BOROUGH RETRENCHMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8080, 10 April 1906, Page 3

BOROUGH RETRENCHMENT.

Cli. COLLIB' SCHEME ADOPTED,

At the Borough Council meeting on Monday, Cr Collis moved, according to notice, that the stalling resolutions of Inst meeting be rescinded, to give opportunity for further consideration. He considered it impossible to obtain an engineer to attend to survey and sanitary work as well, for £3OO a year. Cr. Brown seconded.

Cr. Wilson accused Cr. Collis of inconsistc»cy. At lust meeting he had refused to defer consideration. Cr Monteath characterised the motion as waste of time.

The Mayor said lie intended to support tile motion, which was on the liues of his own scheme, which he had been compelled to compromise, owing to Cr Collis and others not seeing then the advantage of his programme. He considered Mr F. T. Bellringer, the Town Clerk, amply qualified as a Borough solicitor.

Cr. Stolir said the Mayor threw his own scheme over, and was alone to blame.

Cr. •Brooking reflected that tlio r Mayor, by his easting vote, hud at last ; meeting over-ruled a majority of the Council. This was not fair, as there was no likelihood of the Mayor being at the Council table next year. 'The motion was carried on His Worship's casting vote, Ayes: The Mayor and Crs. Col lis, Stolir, Brown and Webster; Noes: CrsMoiiteath,Ewiug • Wilson, Brooking and Kutcben. The ■ jVlayor, answering Cr. Brooking, said he considered ho was doing his duty in ■ retrenching, and in voting as he did. Cr. Collis moved to appoint a sanitary ougineer and general inspector at £2OO ayeat. Cr. Montcatli moved, as an amendment, that an engineer be appointed at a salary of £3OO. Cr Wilson seconded. As Cr. Ewing remarked, the discussion was "the same old story, tile same old arguments, and the same old remarks,' and the motion defeated the amendment on the same division. Cr Mimical h moved another amendment that the whole <|nest 1011 be left o\er until the uew Mavur comes into office. Cr Ewiug seconded. The Mayor said lie was to see the thing through, as lie had initialed the retrenchment. Cr Uutchen said the discussion was no credit to tlieni, Out was " like an appeal from Philip Drunk to Philip Sober." ■Several Councillors thought the Mayor was wrong in voting on the matter. Cr Collis suggested that Mr Cock stand For the Mayoralty again. Cr Wilson took the view that the Mayor was tully justified in endeavoring to dear up a state of affairs for which he had steadfastly refused to accept the responsibility." The Mayor, recognising the position, must face it, and not leave it for (lie new Mayor, Cr. Monicalh considered the whole retrenchment scheme was lnerclv to get rid of the Engineer. The amendment was lost, only Crs. . Montcatli, liwing ami ifutchcn supporting it. ilie down Clerk was appointed i Borough solicitor, with an addition of £25 a year to his salary. The discussion was long, and a repetition of what has been heard before, whilst amendments were frequent. Cr. Montcatli said it seemed the Council had to be guided by the Mayor's casting vote. The position now is that a general inspector will be appointed at £2Oll a ] year to lake o\er all the duties op the I engineer and sanitary inspector, except street works; the foreman will attend to streets, and report lo the Council ; £illll will he reserved for possible engineering work; the Town Clerk will be liorougli solicitor, rate collec- , tor, &c.„ at £")2o a year, the Council to 1 linil his ollicelstall,