CITY COUNCIL RETRENCHMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9031, 18 April 1888, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL RETRENCHMENT.

TQ THE EDITOR. Sir,—We 'all believe more or lew in the above heading, just as the outlook for the future presents itself to us, The idea of reducing office expenditure alone was deemed worthy by the promoters of both time and expense in the procuring of nearly a thousand signatures. The object, sir, sought is a mere bagatelle when compared with the reckless expenditure carried, oufl in the various warde, partly by the inter* ference of councillors where themselves or friends are interested; but all under the supervision of the engineer. It is true he is the servant ot the Council, but for the sake of his professional reputation he should put a stop to such interference. Again, take the resolution of the whole Council at last meeting upon the representation of two Councillors personally interested to drain a gully which forme the boundary of the <;ity with a highway district, without even reJuesting the latter to contribute a farthing. s this not worthy of a petition; nay a public meeting by ratepayers to protest against the three Karangahiipe members, with the connivance of the Council, eqandering the very remnant—the lasb penny to the credit of the ward — in the drainage of Eden Terrace district and breweries. I may add that I attended a public meeting in connection with the wants of Karangahape Ward, at which meeting the ward members, Messrs. Garratt, Trenwith, and Daviee, pledged themselves severally not to advocate the drainage referred to in Eden Terrace in deference to the need there existed for other more urgent works. Can such men, I ask the overtaxed ratepayers, be depended upon in the fair administration of our city affairs who would at a public meeting declare what they purposed never carrying out ?— I am, &c., Cknsor. TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—A petition has been presented to the Auckland City Council asking for fur* ther official retrenchment. Seeing that the Council did a good deal in that line some time since, and was the first body here to use the pruning knife of retrenchment, it) seems to me very hard that these unfortunate officials should be so frequently harassed by individuals who seem to oon sider it their bounden duty to cut down the salaries of everyone except themselves. Tho petition states that there are some 2000 uninhabited houses in the city and suburbs. Now, in the first place this is a gross exaggeration, and only calculated to continue the want of confidence which exists in Auckland only to too great an extent at the present time ; and, secondly, what in the name of wonder have the officials to do with the number of empty houses in the suburbs; aye, for that matter, in the oity either. Does it lessen their work in any way ? I ask you, sir, what good will these statements effect ? We all know that there are some persons who will sign almost any petition, but having regard to the duties the officials perform and the relative salaries paid here by leading business houses, insurance, and other companies, to those paid elsewhere in the colony, I believe our City Council officials receive lower salaries than others. The fact is, the zeal lately manifested in the Collector's and other departments according to (I presume) instructions, has offended some ratepayers, and the petition is the outcome ; bo that those who do their work as faithful public servants may expect to be rewarded by retrenchment. It is well known that the rates cannot be increased except in a direction towards which the Council are not likely to tend. In conclusion, I hope the City Council will be just to their employees, and not attempt to encourage (save the mark !) their zeal by cutting down their salaries for the sake of pleasing a few discontented ratepayers. Apologising for trespassing so much on your valuable space.—l am, &c, Ratepayer. P.S.—I may mention that I am in no way, and have no intention of being, connected with the City Council.