at the latest by 6.20 to catch file 20 to 7 train at Waikanae. By travelling by car ne could leave home at 8 o’clock and reach Levin at the same time as the train, thus having an hour and a-lialf longer at home. It was ridiculous to expect a man to travel by the present railway service. Ilie Audit Inspector admitted the absurdity of the position, but said that they had to enforce the Act as they found it. They had allowed this to go on for some years and now eilors to reiinbuise the difference. Cr. Monk said the councillors’ labours today were not comparable with those of earlier years in regard to the amount of time put hv and travelling done ,in attending to oofunty matters and the work was particularly heavy in the Wirokino riding. At least councillors should be allowed a guinea per day and reasonable travelling expenses. Eightpence P er mile each way when using their own car would be a fair allowance. It was a matter fqr each councillor to take up with the County Clerk as to what ■ were actual travelling expenses and they could then go into it with the Audit Inspector. The Counties AssoI ciation Executive had also had the matter before it. Cr. Monk said there was no. quibbling about Power Board members’ expenses. Hospital Board members got tenpence per hour during the time they were absent from home and eightpence per mile for travelling. Yet ihe County had only been allowing sixpence per mile one way and were told they had to travel by train. . . Cr. Ryder said these restrictions would prevent poor men giving their services to the County. There were men in this. County who could far better afford to serve on the County than he could, but they stayed at home and made money. If they wan-

ted the best brains of the district, the right way to get them was to pay reasonably lor them. Cr. ITarkness said it meant that only wealthy men could take up County work, if their expenses were wot to be paid, lie spoke of the inconsist-

ency of the treatment meted out to Counties. On the Education Board they received tewpence iper hour all the time they wore away from home and travelling expenses. He always had to pay a special price for labour on his farm while he was away and no doubt the chairman had to do the same. The chairman: Too right I do.

Cr. Harkness said lie was not out tor payment from any local bodies, but they should jealously guard the representation on them and see that it was open to all. He did not want a penny for the woirk—it paid him handsomely to try and keep the rates down. Probably the Act was drawn

up before the days 'of motor cars.' “Anyhow I am not going to pay any surcharge,” said Cr. Harkness. “1 would sooner serve my time.” The chairman; Unfortunately it is like a joint and several; if you don’t pay it will fall on the other councillors He was afraid the money would have to be re "aid, though some councils were hopeful of getting the payments validated. . Cr. Broad belt said bo had been late that morning because he could riot get a man to do his work. It was not fair to ask councillors to leave their farms, work for the public for nothing, and pay their own expen- ■ It was decided that the matter of councillors’ travelling expenses be referred to the chairman, Cr. Ryder. Darkness and Rarber. together with the Clerk, to take up the matter with the Audit Office and, if necessary, go to Wellington.