COUNCIL ECONOMIES

Southland Times, Issue 18825, 19 May 1920, Page 5

COUNCIL ECONOMIES

THE £l3O JOB. YOUTH DECLINES POSITION. At its meeting a fortnight ago the Town Council decided to promote a young man in its employ to a position at £l3O per annum—an increase of £4O on his present salary and £26 less than it was originally proposed to pay the person filling the position. The step, regarding the promotion but not regarding the pay, was taken on the recommendation of the Town Clerk, who considered, the Mayor said, that the youth was quite capable of filling the position. The matter developed another, and probably, final, stage at the meeting last night when a letter was read from the employee declining the position “on principle.” He had, ho said, applied for the position at £1.56, and it seemed that he was to be penalised because he was a member of the staff whereas an outsider would be paid the full amount. Councillor J. Miller; It should be pointed out that he did not apply for the position at all. “I move that the letter he received,” said Councillor S. McDonald whose motion at the previous meeting led to the reduction in the salary offered. The young man, said the councillor, had received an addition to his salary, bringing it up to £OO. To have given him the salary of £l5O would have raised him over the heads of other officers out of proportion in the ratio of their salary rises. He did not think that the writer had any grievance. There was no principle involved. Tiie salary of £l5O was suggested for one qualified to fill the position, but here was ■a you'll who was offered the chance of goorl promotion and he was not warranted in receiving the £l5O. The motion was seconded by Councillor J. Stevenson, and the Mayor explained that the town clerk had thought of the youth before the position was advertised, considering that about £l3O would meet his case, but (hey had forgotten to alter the amount of £l5O in the recommendation to the committee. The motion was carried unanimously.