QUESTION OF SALARIES

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1933, Page 6

QUESTION OF SALARIES

CONSIDERATION POSTPONED DISCUSSION BY HARBOUR BOARD. AMENDMENT'NARROWLY CARRIED. OPPOSITION FROM THE CHAIRMAN, The question of reconsidering the salaries of the New Plymouth Harbour Board’s employees w-ith a view to making reductions if thought necessary was before the board yesterday. To a motion for immediate consideration of the question an amendment was moved that the board defer consideration till the October meeting after the close of the board’s financial year. The amendment was carried by only one vote, Messrs. C. E. Bellringer, E. Maxwell; J. R. Cruickshank, C. H. Burgess and W. T. Wells voting for it and Messrs.- D. J. Malone, H. C., Taylor, J. H. H. Holm and J. L. Campbell against it. . . ■ Mr. Taylor in moving the motion Said he thought the board’s employees would realise it was very loath to make any reductions in salaries. They would, realise that civil servants and employees of many other local bodies had suffered cuts and he thought that 'a move by the board was somewhat overdue. It was imperative if the community was to retain ito solvency that costs, including rates, should be reduced. The position of many of the producers and other ratepayers was extremely critical and there was no prospect of increases in prices for produce in the near, future. Many of the producers had lost-all they possessed and many farmers were working for a mere pittance as the servants of lending institutions with no hope of liquidating their debts. The employees of the board would realise they were in permanent jobs and were better off . than many producers and many business men. He thought reductions were absolutely necessary. - ■ The motion was seconded by Mr. Malone, who said he certainly thought the position should be reviewed., REDUCED . SPENDING . POWER. “I oppose the motion on the grounds that at the present time it is not advisable to make reductions,” said the chairman (Mr. Bellringer). J A great nation on the other side of the world had not seen fit to make reductions. The great trouble in the world was that the buying capacity of the mass of people in the world who were earners had been, reduced and with that their consuming power, which reacted on the whole community. The time had come when, consideration should be given to whether that policy could be continued without hurt and disadvantage. The board had an efficient staff and he did not think Mr. Taylor meant to cast any reflections on the staff. The board some time ago made considerable reductions in the personnel of the staff and brought .about a considerable reduction in expenditure. When the engineer resigned his position was not filled. Then the sendees of several men had been dispensed with. Since the staff had been working under a foreman the board was very pleased with the reduction in general expenditure. A 10 per cent, cut would have no great effect on the finances of the board.

“I am firmly convinced,” Mr. Bellringer added, “that the way. out of the depression is not. by reducing the- earning capacity of the people by wholesale reductions which destroy their buying power, but by creating a spirit of confidence by moving forward instead of backward. I think, the fact, is being recognised by many sections of the community that we are not going to solve the many difficulties by. accentuating them. We .must increase earning capacity and not decrease it.” “HAD DONE ITS UTMOST.” Mr. Maxwell disagreed with the arguments of the chairman in general principle, but he thought the board had done its utmost to cut expenditure and at the same time maintain efficiency at a reasonable cost. One cut had been made and he ..thought that in spite, bf that the board was receiving excellent service from the staff. For that reason he was reluctant .to see any further reductions. But he wished to emphasise that speaking, generally the whole community was .working at a loss and reductions, were essential as far as possible. ■ , ' . ' ’ ,

' Replying to a question from Mr. Cruickshank, . Mr. Taylor said there might be some cases in which a reduction'was not warranted, but he thought the great majority could easily stand it. Mr. Burgess moved as an amendment that the matter be deferred until the October meeting with a view to consideration of the whole position at the end of the board’s, year. Mr. Wells seconded. Mr. Campbell said the producers were not receiving enough to pay their way. They felt that though they did not want to see reductions they could not afford to pay. It was best that everyone should be asked to stand the loss, and if the board made only a small. reduction it would be keping in line with other local bodies. A reduction of 10 per cent, had’al- . ready been made, the chairman said. Mr. Holm thought that while the board had to have a rate it should do everything it could to cut expenditure. People who paid the rate found it very difficult, and while the. rate was on the board could not do anything else but review salaries. Mr. Malone said it had been said the board practised economy in making dismissals, but the real position was that the work was not there to be done. Mr. Maxwell: We have gone further than that. . * ' He did not think the dismissals of the men the board thought it could do without had entailed any further duties for tire present staff, Mr. Malone said. He thought the position could be reviewed and the staff brought into, line with what was considered a reasonable payment by other institutions. He was not prepared to “slash the head off everyone.” That would be foolish,'but they had to bring about some fdrm'of reduction in the administration costs. People in country and town were, looking for something of this nature.. They' argued that rates had been increased and that they found difficulty in meeting them. While the board asked the. employees to make sacrifices they should realise that the board had ho intention of getting rid of them. He thought , a reduction, however small, was justified.