MORE ECONOMIES

Evening Star, Issue 21055, 18 March 1932, Page 9

MORE ECONOMIES

■ ■* REDUCTIONS BY HARBOUR BOARD WAGE CUTS AND STAFF DISMISSALS HEAVY SHORTAGE ON ESTIMATED REVENUE Tho dismissal of thirty men, 10 per cent, salary reductions, and reduction of all engineering and dredging work (except the mole construction) to four days weekly are involved in the economics, totalling £-1,510, effected by the Otago Harbour Board at a special meeting last night to consider the shrinkage of revenue.

Mr John Loudon presided, and the following members were present:— Messrs H. M. Driver, H. C. Campbell, J. M‘C. Dickson, A. Campbell, 1). F. H. Sharpe, W. Begg, J. B. Waters, F. E. Tyson, and Captain Coll M'Donald. Mr H. C. Campbell moved that the board go into committee. The report affected certain members of tho staff, and contained other confidential matters. The chairman could hand a copy of tho report and the board’s decisions to the Press after the meeting if ho thought it wise. Tho motion was seconded by Air Sharpe, and carried. CHAIRMAN’S MINUTE. Tho Chairman presented the following minute with respect to the finances of the board as at February 29; After collaborating for the past three weeks with the chief executive officers of tho board, 1 bog to submit the fol lowing statement hearing on the finances of the board for tho current year, which I trust will make the position clear - to members : Proportion Actual of estimate, receipts £ £ Receipts for five months ended February 03,54.0 55,090 Loss rents (which are estimated to roach tho year’s estimate and cannot be proportioned on a time basis) ... ... 10,833 7,885 £52,707 £47,805 The shortage on estimated revenue (excluding rents) amounts to £4,902 for five months, or £I,OOO per mouth, or £12,000 per annum. £ Estimated receipts for year as originally approved 152,500 Less estimated shortage as above ... ... ... 12,000 Amended estimate of receipts £140,500 Of which wc have already spent— Ordinary expenditure to February 29 £GI,OG9 Expenditure on Leith canal works £2,840; less refunded or to bo refunded by Unemployment Board, £2,247 ... 693 61,602 Leaving available for the next seven months .... , £78,838 Tho estimates have again been closely examined and overhauled, and for the seven months remaining of the financial year the amended total expenditure amounts to £84,000. These amended estimates make no provision for expenditure by the board in carrying on the Leith canal works, except for tho payment of £2OO for steel now on order, but it is considered that the excavation work by unemployed labour can still bo carried on lor some time. Tho cost of supervision of this unemployed labour will require to bo found' at the expense of some of the other allocations. The following methods could bo adopted to reduce the estimated expenditure down to a figure more in keeping with tho estimated revenue available. — By deleting transfer to loans (1934) Redemption Fund. (There is no prospect of a credit balance in income and and expenditure account for the year, therefore there is no legal necessity to transfer anything to the fund this yck) £I,OOO By deleting transfer to Public Risk Reserve Fund, (This payment might he waived for tho year.) ... 050 By putting the dredges and engineering works (except the Mole works) on a four-day week, thereby saving approximately ... 2,202 By reducing by 5 per cent, the wages of employees under awards who cannot he reduced more than 10 per cent, and who cannot bo put on four days per week ... ... GO By reducing all other salaries and wages by 10 per cent. (Ibis might be imposed as aspecial economy measure, to be reviewed at the end of the financial year.) ... . SSB By deleting the expenditure on uniforms in the harbour master’s department for this year ... .... ••• 1™

Making a total saving on the above estimates of £4,0i1)

and reducing the estimated expenditure from £84,000 to £79,490, and leaving an estimated shortage at the end of the year of £652. The amended estimate of expenditure, if the above methods are adopted, uill provide for general works wages totalling approximately £4,000 lor tho six months ended September 30. I o keep within this expenditure will necessitate the dismissal of thirty men, and the reducing of the remainder to four days per week. ECONOMIES COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Economics Committee reported as follows: Receiving and Delivery.—The committee has considered tho proposal contained in Captain McDonald's motion to reduce tho charge for receiving and delivery of 3d per ton consequent on the reduction in the contract rate Irom Is ,a to Is Gd, and recommends that consideration of the matter be deferred for six months. Finances.—The committee has carefully examined the position of tho board’s finances for Ihe current jear as revealed in the chairman’s minute, and recommends that the minute bo approved and adopted. The committee’s report was adopted, the economies recommended in the chairman’s minute thus being brought into effect as from March 31. COMMITTEE TO REMAIN IN OFFICE. U was decided, on the motion of the chaTman, that the Economics Committee remain in office during the pleasure

of tho hoard, and be authorised to give effect to the “cut” by adjusting the hourly rates to the nearest farthing and iinnunl snlnvios to tho pound, and also to adjust any anomalies that might occur. MATURING- LOANS.

A sub-committcc was set up to investigate matters iu respect of the board’s loans maturing in 1934,.