MUNICIPAL COSTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 134, 8 June 1932, Page 6

MUNICIPAL COSTS.

I was one of a few ratepayers that sat in the gallery and listened to the business transacted by the Auckland City Council on May 12 last, and was astonished at the little interest that was manifested in the important matter that was under discussion: "The salaries paid to our municipal servants and the grading scheme under which the staff is graded for services rendered in the different departments." In my opinion there was only one (Councillor Murray) who appeared to have some knowledge of the subject -matter, and if what he expounded that night is a true statement of facts, it is high time that the ratepayers manifested a keener interest in their own business, as they are called upon to find the wherewithal to iinance this huge institution. It was pointed out by the speaker that the ratepayers were finding it very difficult to meet their obligations, and in many cases were unable to pay their rates. Economy is the slogan advocated by the council, and the chief method that is being adopted is the dismissal of as many as possible from the outside staff, who are receiving the lowest wages, and, as a further economy, ration those that are left. There was no suggestion to dismiss or even ration the inside staff, whose salaries range from £32 down to £10 and £8 per week. It was pointed out that they were getting a '•cut" of 12$ per cent, ranging down to 5 per cent plus the previous small deductions; but even so, can we, as ratepayers, continue to meet our obligations and foot the bill for the high salaries that exist to-day? In normal times I consider them too high, and under present conditions they cannot be met. There are hundreds of good, capable men in New Zealand to-day who would be pleased to give their services for half the remuneration of the higher-paid officers. Each and every one of us are called upon to make a sacrifice, and a large number are doing more than their share, and those least able to bear it are suffering most. As a ratepayer I desire to help the council to meet its just obligations. It is a duty we owe to our city and to our creditors. But we cannot afford, just because we are dubbed "The Queen City of New Zealand," to pay so high for services that can be bought at a very big discount. A REMUERA RATEPAYER.