CIVIC ECONOMIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20827, 20 March 1931, Page 12

CIVIC ECONOMIES.

CITY COUNCIL'S INQUIRY.

SOME SAVINGS PROPOSED.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. SALARIES NOT CONSIDERED. Reports from all municipal departments tipon tho possibility of internal economies wero received by the City Council last evening, in pursuance of the general investigation ordered at the beginning of • February. The largo mass of information so collected was not dealt with, but ' consideration was deferred until after the 'Assessment Court, which is to sit next week, delivers its findings. It is then proposed to discuss estimates with a view to giving a lead to the incoming council. Tho reports were furnished by departmental heads and sectional committees through the Finance Committee. Definite but not extensive economies were proposed in some cases, but in a, larger number it was stated that expenditure could not bo reduced by ordinary means. The Finance Committee, in recommending the adoption of tho reports, stated that it had not' considered the question of staff salaries, and was withholding any recommendation in this; regard until the Government had arrived at a decision on tho matter. New Problems in Past 10 Years. > A full report upon the working of his (department was presented by the town ' clerk, who stated that the personnel in the past ten years had been increased only by two juniors and a typist. In that period the city had grown phenomenally and many now problems had arisen. Every economy was observed in the work of the, office, and apparently no reduction could bo made without curtailing the services rendered, j Reporting upon his department, the 1 city engineer stated that by the recent reorganisation a saving; of over £BOOO a year had been, or would be, made in the Eervices which it administered. Salaries .were now £1362 less than in 1927-28 and there wero five officers less, although* a town-planning department had been sot up and Tamaki and Orakei had been added to the city, i The Works Committee, in commenting on the report, stated that future economies in staff would largely depend on demands made by the council ! for comprehensive reports on probable 'end improbable schemes, which reports in* jvolved a very great deal of time and work. Town-Planning Activities. ' The Town-planning Committee submitted a report by the city engineer, statingy that the expenditure on the preparation • of the civic survey and .provisional town plan in 1930-31 was £3267. The staff engaged upon tho work had never been adequate, and there was no hope . of completing the work by the statutory date, January I,' 1932. Tho committee stated that although £4OOO cotfld profitably, be y apent next year, it *as prepared to limit expenditure to £3300. • v •The Water Committee endorsed a report by the waterworks engineer, who Btated that it should be possible to -save £4700 in 1931-32 on the following items:— Reductions in staff already made, £500; reduction of inspectors by one, £300; Waitakere maintenance, £700; capital expenditure from revenue on new mains rfnd services, £2000; investigation of new supplies, £1200; total, £4700. The engineer ' mentioned that it appeared to be neceseary to disband the survey party now engaged in the Hunua Ranges as soon as tho results of its work had been colThe city treasurer reported, that <be ; could not see any means by which further I economies could be effected in his depart* ! ment. Ths general office expenditure had been substantially reduced in the last

three years. The city valuer stated that his staff had 1 only increased from six in 1919 to eight ji n 1931, although no electoral work had been done by it until 1920, and the rateable value of the city had more than doubled., Much- overtime was being .worked. With regard to the traffic department, the Legal and By-laws Committee stated that a pointsman now retiring would not be replaced. Apart from this no economies were feasible.

Parks Committee's Report. The abattoir manager reported that Bince 1921 his staff had been reduced; business had greatly increased and many economies had bt?en effected. Further reductions could only bo made at the cost of efficiency and service. The Parks Committee stated that it did not wholly concur in' a proposal by the superintendent of parks to save £IOOO next year by dispensing with ten men for six months. The superintendent also .suggested minor economies amounting to £6lB. The Committee stated that it was very difficult, to submit any proposal which ,would reduce expenditure substantially. The chief sanitary inspector intimated that the only feasible economy in his department was not to replace an inspector rvho would retire shortly on superannuation. / The Library Committee stated that the council had involved it in £BOO a year additional expenditure by deciding to open branch libraries at Avondale and Tamaki. The committee, however, hoped.by rigid economy to' reduce its expenditure in the coming financial year by £IOOO It was hoped to spend about £9lO less next year on the Art Gallery arid' Old Colonists' Museum. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, moved that the report be received and that it be considered when the findings.of tho Assessment Court had been made available. " Economies Must Be Made." Mr. G. W. Hutchison said he had hoped for a Report that would be of some use or value to the incoming couficil in forming its estimates. Some committees had made definite recommendations; others bad merely said that they were understaffed and no economies were possible. The fact was that economies must bo inade and estimates cut down in certain pases. Some economies might even be effected before the present council went out of office two months hence, said Mr. Hut chison/ He thought the Finance Committee might have put forward proposals as to whether the council should follow the Government in regard to the " cut " in salaries. Mr. E. J. Phelan said it should be remembered that the city had almost doubled in area within recent years. If the public wishetj l ps s money spent it must be prepared for less in the way of services. ! Mr. A. J. Entrican said that much as Jio would regret a wago "cut," the only alternative would be to discharge employees, which was even more undesirable, because the council's work was increasing, pot decreasing. The Mayor's motion was curried.