LOCAL BODY SERVICE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29754, 22 February 1962, Page 12

LOCAL BODY SERVICE

Payment Not Favoured

Payments to councillors were not favoured by the City Council last evening, although the decision was not unanimous. It was agreed with its finance committee that honoraria for mayors and chairmen of town council should be left to the councils' discretion. Before the meeting was a circular from the Municipal Association with the recommendations of a joint committee of the association and the Counties’ Association that the Government be approached for authority for councillors to receive £1 10s a meeting, with a maximum of £7B a year. A suggested scale of mayors’ and chairmen’s honoraria ranged from £5OO where the population was up to 10.000 to £3OOO a year for mayors of cities with more than 80.000.

“I have always supported a small pavment for councillors,” said Cr. R. M. Macfarlane, M.P., who recalled that in the past some councillors had had to Jose time from work on council business. Local body service should be open to all; and some small out-of-payment exoenses should be paid, particularly as there were manylocal bodies which paid honoraria or expenses. He was supported by the Mayor (Mr G. Manning who said there was no moral principle involved, as other local bodies—some councillors were on them—received payment.

The Mayor’s remuneration should be increased, said Cr. H. G. Hay, but he thought the suggested figures were “a little high.” Some younger persons responsible to an employer might think twice before offering themselves for election, Cr. Hay said, and the time had come for “broadening our thinking " Payment Refused

While he was on the Transport Board he had refused to draw his £7B a year on the ground that city councillors did as much work or more than board members, Cr. G. D. Griffiths said. There was, a case for payment and those who did not need it did not have to accept it. “We give up our time knowing what we are taking on," said Cr. P. J. Skellerup. Payment had been voted out by two municipal conferences. said Cr. H. P. Smith, chairman of the finance committee.