BY A PENNY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 139, 15 June 1939, Page 13

BY A PENNY.

UNANIMOUS VOTE.

BALANCED ACCOUNTS.

APPROVAL OF ESTIMATES,

CONGRATULATIONS EXTENDED

Willi u ide agreement ill the \ ieu that III" ret nit ii hi i.|' men in useful em pin v • ni.'Hi w.is pre fera bio to a greater rate vmlii. tioii. men of the Auckland ( ity ( •hi in il at a. special meeting- to-day ii ii. iii i tin his | \ appiiiNcd the recommendation or the \,.i\,,r. Sir Ernest Davis, that I lie city rates for the year 1 !>::<>-to t-hoiild lie rediiee.l in the aggregate from •I'.i] to I/1-] in the £—a decrease of one penny. The financial statement and estimates IM presented by the Mayor were fully np|'i'o\ed aml Sir l'.rncst was warmlv cungra t ulat ed on his achievement. All but four members ( ,f the comicil nll ended the meeting. The absentees uere Messrs. W. T. .widcrtoii. M.l\. (. liailey, I'. Chit and .1. Donald. Mo\ ing that, the report of the Mayor H lid the estimates lie approved, the deputy-Mayor, Mr. .1. A. C. Alliim. said il was important to note that the men concerned in the employment proposals were employed by the council under regular award conditions. must lie sat istai I ni'y in their work and were eiijja •.'■■d on useful undertakings. The council received a subsidy from the i.overiiment towards their award wages. Mr. All il in also mentioned that there had been a good deal of criticism to the effect, that street, works had not been given proper attention. That, however, had not, been practicable, but it could now be expected that more would be done. Retention of Men. Delight at the proposed reduction in rates was expressed by Mr. •!. L. Coakley, who said that when certain savings were taken into consideration it amounted virtually to a reduction of 2d. He paid a tribute to the careful and prudent administration which had made that, achievement possible. "[ am delighted at the fact that on this occasion I can support the reduction of a penny," said Mr. .1. Sayegh. "I hm hoping that it would be greater, but :n view of the fact that the council is likely not only to retain Scheme 1 men, but also to take ou another 200 ncu at standard rates of pay. every "ouncillor should be satisfied that there

-i justification in the decision not to 'Icrreasc the rates by more than a u niiy. 1 think that it is a tine gesture ■ I keep men ill work, especially in the v inter, rather than put them off to jlbnv ii further reduction in rates." i; nit ilicat ion at tb« redii"tioii was il-o expressed by -Miss K. Melville and Mr. It. P. Burton. The latter said that In l budget was one of the most satis netory ot the ten or eleven to which he i,id listened. Tile motion to approve the estimates \as seconded by Mr. J. J. Sullivan. "I think that the public should know \ e have adopted what some call an oldiishinned virtue—that is, paying off our lebt* to the extent of £100,000 a year," • aid Mr. A. St. C. Brown. After • further brief discussion, the motion was carried unanimously.