RETIREMENTOF CITY OFFICERS.

Evening Star, Issue 21931, 18 January 1935, Page 12

RETIREMENTOF CITY OFFICERS.

TO TUB EDITOR. gi r> It is regrettable that th© question of retaining members of the Gity Council’s staff who had reached the retiring ago, should not have been discussed in open council. With the number of men. on the unemployed, and the responsibility of the .city to provide suitable work, irrefutable arguments should have been forthcoming to show why these officers should be retained. Ratepayers have not had those reasons. Machinery development in modern industry points to an ever-increasing number of workers being displaced from' their trades, and it is difficult to appreciate in th© face of this why the City, Council declines to make room for younger men when the opportunity presents itself. Th© most pathetic figures among the unemployed are the large number of boys and girls who are leaving school each year, and who are unable to find work. This at a period too, when their whole character and life is being moulded in an adverse environment. Here was an opportunity to mitigate this evil, but the council, by majority vote, decides to intensify it, and this decision is arrived at behind closed doors. Much justifiable comment has appeared in the Press at the action or retired public servants competing for positions with) the unemployed. Are not the councillors who cast their votes for the retention of these men guilty of conniving at a similar practice ? Could you say what retiring allowances these men would be entitled to? As stated above, the decision, is a regrettable one, and steps should ,be taken to have it reversed at the earliest opportunity.—l

am, etc., M. CONNBLI/T. January 18.