NO CHRISTMAS GRANT FOR STAFF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18642, 20 December 1928, Page 4

NO CHRISTMAS GRANT FOR STAFF.

RICCARTON COUNCIL DISCUSSES ECONOMY. The atmosphere in the Riccarton Borough Council Chamber vibrated with sharp cross-talk during a good deal of the proceedings at a meeting of the council last night. Many points mentioned in routine reports formed the basis of differences of opinion and recrimination. Finally. a£ler about two hours of debate, some of which was taken in committee, the councillors joined in a mutual enjoyment of the hospitality of the Mayor (Mr H. Manhire). Several toasts were honoured. Out of the debates emerged the following business transacted: —The resignation of the town clerk (Mr L. Willett Austin) was regretfully accepted, to take effect from January 5. Mr R. Sarjeant was appointed town clerk from January 5. 1929. The council decided , that it would not increase its overdraft beyond £BOOO, and would continue negotiations for the purchase of an adding machine at a cost of £135. It would print Christmas greeting cards, and, on the score of urgent economy, would dispense with the services of three men from its works department. The council accepted the resignation of the hall caretaker (Mr F. G. Harris) with regret, and decided, also on the score of economy, not to make the usual annual grants of £1 Is and two grants of 10s 6d each to the staff at Christmastide. At the opening of the meeting, the Mayor said that, as far as council matters were concerned, they had had a strenuous time, but now that they had turned the corner he hoped that the horizoYi would become brighter. OVERDRAFT AT BANK. The acting-manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch, wrote to the council as follows: “ 1 notice that y r our council’s overdraft during the last few weeks has been in excess of the arranged limit of £7OOO. and shall be glad if you will advise me what your future requirements are likely to be. Should you desire to exceed the limit of £7OOO, I shall be pleased to apply for an increased limit. With reference to a statement of revenue receivable furnished by you, we have not as yet received a reply to our letter of the 10th October, and shall be glad if you will furnish us with the information asked for at your early convenience. We shall also be pleased to receive the set-off letter which we forwarded you for completion by the council early last month.” The clerk reported that a letter was sent on November 27. Other letters to •the same effect were sent on October 10 and May 5. Councillor T. M. Ford: What is the matter with the overdraft, and what is the rate of interest? The clerk reported that there was an overdraft of £BISO in the district fund account, which was offset by a credit balance of £B9O in the electricity account, leaving an overdraft of about £7OOO. The rate of was 6i. per

A councillor suggested that the council should reply that the overdraft would not exceed £7OOO. Councillor R. G. Malcolmson: 3s there any definite evidence that we won’t exceed it? On the motion of Councillor R. IF. Rankin it was decided to reply that an overdraft of £BOOO would not be exceeded. Councillor T. M. Ford: Tn 1926 we had a credit balance of about £SOOO. It looks bad. TOWN CLERKS RESIGNATION. When the formal resignation of the town clerk (Mr L. Willett Austin) was read, Councillor Rankin moved that it be accepted with regret. Councillor R. Hepburn stated that the council arranged to give the clerk a month's salar)’. The speaker moved that the resignation be accepted, to take effect from January 5. The motion was carried. COUNCIL’S AUDIT. An officer of the Audit Department, Christchurch, wrote stating that the audit of the council's financial affairs was proceeding. The state of affairs was due to the failure of the former town clerk to balance accounts and prepare statements. It was the duty of the council, within a reasonable time after the close of the year, to ascertain why the balance-sheet was not produced. The Mayor: We might have something to say about that later on. ASKED FOR PAYMENT. The secretary to the Treasury. Wellington, wrote drawing the council’s attention to tffe fact that interest amounting to £l3B 12s lid on the council’s inscribed loans had not yet been paid, and the writer would be obliged if the council would arrange for payment at an early date. It was reported that, acting at the direction of the Mayor, the acting town clerk had replied stating that it was found that the former town clerk drew a cheque for that amount on October 23, 1928. That had been debited in the council’s bank pass book, and the Bank of New Zealand reported that the amount was paid to the public account on October 25. No trace could be found of the Treasury’s official receipt and the council would be grateful for a copy of it. The Mayor stated that the letter came by registered post, and the speaker immediately got into touch with Mr Austin, who said that the account was paid. It was subsequently found that the amount had been paid, so that the mistake was not made in the council’s office.

A PASSAGE-AT-ARMS. A firm dealing with adding machines, in enclosing its invoice for a machine priced at £135, stated that the payments could be spread over a period of twelve months at the nett figure by an immediate deposit of £l4, and eleven monthly payments of £ll 10s. Alternatively, the council could pay £67 10s now and £67 10s at the end of twelve months. In these offers there was no interest charge. The council would purchase the machine at the nett figure, losing the cash discount. When Councillor R. H. Rankin made a reference, to the Electricity Committee in connection with the adding machine, Councillor Ford retorted that the matter rested with the Finance Committee, absolutely. Councillor Rankin : You went against the knowledge of the Finance Committee. “No.” replied Councillor Ford. “I think that it was sanctioned by the council,” remarked the Mayor. A motion was carried that arrangements for an extension of the matter be left in the hands of the Mayor, the chairman of the Finance Committee, and the Town Clerk. CHRISTMAS GREETINGS. “I think that we are somewhat behind the times,” said the Mayor, when Christmas greeting cards were received from the Public Works Department, and the New Brighton and Sumner Borough Councils. Councillor R. Hepburn: We had some cards printed last year. “Let's rush them through. Twenty-