Borough Council.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7790, 15 March 1904, Page 2

Borough Council.

Tho adjourned meeting of tho Borough Council was held last evening. Present —The Mayor and Crs Armstrong, Tolley, Essex, Goodger, France and Jack. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr Tolley's motion that a Staff Commicrtee to report on necessary additions j or alterations to the Borough Council / staff, such committee to consist of the j Mayor and Councillors Armstrong, Haydon, Jack and the mover, was the first business cakc-n. Speaking to the motion, Cr T«lley said that the Council was now nenring the end of tho financial year and he thought it was time to consider the Council's staff with a view to bringing down estimates likely to be approved by the Council. It had been stated assistance was likely to be required in tho engigineer s office, and he did not tbiuk questions anVosing tho staff should bo first discussed in the Council. It was probable other alteratio is would be necessary in the staff, and questions like these should engage the best attentions of the Council and come before .io first through ihe Staffs' Committee. Cr Goodger considered questions of the nature referrr-d to should bo deals with by the Council and not by a committee. Cr Essex thought in framing the estimates for next year the engineer should bring in a statement 49 to what ha re- \ quired. He did not think a commiteo j necessary, 1 Cr Tolley said that the motion covered more ground than that referred to by preceding councillors. He considered a I staff committee shoald go into existing t arrangements, and the Council should earnestly consider whether alterations were necessary in the staff or not. Cr Essex moved an amendment that the engineer prepare a statement of the approximate cost of conducting his office durmg the year 1904-s—Carried. • Cr Goodger moved as a further amendment that the Public Works Committee deal with the assistance required both in the Council ana engineer's office. Cr Tolley said he could not see the object of the amendments. In spite of the large increases in salary made at the j beginning of the year the Council had ; not an efficient staff and it was to deal with the whole matter that he had pro- , posed the committee. He did not think it wise to blind their eyes to the face. i The amendment was lost. Cr Armstrong moved as a further amendment that a staff commitsee be appointed to report on the constitution '< of the Borough staff, such committee to consist of the Mayor and Councillors Tolley, Jack, Haydon and the mover. Cr Essex protested against the acceptj ance of the amendment but the Mayor overruled tho obiection and the motion I was put and carried. i I Cr Goodger moved as a further amend- ! ment that the Council deal with the j assistance required in the Council and ! engineer's offices. I Cr Jack said the Council already had ( that power and the amendment was a waste of time, The Mayor refused to accept the amendment and Cr Essex then moved that the question of staffs be referred to the cemetery committee. Cr Armstrong: I think we had better adjourn. It is no u=e staying here and becoming the laughing stock of the town. The Mayor: I certainly shall not stay much longer. Cr Essex's motion was not seconded and there being 110 further amendments Cr Armstrong's motion became the resolution and was duly earned. Cr Jack moved that a committee be set up to' enquire into the arrangements in reference to the water supply the night before tbe fire, the committee to be the Mayor and Crs Tolley, Essex, Armstrong and the mover. The motion was lost, only Crs Tolley and Jack voting for it, the remainder considering no good could be done by setting up the proposed committee. Cr Goodger's motion that the resolution setting up a committee to examine all npphcations for driver's licences be now rescinded was curried. It was decided on Cr Jack's motion that ths consent of the Council must be obtained before any person is employed on corporation works at a higher rate of wages than the current rate of Is per hour to a labourer and current rates for ' nightmen. A motion by Cr Tolley that ail orders for material must be under the hand of the town clerk, all ■■ tenders must be lodged with the town cierk for the acceptance or otherwise of the council as lia« been the custom previously was earned ! without dissent;. The last motion concluded the busiI ness_ of the adjourned meetings and a special sitting then took place to place in order the resolution previously carried I relative to the- payment to Mr Baffin of I for drainage plans, etc.