CHAIRMAN'S HONORARIUM.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1916, Page 6

CHAIRMAN'S HONORARIUM.

INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY.

COUNCIL DISCUSSES POSITION.

A proposal to pay the chairman of the laronaki County Council (Mr J. Brown) the customary honorarium of £ 100 was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Council. Cr. D. McAllum raoved"That, in consideration' of the increased responsibility that had been cast on the shoulders of the ehairmatia, owing to the loss of the engineer's services, . the honorarium be fixed this year at £100." Cr. A. Morton seconded. Cr. A. K. Larence said lie ha-i asked how much the chairman had drawn in travelling expenses for the year, and the clerk had told him the sum" was £lll. Mr. McAllum: What was that for? Tlie Chairman: For attending monthly meetings of the Council. Cr. Laurence thought that, in view of the fact that the chairman had the assistance of the engineer for nine months, .£75 was ample honorarium The accident the chairman had experienced while engaged on county business had involved him in considerable expense, and some compensation should be made to him on that account. Cr. Laurence moced, as an amendment—"That the hoonrarium be fixed at £75, and that £2ts be allowed as compensation." The amendment wa.s not seconded. Cr. J. B. Simpson: There is ah impression in my Riding that £H)O is too much as an 'honorarium. Addressing the chairman, Cr. Simpson asked: "Are you paid expenses for the different trips you make in the county?" The Chairman: No. Cr. Simpson: Had you been paid for this I would have strongly opposed the payment of £IOO. As it'is, I think it is fair you should be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses.' I will support the motion. Cr. Binnie considered that too much work was thrown on the chairman's shoulders, and the work should be more fairly distributed -among the members. What was the legal position? The Clerk read a legal opinion, .in which it w:is set out that the chairman was entitled to actual expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Council, in addition to the honorarium. Cr. Laurence withdrew his amendment', and the motion that £IOO be voted was carried. , The Chairman thanked the members for the vote, and said he would continue to serve the County as loiig as his own affairs would allow him.