WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2347, 15 July 1886, Page 2

WAIRARAPA EAST COUNTY COUNCIL.

When the ordinary'business of the Council was disposed of on Tuesday, the motions ot which notice had been givon were brought forward. , . Cr Mackay raovod-(J) " That in order to lessen expense and the number of ordinaiy meetings of the Council, the resolution passed on the Bth of January, 1884, fixing; the number of such meetings be rescinded, and that in lieu .thereof, the Counoil meet on the second Tuesday in every second month, commencing from the second Tuesday in August next." <2) "That the resolutions of the Council dated 26th November, 1884, and 10th of Maroh, 1886, appointing Finance and Works Committees be rescinded, in order that an Executive Committee may be appointed, such Committee to have power to finally pass accounts for money duly allocated by the Council for expenditure and to accept tenders and generally carry out works previously approved by the Council." In moving the resolution he said the administration of the Counoil could be very well conduoted by only meeting every two months if they had an Exeouwve Committee. It would be more economical, and would be an advantage to members living at a distance, even if they devoted two days every two months instead of one day a mon^h. Cr McCardle seconded the motion, He presumed the Executive.Oommittee would not be oonfinod to any particular names. He thought it a step in, the right direction. Be.was.hf opinion that a great deal of the work could be carried out by the Road Boards, but knowing they were averse to that he would not waste time by dwelling upon it. He would be glad to seethe meetings made quarterly. Cr Hawkins said he could not take the samoviow as Or MoCardk He, differed entirely from him. One of their greatest guarantees of public confidence was in their'business being done openly and before the press It would be excessively impolitic and do a great amount of harm to carry out the proposal to do the work of the Counoil in Committee. As for the two days at a time it would be of no advantage. One day was quite enough as at present. It seemed to him the object was to" save expense.' It was easy to do that with altering the meetings. ' .It was' as if they wanted to take less pay and do , loss work. He did not flunk they would expect their men whosp wageß they had reduced to do less work in consequence. If once they began relegating their duties to an Executive Committee, it would, be handing over the coutrol from the hands of the Council. It would encourage irregularity, of. attendance. Anyone who came but occasionally to the meetings could' not have proper cognisance of what was going on, aud \m practically out of court. He urged them not to work their business through a oommitte*. It was essential to do fchoir wok in publio, and all to be there to do it. He objected strongly on those grounds to the proposal. They had work before them, that would .require monthly meetings, and he hoped the ratepayers would see the desirability of taking advantage of the new Local Bodies Loan Bill. Why, on the eve of this Aot, should they abdioate their functions, and hand thorn, over to a• committee. He moved as an amendment, " That in view of th» works that will probably be undertaken under the Local Bodies Loau Bill, it is not desirable that any alteration be made in the conduct of the Council business." Or Meredith Seconded the motion. There was ho alternative. With the probability that the Counoil would have new and expensive works they could not curtail meetings. Had the Road Boards taken up the works of the County Counoil, as proposed, meetings of the Council could have been reduced to three or four in the year. ' He thought they would stultify themselves in view of the work before them to adopt the proposals, Or MoOardle did not consider the argument of Cr Hawkins at all tenable. It was the duty of the Council to decide what work the Executive Committee should carry out and to vote the money. It would save the necessity of suoh frequent meetings. Cr Maunsell was rather in favor' of longer periods between ineetiugs. It had been found to work well in the Castlepoint Road Board, but with the great probability of larger works if was not desirable, He had thought that County Counoils might have met the same as provincial councils, once a year. Crßeetham thought in view-.of the probability of extra work they should uot hurriedly make a change. Cr Dagg said if they were promoted only with a view to economy, that could be done in another way. The chairman said the Executive Committee would consist of the whole Council, a certain number to form a quorum, and although ordinary meetings would be settled for every two months, special meetings could be called when necessary. Cr Hawkins seemed to take exception because of the want of publicity. Why could not the press attend committee meetings 1 He did not object. The real work of the Council was done now in committee, and still the time of tho Council was taken up with trivial matters. The work of Parliament was reallv done in committee. He simply wished to hand over the works authorised by the Counoil to the Executive Committee. Cr Hawkins in reply said it seemed to him the whole of the work of the Council would come to be committee work, Why should they derange the present order, which was effective ? He did not see the good of always tinkering at suoh things. He urged them not to do away with these monthly meetings,'which were their safeguard with the public. The House simply resolved itself into committee to secure greater freedom of debate.. There was hot the less publicity to their affairs, He trusted the Council would be content to leave well alone,

.Or Hunt said he was almost the junior member of the Council, but he must take Or Hawkins'view of the question.' He pointed out to Or Maunsell that although the Provincial Council only met. onco a year, they sat for six weoks, and he would much prefer meeting one day, a month. If. they relegated the work to an Executive Committeo, some of them would find the Caatlepoini.influence much too strong in Committee. He thought they would do beiter to leave things as they were, The amendment .was then put and carried. ' . '

OOUNOILLOM HUVEIUN& ' AUOVftUfCM.

Or Maunsell moved, " That the recommendation of the Finance. Committee regidating the expenses of Councillors on a new scale, and adopted -at the last meeting of the Council be resoinded, and in:lieu thereof, an allowance of one shilling per mile one wav be paid each Councillor to recoup travelling expenses incurred in attending all , ordinary, and special meetings! of the Council." In doing' so he said/when the matter came before the Council at the last meetin? he was taken by surprise, although he seconded the motion. When thei'Clork pointed out the difference it wouldmake in the charges, he recognised that they" would be laying themselves open to'a charge of inconsistency, after reducing the roadmen's wages. For his part he intended to refund to his Riding anything in excess of his expenses. If the proposal waacarried, of course Ors residing within a mile of Masterton would reoeive nothing. On the other handj Ore earning a long diikno* wew barely

recouped.their outlay, so, they, : were about equal. He felt a .sense of humiliation in taking more money from the County fund, for which he was not propared. _ The Chairmaa said, as a.momber residing within a mile of the town, he was quite prepared to forego Inn allowance. Cr McCardle said as in r m lie was concerned it waa not going to make any difference to him. He would-like, ta poiut out, however, that there were councillors living a short distance < from Masterton who might ride in to'?tlie meeting at scarcoly any expense. He did not think it right .he publio should expect a man to go to a hotel and stay .all; uightathis own cost. Ono councillor lived nine miles away, and he had to stay in Masterton .the night of meeting* Cr Hawkins could not Bee his way at all to vote for the resolution. He had received a good many thwacks from the press, and they did nut disturb him much; but iu this instance he felt they, deserved all they got. He did not for a moment withdraw from the scale they had laid down, and if they were to bo paid at all he could not' retreat from that, But could they, ought they to take anything, at all in view of the present lina'poial position of the County. Having safcis-' fied the Auditor-General • and' told him what their • travelling expenses were ought they not to go ; further' and until they were able to-put their staff. into its former position as to salaries), should they not. forego all allowances'/ He felt strongly ou the point and would move as an amendment, That, considering the present financial condition of the Council, it is expedient that no travelling allowance be made to Councillors. • Or McCardle: What not even expenses! Cr Haw«ins:Nnt even expenses! They had- told their officials they must" bite short," then let theni be.consultant themselves and "bite'ehorfc." They said wool' was rising, but. they did not yet feel the benefit. All-the present sales did nutrecoup the loss of the first sale. But it would com© and then things would .clear for the bete. ... • Cr Meredith supported the amendment, ■ He had not taken any part in the alteration. Or Hunt. was much obliged for the allusion made to him by Oduhoillor McCardle, but he stayed in Masterton for his own cenvenience on Council meeting nights. ■ He thought the position of Councillor was one of honor only and was greatly surprised when the olerk handed :: him the first. 10s for' attendance, He: supported Or Hawkins' amendment.-' After cutting down their staffs wages their own allowance should nob be inoreased. Or McQardle waß prepaid to support' the resolution. There' were not many settlers iu his district who would feel inclined to pay the expenses of. attending Council. There were not many in the happy positiou of Councillors present. If the amendment was adopted it would virtually ohm the doore againßt many useful men.. Or Maunsell, by permission of the Council, withdrew his amendmeut. There was a great deal in what Cr McCardle had said.. If they went in for tho heroics and stopped the allowances iu the future, men who oould not afford the time would be shut out from office, but still their action atthepresont time would not prevent them from making a ohange in the future whon times mended. He thought it was the most' dignified way of retreatinc from their position. ' Cr. Beethaiu briefly supported the amendment, whioh was then put and carried. . ' '