COUNTY SALARIES AND WAGES

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 June 1932, Page 3

COUNTY SALARIES AND WAGES

UNIFORM PERCENTAGE REDUCTION SUGGESTED. PRINCIPLE OF CUTS AGAIN AT STAKE. A circular received by the Horotfrhenua County Council on Saturday from the Rangitikei County Council contained the suggestion that a conference be held of representatives of the County Councils in Nos. 8 and 9, highway districts, to consider and recommend a uniform percentage reduction in the salaries of county officials and standard rates of wages to Ibe paid to other county employees. It was proposed that each county be represented by its chairman and one other councillor, -and that the conference should be held at Marten as being the most central for the two highway districts. The Chairman (iMr G. A. Monk) said he thought these were domestic matters and must be subject to the consideration of the local body itself. One reason why there could not be uniformity was because the salaries paid iby the different counties were not uniform. 'One County might have a valuation of £3,000,000; another might have one of £5,000,000; and the clerk of the former might be receiving a higher salary than,, the clerk of the latter. It should eve.ni be considered' whether the lead given by the State was to be followed in its entirety.

■Cr. Catley was of opinion that no harm would be done by attending such a conference. The cost of living had gone down a little and rent and interest were being reduced. Other costs must come down. As long as the present 'high costs were 'kept up, there would be 60,000 or 70,000 men on the bread-and-butter line. Costs and income must be brought closer together if there was to be rehabilitation. He moved that the 'Chairman be appointed to represent the Council. The Chairman; It does not touch the main point. What are your representatives going to do unless they get a ■direction from the Council? Or. Jensen: First it would be necessary that we have a standard salary. It may be that eur salaries do not warrant a cut, while in other cases where the same is paid a cut is warranted. It might not be out of the way to be represented. The Chairman: We have had cuts in New Zealand for the last eighteen months, and are just that much worse off.

iCrs. Oatley and Gimblett dissented. Tlie Chairman said he agreed with Cr. Catley that, unless costs and income were (brought closer together, the country could not be rehabilitated; •but .not that all the reduction should be on one iside. Was the method that had been adopted in this country the correct one? v Or. Ryder: No. (Or. Oatley asked what other method could be adopted. The Chairman: We are looking for the other. I told you eighteen months ago that the method was wrong and that you would be worse off, and you are, because nothing has been done on the other side to bring them closer together. Reference was made by the Chairman to a recent remark by a public speaker “You can cut until you have got nought on both 'sides, and then you balance accounts.” Cr. Gimblett: x You have stated that it is all on one side. Until recently that probably did apply, but a pretty substantial cut has been made on the other side —rents, interest, etc. We are hoping that the position will be considered at Ottawa. I think that the (British Prime Minister will call a conference m Uondon to raise the (question of lifting the price level. We have nearly brought the wages down to ■nought in order to make produce pay. •The question before the meeting is the appointment of a delegate to Marton. - Good may accrue; hut I would not like to be the delegate, because there ■are so many obstacles. The delegate would want to be conversant with the conditions of different countries. The capital value would hot count in everything; it would be the work before the officer. Wages and salaries should (be determined by each county individually. The Chairman said that, if a Councillor were appointed to accompany 'him, he would attend the conference, •but' he declined to act alone in the matter. He had very definite views on this subject, and he did not want to o-o there in a lop-sided fashion, but with a fellow-Couiicillor, so that the ■Council might be represented in an •unbiassed manner. He suggested that •Or. Gimblett go with him. They might have diverse views on the subject, though they were agreed as to the responsibility of individual councils. It was resolved, on the motion ef •Cr, Ryder, seconded by 'Cr. Best, that the Chairman and iCr. Gimblett attend the conference.