THE TOWN CLERK'S SALARY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2644, 4 September 1906, Page 5

THE TOWN CLERK'S SALARY.

TO THE EDITOR, L.W.M. Sib,—A few remarks on tho general positknof the ratepayers may uot be innppro priate in view of an application by the Town Clerk for an increase of salary. I do not agree with those who ask a salaried servant t > work for inadequate remuneration. That the present remuneration is sufficisnt is shown by the number of applications received for the position when it wr.s last vacant. Evidently thcie are a number of men here ready to apply at the piesent rite of payment. Does the portion of the Council justify an increase in any expenditure ? We are paying 2s in the £ rates, there not many years ago we paid much loss. The town is dull—houses are empty and the population decreasing. There are many directions where money could be legitimately spent if the Council has it. The water supply requires-^inproveinent—pre-sently, as the summer approaches, we will hear complaints of a shortage fiom those furthest from the mains. The very fence round the Council Chambers and the gate require to be replaced with new ones, particularly »s a number of visitors are hkely to come heije this season. These are a few—u very few—of the things that occur to the thoughtful, but they are sufficient to make it obvious that the fir't call on the Coun< il'n funds is in rectifying them, so long, of course, as the Council can get its clerical and manual work competently done at the preseut wages. And it can.—l am, etc., Reflection. August 30th. ♦ TO THK EDITOR. L.W.M. Sir,—At the last Borough Council meeting the Town Clerk ii reported at having given notice that he intended to apply for an increase of his salary from £6O to £BS, a £25 rise. In view of what has taken place in the past in connection with the amount of salary to be paid to the Town Clerk, the ratepayer will watch, with more than ordinary interest, what takes place at the next meeting. It is not a question of sympathy with the individual but a matter of administering the public funds to the best advantage, and the Councillors should remember that others tendered for the billet and were quite satiified with £6O as payment for their services. In fixing £6O the Councillors thought that sum was a fair and reasonable amount and nothing has sin-re occurred to justify an increase. When tenders were oalled for, the ratepayers were certainly under the impression that the amount of salary to be paid was fixed at £6O once and for all. If Mr Gudgeon is dissatisfied with the present arrangement his proper course is to resign and so allow fresh tenders to be called, when he will find that others, as capable as himself, will only be too glad to fill the situation at £6O.

In conclusion, it is very noticeable that, in spite of the protests of some of the councillors, the Town Clerk is taking far too much upon himself at the meetings and in other directions. If the councillors do not take a firm stand the Clerk will become more than the servant of the Council. —I am, etc., A Ratepayer. September 3rd.