MASTERTON AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 127, 31 May 1934, Page 19

MASTERTON AFFAIRS

THE BOROUGH FINANCES

WORKS AND ESTIMATES

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

MASTERTON, May 30.

;"There is no justification for the' restoration of the wages cut to the'outside staff," said the Mayor (Mr. T. Jordan) yesterday, when the estimates were adopted by a special meeting of the council. "Our men," ho ' saidi '.'.are being.paid 13s a day against the county's 10s. We are governed by an award'and at thp present time our men are being paid slightly in; excess' of the award rates. Our Tate of pay is one-third greater than that received by county employees. If we have any money to spare, I take it the policy of the borough should bo to. employ more men. If we were disposed-to. raise the rate1 in order to employ more men we couldl not profitably find any more work'for the men to do. Wo could only reduce tho rate by cutting down the wages. or,: by increasing the receipts from some.other sources, but I do ;not know of any. from which we could draw. There, is a flight saving in salaries this year, oh account of the loss of one of. the office-staff, who has been replaced by a junioT." "Theß increase in the .hospital levy for the year is £157/. said Mr. Jordan. "This means the raising of the-hospital rate by thre^eighths of a penny on the annual*? value^i;As; iair as -the ordinary •ratepayer'/ is.-'..concerned, it won't ,'make. s mueh,^.difference." Mr. Jo?Sanl said' that/the ■increase in his own case, would bey2s 3d, while in that of one large business, firm it would be £i-6B.■■'.:■■'■ "-. ■'• ■-.'. -;- . ■

Mr-.-Jordan-pointed out that~the.Piro Board's levy this year. had been! increased by £227 to £1200, and this was being met without any increase in ,the general ra^ei ;■ . '

The council"w.as budgeting' for £ 3690 for streets—the same as last year— £.2200 for sanitation and' drainage, £.1371 for the Mastertonv Park, and £2180 for tarring, tho latter item including £1000 for tar for streets already sealed. This item was a heavy increase) on the previous year, but it was in accordance with tho policy of tho council to reduce the expenditure on. tar sealing and correspondingly increase tho expenditure in tarring existing surfaces. Tho estimated expenditure on special works, which' included new street constructing (tar sealing), kerbing, and footpath reconditioning was £.1623. - This provided for tho tar sealing of 83- chains of streets, and for CO chains of new kerbing. In addition, £640 was provided for repairs to borough cottages, now street construction to Hope Street, and truck replacement. The council -was purchasing a British truck.