BOROUGH COUNCIL RETRENCHMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2337, 6 March 1897, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL RETRENCHMENT.

, IQt.THB EDITOR OF THE XIMABU HHBALD. , :^iß|— As there is an erroneous impres.aiop abroad that I wish to cut 'down the wages of the Council employees kindly permit me through your columns' ty? state the position and ray own attitude re this matter. Personally lam of the opinion that we are far too lavish m our expenditure on management and superi vision as compared with boroughs of a similar size throughout the colony, and ; that by amalgamation of offices a great saving could be effected to the ratei payers without m any way impairing , the' efficiency of the staff. For instance, . we have two expert accountants m the t office, where one man and a boy would be more than ample for the work there ; is to do. Again we have two managing i overseers who to a great extent cover ) the same ground, one looking alter

waste Pareora water, and the othet , after weeds and thistles. These billets r could easily be knocked into one ( with a corresponding saying m salary. . Other savings could easily be effected, j but enough for the present. At last : Council meeting, I moved "That the i Council go into committee to consider . the advisability of reorganising the , Council's staff with a view to greater ! economy m the expense of management." i This was lost on a motion to defer the matter until we consider the estimates, Which practically means shelving the question so far as reorganising the staff is concerned, and at most resolves itself into saving a few shillings by reducing wages and salaries, which was never in- ' tended by the motion I brought forward. I am, etc., Tom Hawkey. King Street, Timaru.