BOROUGH RETRENCHMENT SCHEMES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8060, 13 March 1906, Page 3

BOROUGH RETRENCHMENT SCHEMES.

the principle m'oomEL). ■\VOUIvTM; f\' TRK lUItK. Borough Coim ,*illot's mipcai'Oil lo be almost on tenter-hooks oh Monday night nnlil al List tin- notii-cs of motion were c:illetl on. Then Cr. Brooking moved, in accordance with his notice of last meeting : ''As tlie works and improvements under the recent loan expenditure are now eompleted, Ihe Council al once consider the re-organisation of the office and engineering staff of Ihe borough, to meet the more normal eonditions and abso lute necessity for a rigid ecouoinieal expenditure for the next few years, and in order to the heller and fuller consideration of the lvhole subject, three months notice as from Ihe 31st March next be given lo all officers of the Borough, whose conditions require notice being given llieni of the termination of their several engagements with the Council." He said that there was not much need to speak at length, Tlicy all knew the loan monej's had been largely exceeded by the expenditure, and thai', in consequence, the Council must exercise considerable economy. They could save expense by reducing the olliec and engineering expenses from £"2100 a year to, say, i'LTOO. The Council had a duty to do, as representing the ratepayers, and sentiment- must be put to one side. He was opposed to raising the rates to meet the heavy expenses, so I hey must retrench, and this time, the close of the year, was the best time for the consideration of (he matter. He was not going into the question of what lie intended to build as a substitute for what he was going to pull down, for that was a matter for the Council to consider in committee after the retrenchment principal had been affirmed. The notice was given m its present form simply to givo the Council an entirely free hand in reorganising the .staff. Or. Monteath seconded. Cr. Collis informed the Council that he would have been better pleased had Cr. Brooking unfolded his re-organising scheme, so that the Council could obtain an idea of his ultimate aim. They were now no further ahead than they were a fortnight ago. His Worship the Mayor, whilst holding the opinion that £*3oo could be saved in engineering and clerical expenses, by amalgamating certain offices, and thai Ihe saving must he made, said he could-not agree with tlie 1 motion. He moved an amendment so that the motion should deal willi the' engineering staff only, as he did not think the Council was in a position at present to dispense with the Town Clerk. They would be wrong in so ' doing, The Town Clerk and his staff , should not be included, J Cr, Brooking refused to incorporate the amendment in his motion. j The amendment was seconded by Cr. Browne.

Cr. Hutchen said lie agreed in (he main with the motion; but could only support the first-paragraph. He was not sure that- the second clause was necessary. He would move later an amendment to delete that portion of the motion, referring lo giving notice of dismissal. In answer to Cr. Monteath, the Mayor said the Town Clerk's staff comprised a cadet and n young lady typewriter. The Mayor's amendment was lost. Ayes; The Mayor, and Crs; Stohr and Brown; Noes: Crs. Monteath, Ewing, Wilson. Brooking, Collis and Hutchen. Cr. Hutchen's amendment, to delete all words after " the next few years," was seconded by Cr. Wilson. Speaking to the amendment, Cr Brooking said his motion, if carried, would save time. Oil being put, the amendment- was carried. Ayes: The Mayor and Crs \\ilson, -Stolir, Hutchen, Browne; .Noes: Crs Moiitcatti, Ewing, Brooking and Collis. The amendment was carried as the substantive motion. The Council then adjourned lu Friday evening at when [lie Fire Brigade station drainage and the stalT-re-organising scheme will he discussed.