THE CITY TRAMWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13863, 28 March 1907, Page 8

THE CITY TRAMWAYS.

TRAFFIC , SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY INCREASED. "A COMPETENT AND ENERGETIC OFFICER," Tiio rccomuioiulalion of Iho Tramways Committee to the City Council to increase tho salary of the tramway traffic •superintendent, from £350 to £450 was provocative of a long discussion at last night's meeting of .tlie council.

CV .Louden,- in moving: Iho adoption of Iho report, referred to the increase proposed, and said tliat ho noticed a. protest, had been made by a public body. Ho thought this body had protested under a. misapprehension, because the committee proposed to add considerably to that officer's duty, with a view to iv better efficiency, and economy. Tho people as a whole must recognise that their trading concerns must be made commercially successfill, otherwise ithcy became an incubus ou I lie rates, which was most undesirable. On tho other hand, if their trading concerns showed surpluses, they hntl a right to expect -and no doiibt' would receive-either a reduction in rales or an improvement and extension in Hi J utililies euppliocl hy these departments; lii the present case, when tJio arrangements in connection with the present,proposal were completed it would bo found they were fully justified/both in tho interests of (lie council and tho public. He might also say that during the year Mr .Alexander had done excellent work. Cr Connor 'seconded, nnd oaid Mr Alexander had shown himself to be a thoroughly good business man. Ho took up his duties .-when'the tramways were being run at a loss, and within a very short time made tho concern pay. The sum of £450 was only a very fair salary for such an officer. In reply to Cr Wilson, Cr London said the new duties Mr Alexander was about to undertake were in connection with the street-cleaning and 6trcci-paving amongst other matters not previously in his charge. Cv Wilson'tnoT«l an amendment—" That the incrcono bo £50,"—which would make Mr Alexander's salary £400. He had only praise lor the manner in which Mr Alexander had discharged his duties, but £50 would be a very fair increase. Cr Cole rose to spfak, The Mayor: Do you second Ihe amendment? Cr Cole: Certainly not. The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. CV Colo ?aid it was only fair to the committee to say that it was not making the increase entirely of its' own. initiative. There- was an application from Mr Alexander asking that his salary should bo raised to £500 per year. When Mr Alexander entered upon bis duties, there was a debit on tho year's transact ions of £1200, and at tho end of the present financial year it would be found that there would bo £2000 on: the credit eide. Cr Slmcklock remarked that in other tramway services higher salaries were uaid to Iho fniflio superintendents. Tho debit balance had boon steadily increasing month by month up to the time Mr Alexander wr.a given permission to work along the lines lie had laid down, and cinee then there had tacn it steady increase on ihe credit sido. At. the present time tho credit balance was .-61291 16.; n<l. Cr Walker was of opinion that, inasmuch ns the whole question of tho reconstruction of salaries came up in about efx weeks' timo they should go into the matter of Mr Alexander's increase then. He moved as an amendment—"That the clause be struck out." Cr Harrison seconded. . Cr White supported the amendment, and said tho position wae advertised at a salary of £350, and there was a large numbeV of applicants. Ho thought I hat at least, 12 months should elapse between an appointment and such an application. ■ Cr Srott thought an increase of £50 when the salaries wero reconstructed would be sufficient, i ; Tho Mayor described Mr Alexander as one ,of the most competent and energetic officers in the council's service, and expressed tho opinion that considering tho responsibility of the position the salary of £450 per annum was only reasonable remuneration, considering they were paying £500 boforc Mr Alexander came for' the work, and that he was taking extra duties on his shoulders it was only fair that they should give him the increase proposed. Cr London, in reply, said there wore three or four centres had their eye on Mr Alexander, and if they.did not treat him as he ought to be treated they would lo«e him. Tho amendment was then ,p«t and lost, and the resolution was appioved, the report being adopted. At Tuesday's meeting of the Independent Political Labour League, the 'following resolution was carried—''That the league .protests against the proposed increase of £100 in the- salary of Mr Alexander, mana'nor of the Dunedin City tramways, as the league- is of opinion that if the increase of revenue justifies an increase _m salaries a proportionate increase should lie made to .the wages of tho oroploycce."