THIS YEAR’S RATES

Evening Star, Issue 21710, 3 May 1934, Page 5

THIS YEAR’S RATES

DRAFT ESTIMATES ADOPTED INCREASED LEVIES APPROVED HIGHER WAGES FOR COUNCIL EMPLOYEES The draft estimates tor the year ending March 31, 1935, and incidental matters were considered at a special meeting of the City Council last evening. There were present:—The mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) and Crs E. Jones, M.P;, J. W. Munro, M.P., W. H. Borrie, J. L. MMndoe, W. A. Scott, J. J. Marlow, J. B. Shaddock, M. Silverstone, W. H. Shepherd, and H. C. Campbell. A special report on the yearly estimates was submitted by the Finance Committee, together with the' estimated income and proposed allocations for expenditure. The report recommended that the rating basis for the current year be as follows: —General rate of 2s, as was levied last year; water rate of 9d, as was lovid last year; Hospital Board rate' of fid, an advance of Id on last year’s levy; drainage rate as fixed by the Drainage Board. It was also recommended that 21 per cent, of the salaries and wages cut be restored . Or Shacklock moved the adoption of the report, and Cr Silverstone seconded the motion. Referring to tho withdrawal of the grant to the Workers’ Educational Association, Cr Jones said it was to be regretted that tho committee should see fit to move that the grant be discontinued. In Dunedin there were some 500 students in the W.E.A., and after twenty years of work the organisation, it was proposed, should lose its grant from the council. He moved as • an amendment that the grant of £SO be restored in the estimates. He also touched upon the difference between the amounts spent upon the unemployed in Dunedin- and Wellington, mentioning that the latter received a grant of £18,976 from the board. Cr Munro seconded the amendment, which was lost. Cr M'lndoe moved as a further amendment' that the amount which would be represented by the proposed 2-J- per cent- cut restoration be transferred from the various departments to a fund for the provision of additional work for unemployed men in such a manner as may be determined by the council. He stated that the council employees were “ sheltered ” to a certain, extent, and were therefore in better positions than the less fortunate ones who were on outside jobs. It seemed to him that any benefit the council proposed to give to its employees might very well be given to the unemployed men. In seconding the amendment, Cr Shepherd said that it was on the right lines. Cr Marlow objected to the amendment, stating that the mover had departed fromliis usual accuracy in certain figures he had quoted. He explained that there was no increase in the general municipal rates, the two increases being independent of the council. “If you have enough money to give the employees a bonus, God knows they want it,” he added. Apart from the extra spending power it would give them, it would also create in them a now confidence. Stating that this year the council would have to find a large amount of money for unemployment purposes, CT Scott supported the amendment. He would like to see everyone have an increase in wages, hut he looked at the position from a broader standpoint—there was a body of people in Dunedin, whom the council had to provide for. Cr Jones said he was against the amendment, which he termed “ a shrewd move to create jealousy between the staff and the unemployed.” The council should try to increase tho spending power of the community. Or Silverstone was also against the amendment. The council was not giving anything away 7, he said. The money was taken away from the employees in the first place. Because he thought the restoration of the cut would have a effect, Cr Munro said he was also against the amendment. The mayor expressed the opinion that to restore the cut would he a very fine gesture to a lo.val and efficient staff. It would show the council’s appreciation of the services of the employees. The council would only 7 be following in the steps of northern bodies, and he hoped it would give a lead to the Government. “ Only by restoring the cuts can we get business back to normal,” he said. In reply to one or two questions, Cr M'lndoe said it should be made quite clear that the money 7 required would come from the various departments. Upon being put to the meeting, the amendment was lost, and the report adopted.