CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13172, 4 September 1913, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

(To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir, — The discussion at the Council on Tuesday evening regarding the retrenchment m the Borough staff proved, the wisdom of the choice made by the burgesses at the last election, both as to Mayor and Councillors. Although not voting for the present Mayor nor his Councillor opponent, I think our Mayor is to be congratulated upon the promised reforms which he has carried out. He has earned the commendation of many who did not expect much from hnn. From the attitude taken by several of t-he old Council, one is able to understand something of the charges of extravagance. One would have thought that Councillors would have been only too ready to concur m the stoppage of needless expense, instead of the tirade made by those irate Councillors at Tuesday's meeting. It is good to see the recently-appointed Engineer realising what many ratepayers have realised for a long time, and paid dearly for, viz.. that the staff was over-supplied, and taking the necesKiry steps to reduce it. The fact that so many have been removed is sufficient indictment to tho charge of over-staffing made against, the old Council. The retrenchment at. the workshops was perhaps the most necessary of all. Ratepayers -have little conception of what a gigantic sink this ha^ been for their money. The late Council (per its Enerincer) had installed machinery enough there for an industrial corporation, and now we find that there is not enough work to utilise it. Tt would be very interesting to havje a return of the amount spent on machinery, etc.. and n'po the cost of work turned o>t there for comparison with private firm*?. Th" Mayor and his .«inppnrtrrs ar- n to be congratulated upon the bupincss-li'-e method m which they have tackled and are solving a very unbusinesslike administration. —Yours, etc., J.T.M.