BOROUGH COUNCIL STAFF.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3417, 23 February 1920, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL STAFF.

APPRECIATORY REFERENCE. At the meeting of the Borough Council on Friday night one item in the report of the Finance Committee was explained hy the Mayor, and was the cause of appreciative reference to the Borough staff by His Worship and the members of the Council,

The paragraph referred to read as follows; “That the salaries paid to the following members of the staff he increased as follows:—Town Clerk, £IOO per annum; foreman of works, £39 per annum; Miss Aldridge, £26 per annum; and Mr A. Duncan, £26 per annum.

The Mayor moved that the Town Clerk oe appointed overseer of all work carried out under the loan proposals. The said Mr Menzies had, special experience in the class of work that would be done during the town improvement scheme, and had consented to assume the responsibility. The speaker had not the slightest doubt if his ability to carry the job through satisfactorily. It would throw additional work on the borough staff, and the Finance Committee had brought down this scheme of extra remuneration to compensate ‘the staff for the work which would be thrown upon them. Under ordinary circumstances it would have been necessary to appoint a Clerk of the Works to supervise the proper carrying out of the various contracts, but as Mr Menzies had consented to carry out this) supervision it would be much more economical as satisfactory. With regard to the borough foreman, the Mayor paid a high tribute to Mr Jamiesons’ practical ability and the conscientious manner in which he had carried out his vmany and varied dm ties If any man was worth the increased wage it was the borough foreman. With regard to the work done by Miss Aldridge and Mr Dunqan, he said this had been done with credit to themselves and profit to the Council. Incidentally he stated that casual labour would be paid at the rate of 2/ per hour and the permanent hands 13/ per day. With regard to the Mayoral honorarium, Mr Joblin stated until the staff was adequately paid he would not take a penny of it. In any case the Council was in the position of being able to pay. Cr Timbs said he would go further and the Increase to the -Town Clerk restrospective to January Ist. The Mayor; It was intended to date the increase from March Ist.

O. Timbs.'said had they not had Mr Menzies services he did not know how the Council would have got on. Cr. Reid remarked that nobody could say the Town Clerk had not done splendid work for the Council, and had saved the borough considerable sums of money. The Council was not paying too much. Mr Menzies was capable of filling a much more responsible and lucrative position in a larger town

The Council unanimously decided to make the increase of the Town Clerk retrospective to Ist January. Mr Menzies and Mr Jamieson, who had left the room during the discussion, were recalled and informed of the Councils’ decision. The Town Clerk thanked the Cor: oil on behalf of the staff and himself for their action. He was prepared to give the business a trial, though he would much rather have stopped where he was than take it on. However, he would give the Council the benefit of his knowledge and experience. He strongly objected" to the Increase being made retrospective in his case, and would have preferred to start off the same mark with the other members of the staff. The Council could not see its way to do this, and the report was adopted.