COUNCILLORS' EXPENSES

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16515, 10 June 1919, Page 8

COUNCILLORS' EXPENSES

QUESTION" OP REMUNERATION. A discussion as to whether or not city councillors should be paid for their activities toqk place at last night's meeting of the City Council, the matter being brought up by a request from tlio Waihi Borough Council for the Council's co-operation in having the following resolution carried into effect: "That the Municipal Corporations Act be amended so as to allow payment of not less than £1 Is per day to councillors engaged on Borough Council business." It was moved that the matter should be referred to the By-laws Committee. Cr. Flesher, in supporting the mo- ' tion, expressed the opinion that members of local bodies wore just as entitled to remuneration as members of Parliament, or anyone else. Members of the City Council should be remunerated _|ust as were members of the Tramway Board. . Cr. Hunter agreed that there should bo some inducement to the best men to take up Council business without i loss to themselves. ' Cr. Agar said that he had been astounded at the time a councillor had -to put in at committee and other work if he wished to do his duty by the Council. The service that a councillor was called on to give ti> the city was worthy of remuneration. Personally, he thought that the chairman of the bigger committees should receive at least £200 per year. In a commercial house, a man * occupying » position similar to that of the chairman of the Electricity Committee, would receive at least £700 pc» year. As the position now was, tho councillor did not even receive his out-of-pocket expenses. Cr. Herbert agreed with the'previous speakers, but Cr. Williams expressed the opinion that the motion from Waihi Jiad been misunderstood. He thought that the proposition did not refer to travelling expenses, but meant that councillors should receive £1 Is for every time they attended ji City Council meeting. As a matter of fact, the Council's rules provided for the repayment of travelling and other expenses incurred by councillors on Council business. Eventually, the motion to refer the matter to the By-laws Committee jras carried.