Current Topics.

Thames Star, Volume xxx, Issue 9308, 21 February 1899, Page 1

Current Topics.

AUCKLAND OUT COUNCIL

RETRENCHMENT,

Tbe >Special Committee of the Auckland City Council has decided to recommend the Council to reduce the annual cost of maintenance aad ex penditure by £5165. The Mayor's allowance of £200 js to remain as at present. It is recommended, however, that the services of the present Town Clerk (Mr P. A. Philips) shall be dispensed with, and that the Treasurer be appointed to the position, he undertaking the duties in addition to those now performed by him. The salary for both offices for the present to be £300 per annum; also, that, in consideration of the lengthened services rendered by Mr Philips to the Council, and the condition of his health, he be relieved at once, and the payment o£ six months' salary be given in lieu of notice. The Engineer is to receive six months' notice, and a total saving of £3450 made in this department. The services of the Inspector of Nuisances are to be dispensed with, and the duties now performed by him transferred to the inspector of vehicles, with, the as sistance of the present eub*inspector, the present inspector of nuisai-ces to receive six ninths' notice of the termination of his engagement. The salary of the superintendent of parks and reserves, Mr William Goidie,' is to bo reduced to £125 per annum, with house aud firing, and the number of men in parks and reserves reduced by three; those remaining to receive 6s per day, with the exception of the one in charge of the Western Park, who will receive 7s per day. It is further recommended that the salary of the libarian shall be reduc* d to £150, with bouse, firing, and light, the assistants and messenger to remain as at present. The report then refers to tue Fire Brigade Department, and proceeds: "We recommend th^t the services of the superintendent be dis- ! pensed with, he receiving three months' notice of the termination of his engagement, and that applications for a suitable person to act as captain be advertised for at a salary of £150 per annum, with house, firing, and light. Wo further recommend that the allow ance to station keeper be £1 15s per week, with house, firing, and light, and that the remainder of the brigade consist of two firemen at £20 per annum each, and 20 firemen at £16 per annum each. In addition to the foregoing, we would suggest that the Council appoint a deputation to wait upou the Underwriters' Association, to urge upon them our right to expect them to contribute towards the cost|of maintaining the brigade upon such conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by them and the Council. If such can be arranged, we would then suggest that a suitable building be erected and any additional plant that may be required to make the brigade more • effective be obtained. Failing bei g able to arrange with the Underwriters' Association to bear a fair share of the cost of the brigade, we would then recommend that the Council briug whatever pressure they can to bear upon the Governmenc to introduce legislation en similar line to that adopted in West Australia, which compels insurance cjmpanies to pay four-ninths of the annual cost, the Borough Councils four-ninths, and the Government one-ninth." The salary of the messenger in the Muuicipal Buildings is' to be reduced to £125 per annum, with house, firing, and light. The custom of employing non working ward foremen is to be discontinued, and instead, one of the m^n in each ward is to be selected as the leading hand, who is to work with the others, they being under his direction, he receiving his instruction from the clerk of works, who visits each ward from time to time during the day, so as to obviate the necessity of the men leaving their work and coming to the office, the pay of such leading hand being Is per day in excess of that paid to the oihers. The office hours are to be increased, and will in future be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The whole of these recoinniendatk>n= will be considered at the next meeting of the Auckland City Ouuucil.