CITY COUNCIL STAFF

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 98, 28 April 1931, Page 11

CITY COUNCIL STAFF

TO REMAIN INTACT

MR. LUCKI&'S STAND

Admitting the noed for economy, Mr. "\[. 1\ Luckie, the independent Mayoral candidate! speaking at Lyall Bay last night, deprecated, the making of promises to reduce expenditures which it might not be 'possible to fulfil. One reason why ho refused to promise an appreciable rate-reduction was-that it would be impossible without reduction of tho City Council's inside and outsi do staffs and a curtailment of a great deal of necessary work in tho city, lie was not in favour of bringing about a state of affairs which would increase unemployment in Wellington. It was stated that the coming winter would be worse than tho last, and i£ that unfortunately ,provod ,-truo the duty would lie-On.the city; o£ .-assisting the G-Qvcrirment by: providing' fui>. thcr work. .- While - tile -Government found the-'money, :a certain expenditure for the provision* of .work fell on "the city in the'shape of supervision/material, and future -maintenance. - It -was ovident that a number of people--would be unable to "pay their "rates,"but, though the nctivities of lhe: -Ciiy= Council -in works out" of revenue would "have-" to be curtailed, lie was n6t in.favour of increasing unemployment by reducing the staff, because the present state of affairs must 'bc^only" temporary. Thero were developments in the growth of the city that were inevitable, though in the meantime the goneral activities of the council would have to be pure' ly administrative, with as few capitalised works as was possible without reducing the staff. AGAINST STATF REDUCTION". "Promises had been made that there would be no reductions in wages or salaries. Personally, he would prefer to retain tho whole of tho present staff. Though the City Council had 2500 employees, he believed that it's staff was reduced to its possible minimum. Already many men had gone because tho work they had to do was finished, and they could not keep these men on without "sacking" some of the general staff. He was not in favour of reducing any of the permanent staff. Tho inside staff,-however, was not subject to an award, though a 'large proportion of the outside staff was. If the Arbitration. Court reduced award wages he did not think it would be logical or just to maintain the rates ,it present received by the inside staff.ITis opponents opposed any .reductions -in . wages,l.-or;...salarieSj-: but, he:. r himse}f believed that" some reduction was evitable in ,view" of the, action by.bbth State and,,private employers, including , many, of,^the,big.-.mercantile houses:-.lf, and ■■■ he hoped,-it1 would .not, be ..neees-. sary, : a: reduction were,: made* it.;must fall : lightlyi on,' those ;who. would :feel it 'most.. theso. .reasons-he. would not.■ make,extravagant promises./..Apart, frdnVtho State,-male.;r'etrenchments -there was the;'ques.tion;-ef.'t4ie increasing.u'n-; employment amongst women, .aprqblehv in regard to which thecity.woiildp.rob-. ably be put to additional-expenditure,' as it was a serious an d ■pressing one.;; ; ;;,