RETRENCHMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 74, 27 March 1912, Page 3

RETRENCHMENT.

KARORI COUNCIL APPLIES THE PBUNJNG-KNIFE. Now that all big work in the Karori Borough has been completed, and *n view of the lact that property values are diminishing, ' the council 'w seeking lo devise means of carrying on tho work of the borough moro economically. At a meeting of the council a fortnight ago, a motion, that the building inspector (£52 a year) be dispensed with and the wotli of inspection carried out by the engineer waa thrown out. At las>t night's meeting, however, the motion was reinstated on the casting vote of the Mayor, and as a result the building inspector will receive a month's notice of tho termination of his engagement, and at the end of v that period the engineer will take up the duties. The motion to reinstate tho clause wa& moved by Councillor Standeu, and beconded by Councillor Hildreth. In the couree of the discussion, Councillor Burn said he was not in favour of doing /away with the inspector. The proposal meant that the engineer, in addition to having his salary reduced, was to have put upon him tho work of another marf, which , was adding insult to injury. He could tell the council that when the tramway construction work was going on the engineer had had had >wo ofters of. appointment at a larger salary than he was receiving. The fees from building permits, he added, practically paid the building inspector's salary. Councillor Frost opposed the motion, and considered the engineer had plenty to do already. Councillor Horn supported the motion, holding that the engineer had not as much work to do as tbefore. Councillor Hamilton said it did -not require much of a mariner to fieo how the land lay. He contended that the motive underlying the proposal was to get rid of the inspector, and to put a man in the clerical department at £130 per annum. Councillor Anderson opposed the motion, holding that if the engineer had less work now than when tram construction was in full swing, this was counterbalanced by his extra work in the office. Councillor Bradnock opposed the motion. Councillor Hildreth favoured the motion. The council had to retrench, and if ;t; t could see its way to save £50 it should do so. The Mayor paid a tribute to tho ability of the inspector, and said that, if aole to do ho, ull would like to retain his services. There had, however, been a reduction in the borough's income, and thii> they had to face. - The engineer had agreed to take up the duties. It was necessary to have assistance in the office, for the strain on tho clerk was too great, and it was proposed to appoint a clerk at £120 a year. The present arrangement of the engineer assisting the clerk wae not satisfactory, as on occasions the former had to leave other work, and, in addition, he was now without a foreman. Councillor Standen spoke highly of the building inspector, and regretted the necessity of moving as ho had done. The voting on the motion was: — Ayes: Councillors Hildreth, Standen, Horn, Nimmo, and the Mayor. Noes : Councillors Bradnock, Frcet, Hamilton, Burn, and Anderson. The Mayor gave his casting vote in favour of the motion, and it wa» declared carried.