BOROUGH ESTIMATES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 136, 10 June 1903, Page 2

BOROUGH ESTIMATES.

♦ TOWN OLBBK'S 3AXABY. At tbe Borough Council meeting on Monday night the Finance Oommittf-e's report and estimates for the currentyear, as published ia Monday's issue, were laid oa the tabl?, Thn Mayor said ho proposed to take the itenn separately. With regard t« proposed increass in the I b*l iry it wbs only in keeping with otbei Boroughs of tue game size, and he poinded out thit is was incumbent on t'.ie Council to pay their Clerk an adequate remuneration. He s'ated thit he understood the r<-cimmeidatic>n to increase the Mayor's honorarium wis mHe chi fly on the ground of embliog candidates t> compete for the office, lie then expllined the other items in detail. Ha mentioned that owing to alteration in the hour for closing the hotel* the Council receipts from license would be £35 less than estimated. I Tbe estimated reveDue of £9314 was ' pissed, l Thi Mayor nnved that the Town Clerk's salary be £3OO. 1 Cr. Oollis referred to the recent rise of £SO, a!g) to the appointment of an assistant. He could not see his way to : vote fur an increase, as the Oouccil had oVy a few weeks back refused to give £3OO. The salary of the Inspector of Nuisance o , who did part of the Town's I Clerk's work, was £75, and thus the total charge for the Town Clerk's offioe was too large. Cr. Smith seconded the motion. Or, Wood seconded the amendment, contending that a b : g salary, rather than piomoting honesty, had a tendency to mke officers lore. He considered £5 a weak was ample for the Town Clerk. Mr Oonnett supported the motion. One thing that might not seem right was th it when the Clerk applied for the office it was at a silary of £2OO a year, and it was ra'her so in to apply for an of £IOO, but there had been a great increase in the work. Ors, Tisoh and Alexmder supported the mo'ion, the latter contending that the old Council did not realise that their (fli -era w.-re underpaid. Cr. 1! otikiag w.mld have liked the Clerk's salary to lnvj remained as at present fur 12 months. He should therefore vote with the amendment. The amendment was loat and the motion carried. The item of hbour wa» reduced by £IOO, nnkiog it £llOO. On tbe motion of Or. Ccnnett, the item of £IOO for Fire Stations was increased to .£2OO. Cr. Brooking moved a reduction of £2 on thn carpenter's shed. —Carried. The other items were passed, making tho total estimated expenditure £9314,