"RUTHLESS PRUNING."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 118, 21 May 1931, Page 10

"RUTHLESS PRUNING."

TAKAPUNA BOROUGH STAFF.

TO SAVE £90 A WEEK. NEW COUNCIL'S DECISIONS. Economies which it is expected will result in a saving of £90 a week were agreed upon at a special meeting of the Takapuria Borough Council last night. The saving will he brought about by a drastic reorganisation of the borough administration. The Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniven, said the members of the council were faced with an unpalatable task, as it would probably prove necessary to take many workmen off the permanent outside staff and place them under No. 5 relief scheme. Most of these men had had many years of faithful and efficient service with the borough. Howeter, the council would be financing on a heavy overdraft until at least the end of July, the . position was desperate, and drastic measures were urgently needed. It would be necessary firstly for the council to define a policy with regard to preference or otherwise to ratepayers of the borough in the matter of employment. After debate the council resolved to give preference to ratepayers and to redtic£ the road. maintenance stall to six men. The effect of this will be that many men on the present outside staff will be obliged to come under the provisions of the Unemployment Relief Act. The sewerage sang, was reduced ■ to four men Under Mr. J. Woods as working foreman. Hirs clary was reduced from £6 to £-5 a week. Inspecting Officers. Mr. F. G. Wheeler was relieved of several inspectorships and his salary was reduced from £6 to. £3 10/ a week. In addition, he will receive 25 per cent of dog license fees. He will retain the office of traffic inspector and will issue driving licenses. The building and sanitary inspector, Mr. H. P. Collins, was made noxious weeds and dangerous goods inspector and appointed as testing officer under the new motor regulations. It was decided to retain the services of Mr. S. Clark foreman at the reduced salary of £5 ■ a week;

The wages of members of the quarry staff were reduced to £4. The salary of the yard foreman and fire station officer, Mr. A. Briseoe, was "cut" from £6 to £o 15/ weekly. The borough turncock, Mr. C. Wiseman, was reduced from £5 5/ to £5. i Only. one. man will be retained in the parks department. Hie salary was fixed at £4 12/. Saving on Street. Lights. A s-üb-committee was set up to investigate the possibility of making #avinge in. tho street lighting account. ' It was expected to effect economies of between £300 and.£4oo.by the reduction and rearrangement of existing street lighting. A public accountant is to be engaged to prepare a comprehensive report upon the office staff of the borough and the council will later consider what reduction can be made under this heading. Ln addition to the reduction in the personnel of the outside staff, it was resolved to- revert to the rationing of work, each man standing down one week a month. Commenting on the decisions, . the Mayor said that the estimated savings would, approximate £90 a week. While he regretted the necessity of such ruthless pruning,- members had doubtless realised that this was the only way to enable the borough to carry on.