Local Body Expenses

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 262, 1 August 1933, Page 11

Local Body Expenses

Sir, —In connection with the present discussions concerning local body administration, I desire to draw attention to the tendency of small boroughs to depart from the principle of honorary service. The following three boroughs are separated at their furthest boundaries by. a distance of less than twenty-five miles: Mayor’s Population. Honorarium. Eltham 2010 £lOO Stratford .... 35110 «. £5O * Hawera 4730 £135 10,330 £285 The honorarium paid the mayor of Eltham, if paid in proportion to population, would be £5OOO in Wellington and Auckland; or in taking the amount paid over the three boroughs, a similar rate for Wellington would be £2500. I would suggest that, if these’small boroughs are to continue as separate local bodies, no fixed honorarium should be paid, but that a borough should be empowered to reimburse its mayor up.to £25 for actual expenses incurred in official entertaining. I would also suggest that the comparative statistics published in the Local Bodies' Handbook should mention the amount, of honorarium paid in each ‘ borough.—l am, etc., ELTHAM. July 28.