The Star. THUESDAY, SEPT. 17, 1874.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2037, 17 September 1874, Page 2

The Star. THUESDAY, SEPT. 17, 1874.

The new member of the Christchurcb ;; Cifcy Council has tabled a motion , the object of which is the a|?olitip^.of the Mayoral v allowance ofl a7flunijfrofc exceeding £300 a— year s ' /-for ." official" expenses." As fa* asiwe reteiledfc'i^e. vote was opiy-'takeja'tfojr oneVear,-ted r *v that case ; Couficilldr'' 1 Raphael's movion will r equfr&'tfolne &ligßt"%tefe"6dmon fc in its verb*!* form before it can be diseussed'^&y the J3qfi ! u<|jj. is , highly k importlht! th iM raised • by- ifc^gfould ?ewfve^Ba¥fy^ and careful afctenfcion,„_as in course' of a' short time the Council will be called unon to elqcfea3nsw."M^>lkftlid before doing so, in cottHnon fairness- fchey should Stafce'definitely what'^hpy'Tintend to do in the ni^fcfcer. !^ the vote for, "official expe^Besv7.waa^ma"de,. we expressed a strong opinion that, the Council made a mistake, - and, that if any money allowance, was made fco the Mayor at all.it should itake' the form of a, salary. But from fear 6 f the ratepayers, or .with, at desire to compel the Mayor to knock down Jbis allowance in civic /.banquets' 7&c., 'we know nofc — 'the Council voted tlie moneys in such a way that the| Mayor : " 'haß to submit a voucher to the in for every penny expended by him ip his' official capacity. This is humiliating "to Che Mayor, and. being .bo - is <■ calculated to lower the officekin;thß)re3pe i fctf?6f' the Councillorsias well; as ;i 'in ; iHafc of .the outside public/ and .cohsefl^rftlylHis likely to irite'rjfeif'^ coming fotwacdl:,.^ should be one of honjof^' 7H"adi; J tbe £300 been voted?as-a;sa)ary^td be expended by the" Mayo*r>kfl^''he" ! pi the effect would' 'have .Been y\k>; render.; the office accessible fcb.'matiy" suitable men who, without BOtrie^h'aspijjfcance, could not venture tp7ocpupy ft; foj, fear ; of being drawninto.eicpenditure beyond fcheir means.. r In tha t : way' the -ratepayers would have' a tangible benefit in return for fche money expended,- but they will gain nothing, aojong.asatis practically voted for acivicji'bloiy-publ': or something similar.. We hopei rthere-

fore, that if the Council decjUe's^on continuing an allowance to tlfe*iM;ayor, tbey will attach a salary to thekoffice. •^i#,if they db^sp,;theyywill not, W93ajfe ar^ass'ai^'d^giVe 16 ratepayer^ if they: continue their,; pre-, sent practice ojpk handing the ; office ; rQjund,k;imong theiiiseiye's. Oatpide opinip^'viß^slrbngly *in^favour of tbe Mayo/i^eing "elected by the ratepayers direct, and it is strongly, to be hoped tbat the Council will- reconsider the- *• $«S*l!|^^ :**ib^2£^^ I thi*. • city, j We are. convinced jthab-coniidepl^ Me benefit would a-cfife from .the-Mja.jror. j ;M*y- Aebo£e^b£^^ \ "selves, ancfare confident tbat were the power vested in them they wbuTd'felect' none bufrtlie s bestna*ti7^nile, .fiCS *«3f7 it would be found that these wpuld^be yseiecte^i^^'p^ , ' ciliorß for tne^im&.beiffg.'.'''; 7;; "'•:.- Zi \