STAFF DISMISSALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21493, 17 May 1933, Page 10

STAFF DISMISSALS

STRATFORD BOROUGH S POLICY OF NEW MAYOR SOME HOSTILE CRITICISM [by TELEGRAPH —OWN rORRESrONDEXT] NEW PLYMOUTH. Tuesday The policy of the new Mayor of Stratford, Mr. J. W. McMillan, who was elected by tho toss of a coin after a tie in the voting at the recent election, has resulted in a drastic reduction of the borough staff. Karly in tho proceedings nt the ; Borough Council meeting last evening «§ Mr. McMillan was subjected to some hostile criticism from a section of the council, and when he brought forward a motion for reorganisation of the staff and a review of salaries and wages, it met with vigorous opposition. On the casting vote of the Mayor, the motion was carried, and the council went into committee to deal with further resolutions concerning salaries of borough officers. * - . Tho meeting did not terminate until 12.15 a.m., when it was announced that the engineer, Mr. L. B. Davis, the electrical engineer, Mr. A. E. Moss, the parks curator, Mr. S. Taylor, and four, members of the streets staff had been dismissed, and the resignation of another accepted. The savingrj in salaries and wages, with the addition of cuts in the salaries of a number of other council employees, are calculated to total £ISOO a year. "An Astounding Resolution" Mr. C. R. Finnerty said the Mayor's reorganisation resolution was the most astounding and far-reaching he had known during his experience of local bodies. It was nonsense, he said, tq think of dismissing the staff, some o£ whom had given over 30 years' service* The Mayor: You know perfectly well that during the election I said I would bring down proposals for a drastic reduction. I have to ask you to accept them, and if you do not I hare done my part. Later in the meeting I am going to bring down other resolutions, and if you cast them out things will be as they were. Mr. W. P- P- Gordon agreed that something more should be known of the Mayor's policy. The Mayor had indicated before the election that he had a policy of reduction, but councillors had no details. The Mayor's Casting Vote The Mayor: It is not a bit of good putting it off. I know perfectly well that the whole of the staff anxious and on tenterhooks until this is settled. There is nothing in the reso» lution to get nervous about, and youl will have every opportunity to my further resolutions. , v Mr. Harkness: Why are the staff od! tenterhooks ? The Mayor: Because they don't know?' what is going to happen. ; N Mr. Harkness: No more do we. Iti; was said you were put here by thel sjja ratepayers. You were put in by thtf toss of a coin. It is an insult to our intelligence to ask us to accept the resolution. Mr. Finnerty and Mr. Gordon endeavoured to speak, but were ruled out of order and asked to sit down. An amendment that the question be referred to to the Finance Committee was defeated on the casting vote of the Mayor. "I am going to speak," said Mr, Finnerty, when asked to vote on the Mayor's resolution. "It is no good to me you acting as Mussolini. You will have to get another chairman of ths Works Committee after this." The Mayor gave his casting vote fop the.resolution, and the meeting, after; some opposition, decided to consider further business in committee, after; which the decisions were announced.