RETRENCHMENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3502, 27 September 1882, Page 3

RETRENCHMENT.

[To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.] Sir, —After carefully weighing all the arguments pro and con concerning the retrenchment policy proposed to be initiated by the Municipal Council, but one opinion, I think, can be arrived at. It is this—Raise all the salaries ten per cent. This will reward the officers for their past herculean labors, and, encouraging them to persevere, will undoubtedly result in the Corporation getting more work out of them. This is true economy. Then, as money is scarce, it is more than ever necessary to make it go as far as possible. To this end I would propose the engagement of an assistant engineer, and an assistant overseer, so as to secure extra care in the preparation of plans, and the oversight of contract and other work. Thus public money would be. as it were, protected from waste. Then, Sir, if revenue cannot otherwise be made to meet the annual expenses, a mere stroke of the peD, so to speak, would double the income. Another half-crown rate, I am certain, would be cheerfully borne by those who might desire to reside in Napier, and those who would be unpatriotic enough to object might go to Hastings, or the Kidnappers, thus relieving the town of surplus population, a procedure that would also relieve the Inspector of Nuisances of much disagreeable duty.—l am, &c,

Heretaunga, Hastings, September 26, 1882.