SPECIAL MEETING.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3166, 12 April 1879, Page 2

SPECIAL MEETING.

A special meeting of the Council was held for the purpose of considering if any reduction of salaries and expenses'could be made.'-,: v ■■;■■■ ■;.■• -in ,;;/;: . .' JL The Mayor said he was not prepared to point out where any particular reduction could be made, and he had. simply moTed in the matter at this particular time so that the subject might not be left to the end of the year, and brought up as it had in the past, when candidates for: the mayoralty were in the field. The salaries could not be reduced this year. , ; , , ] Cr Brassey said they had been brought there by the Mayor to discuss certain matters, but for reasons beat known to himself His Worship had not pointed<ijut where reductions could be made. .The Mayor; took exception to Cr Brassey's remarks. : Cr Brassey maintained he had not exceeded the ordinary limits of debate. He was strongly opposed to the Mayor's salary as it caused men not oompeteat L to aspire to the position, and he intended to more that it be struck out./ If that were done he was sure men of higher standing in the community would staid for the Mayoralty. He would more " That the Mayor's salary be abolished, and that only actual travelling and other expenses incurred by him be paid." Cr Speight seconded. Cr Graham said he thought,: seeing the low state of the district, the salary ifiould be abolished altogether. When the place looked tip the Mayor should be wollpaid. Cr Mennie said before deciding on this very important matter, he would ask ; Councillors to look at the! other side of the question. There were verj' few moneyed men on the field, or gentlemen who could afford to accept the office and give their time without some slight remuneration. A great deal of time and atten* tion was required, and the sum voted wag not large. It might at the same time bo found that the travelling and other allowances granted to the Mayor under Cr Brassey's resolution would amount to as large a sum as that at present voted. He was opposed to striking th© amount off altogether, but would move that under the present circumstances of the Borough that the salary of the Mayor for next year be £100. - Cr McGowan pro forma, seconded the amendment.

Cr Speight objected to the sura of £100 being roted; it was neither one thing or the other. The fact was, the office of Mayor had degenerated on the Thames, and persons aspiring to that position did did so for the sake of the salary. (His Worship here remarked that Cr Speight might perhaps be speaking for former occupants of the/ office, but had no right or authority to speak so of himself, the present occupant of the chair.) Cr Speight said perhaps he was wrong, but at any rate if the salary was abolished it could not be said persons took the office for the salary. ' r^T Cr McGowan said he was yerjswHWM to hear the present discussion. It was right into his hands; and especially to see some of the gentlemen taking the part they were, for when he1 introduced the same question a year or so ago, some Councillors who were now in faror of abolishing the Mayor's salary for next year, were of a different opinion at the time he introduced the subject. Ho would support the proposition. >' ~ ■«. The amendment was put and lost, Cr Mennie only voting for it, and the resolution was carried.' The Mayor said the next item was the salary of the Town Clerk. Several Councillors spoke highly of Mr Dean's services to the Borough, flit Worship adding that few persons had any idea of the amount of labor given by the Town Clerk to the duties of his office. He was an admirable servant and worthy a better salary. It might be remembered that the amount at one time was £300, but had been reduced to £250. ~ It was resolved that the item stand ai at present. ' ; At this stage Cr Mennie moved the adjournment of the debate til! the evening of the 18th inst. This being agreed to, the business was concluded.