Borough Council Fortnightly Meeting

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13139, 13 September 1940, Page 1

Borough Council Fortnightly Meeting

The fortnightly meeting of the Tauranga Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday evening. Presided over by His Worship the Mayor, Mr. L. R. Wilkinson, there were also present Crs. F. J. Allely, J. M. Daines, H. W. F. King, C. S. Moffatt, C. E. Macmillan, D. Matheson and A. A. Fleming. Apologies were received from Crs. A. N. lies and A. J. Gallagher, leave of absence being granted. Local Body Elections

■Council's Offer

Two recent resolutions passed by the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities Association in connection , with the holding of local body elections next May, were submitted for the comment of the Council.

The resolutions were as follows: 1. "That while we consider the matter one for individual members, this Executive considers that the local body elections should be held at the usual time.” 2. "That in the event of local body elections being proceeded with as usual in May next-, the Government be requested to make provision for nominations being received one month earlier than at present in order that the heavy cost of printing rolls be avoided in case of yuncontested elections.” It was moved by the Mayor, that this Council support the supply authorities’ recommendations. The motion was seconded by Cr. Daines and carried.

Aii* Force Selection

Notification that the Air Force Personnel Selection Committee was expected to be in Tauranga on Wednesday November 27, was contained in a letter received from the Air Department requesting the use of the Council Chamber on that day from 8.45 a.m. to I p.m. The Mayor moved, and Cr. Daines seconded, that the necessary room be placed at the disposal of the Air Department. The motion was carried. Works Request Dissatisfaction at the work which had been done to combat the flooding in front of his section in Hunter Street, was expressed by Mr. L. •O’Connor, who pointed out in his communication to the Council-that flooding after rain still persisted. : Emphasising that something would have to be done to cope with the water which settled there from the watersheds in Hunter Street and Grace Street, Daines seconded the Mayor’s motion, that the request be handed to the Works Committee with power to act. The motion was carried. Road Estimates Three road estimates for this year were contained in a letter from the Public Works Department which read as follows: "The following estimates for this year have been approved by the Main Highways Board. v 1. Roberts Street, footpath £ 200. £ 1 for £ I.' 2. Matamata-Tauranga highway, maintenance and re-sealing, £ 630, £ 3 for £l. 3. Matamata-Tauranga highway, cycle tracks, £ 400, £2 for £l. ‘Under no circumstances must the above allocations be exceeded.” In connection with this ‘ matter, the Works Committee brought down a recommendation as follows: ‘‘That the Public Works Department be asked to include in their allowance a £ 1 to £ 1 subsidy on any necessary work done on the footpaths in connection with the construction of the cycle track.” The recommendation was adopted and the letter received. Fire Board Request Application for improved lighting facilities on the practice ground at the back of the Fire Station, was contained in a letter received from the Tauranga Fire Board. It was pointed out by the secretary of the Fire Board, Mr. R. A. Harris, that this - request was particularly urgent in. view of the recent formation of an Auxiliary Fire Brigade under the Emergency Precautions Scheme, and the necessity for immediate and Constant practice in .fire fighting and the handling of the. appliances. It was moved by Cr, King, that the matter be referred to the Electricity Committee with power to act. The motion was seconded by Cr. Allely and carried. ‘ Reply to Letter of Sympathy In reply to the recent letter of sympathy from the Council to the Australian Government and people in connection with the air disaster, the following reply was received: ‘‘The Prime Minister and his colleagues, in the Commonwealth Ministry greatly appreciate your message of. sympathy sent in connection with the recent aircraft disaster at Canberra.” / The acknowledgment was received.

SUPPORT FOR HOLDING LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS IN MAY DISCUSSION ON PAYMENT OF BONUS

The Minister of Finance, the Hon. Walter Nash, replied as follows to the recent offer of £ 2,000 free of interest to the Government for the duration of the war and 12 months thereafter.

“I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 30th August, and note that your Council has decided to lend the sum of £ 2,000 to the Government for war purposes, free of interest, for the duration of the war and 12 months thereafter. “On behalf of the Government I have much pleasure in accepting this offer, and I shall be glad if yon, will convey to the members of your Council, the Governpnent’s than!ks and appreciation for their action. It is regarded as further evidence of the desire of evei’yone to assist the Dominion’s war effort to the utmost extent.”

Instructions were then given for the transmitting of the money when available, which, it was stated would be suitably acknowledged through the Press. Now that the offer had been accepted by the Government, it was unanimously felt that the sum should be remitted without delay. Payment of Bonus Although as chairman of the Finance Committee, it was customary to move the adoption of the recommendations brought down, Cr C. E. Macmillan stated that he could not see his way to do so in connection with the recommendation that the 5 per cent cost of living bonus be paid to .the whole of the Borough staff. In support of his contention Cr Macmillan was not in a position to act as though in a private capacity. He considered that the cost of living tax should have been taken off, so that it would not only be those drawing wages who would contribute. Cr Macmillan also pointed out that there were ratepayers within the Borough who were far from being in a' comfortable financial position, and it was not fair or equitable that such as those should be compelled to pay the bonus for others. He thought that the award wages were designed to meet the costs of living. The point was also raised by the Mayor regarding those council employees ■ who were working on an award wage and those who were being paid above an award wage. He considered that any increases should be based on the individual salaries, Cr Macmillan then moved the following amendment: —That the statutory 5 per cent be paid to all employees whose rates of pay were based on the awards, and those not on an award wage receive the 5 per cent on the award basis and not on the amount which was being paid in excess of that figure. The amendment was seconded by the Mayor. ' It was contended by Cr Moffatt that the 5 per cent bonds was intended for ■ those employees who were members of Trade Unions, and it wpuld be to such employees that they would be obliged by law to make the increases. He thought that others in more sheltered positions should not receive the increase.

He accordingly moved a further amendment that the five per cent increase be paid only to those employees prescribed by law, and not to those other employees receivingpayment above the award rate. This amendment was seconded by Cr Daines.

Cr King considered this a somewhat unfair view, remarking that by law the bonus would have to be paid. He also considered that by penalising an employee, all incentive to goodwork would be removed and the ratepayers would ultimately be the losers.

Cr King was supported in this view by Cr Fleming, who said that treating the matter as he would in a private business, way, it would be his principle to see that if a man was worth more than the award for his services, he would get the increase.

On being put to the meeting Cr Moffatt’s amendment was defeated. Cr Macmillan’s amendment was then put and carried, being finally carried as the substantive motion.