WANGANUI CITY BUDGET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 151, 29 June 1932, Page 8

WANGANUI CITY BUDGET

PLANS FOR BALANCING FURTHER REDUCTION OF OUTSIDE STAFF NEED FOR THE STRICTEST SUPERVISION Approving of the principle that the budget must be balanced, the Wanganui City Council, at a special meeting last night, decided to dispense with the services of 16 men from the general outside staff. This action will result in a saving of £3125 in the estimate for works and services for the current year. The Mayor (Mr. N. G. Armstrong') indicated that the council had explored every avenue through which expenditure could be cut down, and was left with the unfortunate duty of having to dispense with labour. There was no other way out. Rationing had been considered, but could, at. best, only be termed a temporary measure. Opposition to the proposal was made by two councillors., both of them expressing the view that if the outside staff was to be cut there should be a similar cut in administration. Argument in refutation of that opinion took the line that this was an era of strict and careful supervision, and that the administration and clerical staffs had already been reduced in numbers and cost through the non-replacement of employees who had left the service.

There were present the Mayor (Mr. 2s. (i. Armstrong), Crs. L. Pleasant J. D. Crowley, D. Dickie, G. 1. Jones, J. biddells, J. Robertson. K. O’Meara, A. E. Halligan, F- J. HiH, H. GHorsley Notice of motion given by the Mayor called the meeting He said that the ’ council had decided to follow certain Vines with regard to the estimates, it was estimated that 84 per cent. 01 ales would be collected this year, that was the proportion collected last ' «ar, out it was patent to all that it would be difficult to get that in under present circumstances. Reductions had already been made in an endeavour to bring the expenditure down. Men had been reduced to a 4 4-hour week and there were other ( provisions made. The council had budgeted to do without unemployment altogether, but there were still 150 men » to care for and unemployment was in- . teasing. Certain items of revenue were shaky. After every reduction possible had been made there was a deficiency of £3125 and it was the •council’s duty to adopt measures to provide dor that. Lt had been the policy not to dispense with employees f that could be avoided, but the only remedy possible seemed to be a reducion in the allocation ror works and services. The speaker could not see i mother remedy. If any councillor could, he would be pleased to hear it. One was loth to reduce the stair at rack a time. The council knew that <is policy was that there should be no jiore loans raised in this city and to ; .arry that out maintenance would have • lo be kept fully up to standard. It had tu be realised that by cutting down the staff the standard of maintenance would be threatened. Against that the council had to face the position. of not being able to collect its estimate of 84 per cent, of rates and there was every indication that next year would be harder than this. At the present time there was a permanent staff of 98, which was bigger in proportion to most other municipal!ties. If that number was reduced to 82 it would still be a big staff. Mr. Armstrong, in accordance with notice given, moved: — “That in order to provide for the 1 additional deficiency disclosed by a reconsideration of the provisional estimates for year 1932-33, the council resolves: That the services of 16 men on the general staff of rhe engineer’s department be forthwith dispensed, thereby providing for a reduction of £3125 in the item works and services.” < r. J. D. Crowley seconded. The Mayor added that the council had to face the likelihood of the exchange rate rising and the hospital ’levy had gone up. These were factors which had. to be taken into conuderation. He did uot suppose any council in this city had faced such a difficult position. A sum of £2OOU had been estimated to cover the change jver in rating system, but what that would cost was unknowu until after the Assessment Court sat. Cr. A. E. Halligan supported the motion. He said he had given the mat.er the fullest consideration and there was no alternative. He had kept harping on the proposal to do away with motor-cars in *the city service and. although he realised that certain cars were essential, he would rather see them all done away with »han have men put off. Opposed to the Motion. “We are all very keen to speak on this proposal,” said Cr. J. Siddells. “1 fully realise that something has got to be done amj something very drastic. Ever since 1 have been in public lile I have advocated the strictest economy aud £ have advocated it on fair lines, but this proposal is anything but fair.” The speaker’s contention was that if .15 or 16 unfortunate men had to go there should be a sharing of tho burden by all the departments. Katoning had not been considered aud QO attempt made to put it into practice. When Henry lord fouud that there was a danger of the banks taking over he bad dispensed with the whole of his clerical staif. The speaker was not going to make any suggestions now as he know full well luat they would not be Considered. Ho would •vote against the motion“It has been said that this is a very awkward position, and it truly is,” said Cr. J. Robertson. “But J have no doubt but that othei *owqs are facing just as bad a position. To be quite candid with you I think tin* is the most iniquitous proposal ever brought before this council.” The speaker said that he could not remember any suggestion of economy by Cr. Siddells. but had a distinct recollection of Cr. Siddells opposing a motion that he (Cr. Robertson) bad

brought forward advocating that the maximum salary be £6OO. Cr. son quite believed that the motion would be carried. “Is the idea to dispense with 15 or 16 members of the outside staff to make the jobs of the few with high salaries secure!” he asked The Mayor: L don’t think you should ask a question like that. This is put forward as a general motion, uot with the intention of boosting anyone. Cr. Robertson: I. believe it is put forward in al] sincerity, but even when one is sincere there is always some object in it. That is what. I believe is behind it—to secure tho positions of th<j few at the expense of the men. I will move an amendment that it be added to the motion that the administrative staff be reduced onesixth.” Cr. G. I. Jones seconded the amendment. Cr. Halligan said that if there were not 200 unemployed men to look after he would be in favour of making a reduction in the inside staff. But with that’ number of men to supervise it was not right to reduce administration. The amendment was lost, Crs. Robertson, Jones and Siddells supporting it. Speaking to Abe motion, Cr. Horsley said that he had considered the matter of rationing and had figured it out from all angles. To make up the deficiency the staff would each have to be reduced £1 per week. If thax wore done the whole of the staff would be brought below the bread and butter line. The Motion Carried. The Mayor, replying to points raised, said that rationing was merely a temporary measure. He was afraid that the problem the council was facing was not. It was probable that more curtailment would have to come. Reduced collection of rates, the change in rating and the Kai Ewi water supply—these were matters which had to be faced, and the drift of finishing up the year with a debit balance had to stop. That was what the council had to aim at, to do away with the debit at the end of each financial year and the necessity of having to raise antecedent liability Joans. The motion was carried. Crs. Siddels and Robertson opposing it. The Mayor, for the purpose of bringing the matter up for moved that the services of Mr. W. L. Roberts, as streets foreman, he dis pensed with, and that he be offered a position as leading hand. Mr. Armstrong said that if supervision was to be reduced this was the best method of doing it. The council had. first of all, to consider whether it would reduce supervision. The speaker showed that, the expenditure on works aud services had been reduced from £40,000 to £26,000 jn the past three years and under the present estimates the amount was still further brought down to £18,000.. The appearance of the town was a credit and there was more efficient work being done now than in the past. There were four officers, outside the engineer, directly engaged in supervision— Messrs. Rapson. Roberts, Robb and Tucker. The proportion was 3.8 per cent. The usual thing was 5 per cent., without plans and so on. In the Mayor’s opinion it would not be wise to drop supervision. If any reduction was to be made in the administrative staff of tho engineer it would be better to do away with the inspectors, rather than take away the men who were supervising the department spending the greatest sum of money. If the inspectors were dispensed with there would be a few collars sold and motorists would be able to cut the corners and so on. but; there would be no great loss. If it was a case of reducing supervision of the outside staff the question was who was the man to go. The speaker believed that if the principle was approved of the motion he suggested was the right one. Mr. Robb had all he could adequately cope with. It was then a question of whether Mr. Rapson or Mr. Roberts should go. Mr. Rapson was a qualified man and it was essential that Mr. Deem should have a qualified assistant. Officers’ Reports. ’ The ■. engineer made a detailed : report as r<» how he proposed to I meet the altered position in the event of the motion being carried. Mr. March also outlined the extensive i duties of the clerical staff. The Motion Lost. I After Crs. Robertson. Siddells and I Halligan had spoken to the : motion it was put and lost. Crs. Robertson, Hill, Pleasants, Horsley ami O’Meara supporting it and the Mayor. Crs. Crowley, Dickie. Jones, Halligan ami Siddells opposing It. The Mayor, replying tn Cr. Robert

son’s urge that the administrative staff be reduced said that £l5OO had been saved under that head by not replacing Messrs. Mitchell. Ale Dav it! and Gilmore.