THE POSITION OF TOWN CLERK AND ENGINEER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 2992, 16 September 1908, Page 5

THE POSITION OF TOWN CLERK AND ENGINEER.

COUNCIL DECIDE TO CALL FOR APPLICATIONS. A HEATED DISCUSSION. When the portion of the Works Committee report dealing with calling for applications for the combined position of Town Clerk and Borough Engineer came up for confirmation, a somewhat heated discussion took place, and for a time motions and amendments filled the air. The Mayor, in supporting the motion calling for appliations stated that the experience of the past twelve 'months had shown that the dual position could be satisfactorily filled by one man. Had the drainage loan recently p.ic be-fore the ratepayers been carii:d, however, it would have been nece sary to appoint an engineer in face of the great amount of special work that would have been entailed.

Cr Elliott opposed the adoption of the repcrL, and quoted figures which he maintained proved that the offices could be separated and no extra expense incurred. Cr Hunter also opposed tne adoption of the report, and moved the i'ol lowing' amendment:- "That . the clause in the report referring to callin? tor applications for the joint positions of i'own Clerk a:id Borough Engineer, be reftrred back to the committee with a view of calling for separate application*, fixing their salaries, and drawing up a list of duties." Speaking to nis amendment, he stated that the office expenses in connection with tne borough during the past twelve months had been the highest in its history, and made th-) following comparative statement of office expenses, apart from salaries : For the year ending 31st March, 1907, £259 18s 3d, or £4 19s lid per week; ordinary maintenance of streets and roads, £1,274 2s 4d, or £24 10s per week; sanitation, £561 us Bd, or.£lo 15s 8d week.

For the n>f. .-.montns ending 31st Auj-uit,' 1908 >- Office expenses, auart-from salaries, £250, or £ll 18s Id per week; ordinary maintenance of streets and road?, £992 12s Bd, or £47 5s -d per week; sanitation, £ll7 Us 7d, or £l9 17s 8d per wenk. Cr Hunter drew attention to the face that these were figures, which showed an alarming increase in expenditure and here out his statement that the past twelve months h-id been a disastrous one for the tiorough. Cr Ewington seconded the .amendment, and spoke in support of the arguments set forth by cr Hunter. In opposing the amendment, Cr Yarr stated that he had prepared a statement of figures which he maintained quite refuted those of Cr Hunter. They were as fullow:—Before re-urganisation : Town Clerk, £275; Lnm>, £17.5; boy, ££6; Engineer. .£300; clerk, £26; foreman, £ls6* overseer, £156; totd, £1,114. After re-organisation: Town Clerk and Engineer, £400; Lane, £175; assistant, £130; foreman, £156; total, £B6jl : saving, £^s3. Crs Pragnell, Haughay. Morris and Prentice supported the adoption of the report, and after further desultory discussion the motion wa„ carried. ,