Public Bodies’ Retrenchment.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 595, 16 April 1891, Page 2

Public Bodies’ Retrenchment.

BOROUGH COUNCIL REFUSES TO AMALGAMATE. At the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday night, the rough report of the joint oommittees on the amalgamation proposals (already published) was read. The Mayor said he did not know whether the C mncil’s committee hid subsequently met and considered the matter. He had understood that the report whs to have been gone into by the Committee before coming up at the’Council. Cr Lewis said there had been no meeting of the Committee; where it was ever;, body’s business it was said to be nobody’s, but he thought they might give a verbal report. He as a member of the Committee, was opposed to the scheme, because he believed the saving stated could not be effected by it. One item was £6O office rent; the work of three bodies could not be carried out in one office, the Borough’s own books at times taking up the whole of the tables in that small room, besides which the premises were under lease, and it would not be possible to easily get a tenant for the vacant office. Another thing, he did not think one man could serve three bodies ; they themselves sometimes had conflicting interests, as in the case of the fontbridge. He did not think the whole of the work could be efficiently carried out under ihe proposed scheme. A saving might be made by the Borough in relations between it and the Harbor Board. The County Council could curtail their expenses as they thought fit, but he did not think any combination between the two Councils would be satisfactory. The Council would be offering a fair salary to anyone in giving £250 instead of £3OO for lhe work of the office.

Cr Coleman was in favor of the scheme, and thought an even further saving might be made, f >ur clerks being sufficient to do the whole of the work, the first clerk at £250, second at £2OO, third at £75, and fourth at £5O, the wharfinger’s work being included. He believed that if the offices were separated one clerk could do all the Borough work. He did not think they could save £GO rent, but they cou*d save something that way. As to the offices he considered there was plenty of room, though the offices might have to be rearranged. He proposed that the report of the committee as read be adopted. Cr McLernon seconded. At the meeting of the joint committees there was a number of gentlemen whose experience would enable them to judge as to what work could be done in the offices. There was nothing gone into ia the way of cheeseparing, and the com mittee had kept the interests of the ratepayers tn view. The three bodies had each got near the limits of their overdrafts; there was not likely to be so much to do ia the future, and considering how heavily the rates fell on the people it was thought that without doing anything in the wav of cheeseparing or impairing the efficiency £2OO could be saved. By giving a good salary for the head man they would ba able to have one who was fully conversant with the different Acts, and it was doubtful whether individual bodies could aff ird to make an offer that would be accepted by such a man. In regard to the Harbor Board it was openly stated at the meeting that the Board elect to join with the County Council, Or Joyce did not think it would be a judicious thing to amalgamate. The opinion ot business men in town was that disiord would be created, and that the amalgamation would not work. As to the head man being conversant with the Acta a>>y man would soon get that off. They had no business to go into the financial position of the County Council, which was quite a distinct body, end in the case of the bridge there was an indication of the spirif shown by it. Their affairs should not be dragged in there at all. Reductions were now the order of the day, and a clerk dow coming in should be satisfied with a salary of £2OO for the Borough Council. Plenty of good men could be got and would consi hr themselves well paid at that; £225 would b-* sufficient for clerk and wharfinger, the £2-5 being allowance for an errand ooy. He could not see why the distinction in the scheme should be made between the clerks, when each should be as good as the other in the matter of bookkeeping. He agreed with Or McLernon that a good man was wanted at the head of affairs, but plenty trustworty men could ba got at £2OO a year. Any man could easily make himself conversant with the various Acts. He objected strongly to any retrenchment scheme being mixed up with the County Council. How would it be if the chief clerk hud a lot of summonses to take out on behalf of each of the throe bodies '? He would find that ia trying to please all he would please □one.

Cr Harding* after hearing the explanations of two members of the Committee, was entirely opposed to the proposed amalgamation. He agreed that a capable man should be got for the Borough at £2OO, and the Harbor Board’s work could be undertaken for £5O more Cr Dunlop was also strongly opposed to the “ triple alliance.” It would be impossible to get more than about £3O rent for the County office. As to the salaries it was well known that the work would not be lessened by amalgamation, as all the books had to be kept separate. He thought they would do rightly in contenting themselves with reducing the Borough’s expenditure. In any case he would be strongly opposed to amalgamation with the County Council, which not long ago had tried to get out of payment for the bridges, and had even sued them for using a road for bringing in road metal. If the County Council’s financial position was so bad as stated at last meeting, it was really better they should not amalgamate. The official work was now greatly reduced from what it had been in times past. Cr Whinray was opposed to amalgamation, feeling on further consideration that it would be more satisfactory to act for themselves. He agreed that a good man should be got for £2OO, and he thought it was better for all the offices to be administered separately ; the interests of County and Borough were not identical, and often clashed. Now that the thing had been debated he was satisfied shat the whole work of Clerk, Secretary, and Wharfinger could be done for £2so—a saving of £l5O could be made on the present administration.

The Mayor was thoroughly in favor of [ amalgamation, but said the report presented was only a rough one, and was ' not the one that should properly be considered. The Committee appointed by tho Borough Council ought to have considered the joint report, aud then reported upon it. It had been said that there would be clashing oa account of the suing for rates, but there was only oue Court and the body which ordered its rates to be sued for first would be first attended to. Similar arguments had been used when the Harbor Board was first formed, but they were proved fallacies that had faded away in practice. The whole of the rates of the three bodies for the past year would have been better collected over a six foot counter. The system by which the Postmaster did his work was an illustration of how the work could be done. [Cr Whiaray said it was all cash there—-no tick was given.] So it ought to be cash in that office ; the rates should be paid ia there, aud not require a man to go round collecting. In the present position of the Council and while they Were untrammelled ia any respect, they should earnestly oonaider the proposed scheme. If it wm so easy a thing for anyone to become conversant with the Acts as Cr Joyce seemed to think the junior clerks could soon get proficient ia that respect. The assertion that the interests of the various bodies clashed ought to be an argument in favor of amalgamation so as to pievent such clashing. Some people could never think of doing otherwise than going on the same old lines. They should carefully consider this matter aud not decide hastily upon it; he would suggest that the report be referred back to the committee for fuller consideration. The County Council had shown au example in the matter that should not be allowed to pass; he believed that by the amalgamation there would be complete efficiency and a larger saving than that set out. As to the question raised about the rent he considered : that in years the saving they could make would be sufficient to build a fairly good town haU« Or Kacburn was opposed to amalgamation, j I ooiuidenhg that the county ehoulu eteer Its 1 ■

own com BQ, and that the Borough and Harbor Board could do thingfl much cheaper without amalgamation; the fotmer could do with £2OO a jeir and the Harbor Board could do with lees than the present expense. Cr Taylor was opposed to amalgamation; he himself could not serve two masters, and he did not believe it could be a success in this case. Cr Coleman thought the Mayor had answered all the arguments. The work of the Council and Harbor Board had gone on well together, and so had the same pys em worked wed with the Hospital Trustees and Charitable Aid B »ard. The amalgamation report showed that the Council could save £5O without considering the question of rent. As io the County Council looking afrer themselves they had offered to sink all little differences and try and meet them in the matter. Cr Whinray, being allowed to speak again, could not help looking at the ridiculous side of the question. Nupp >s-ng thay had another case of summoning and c-aeh bi iy inatrnc ed the bead clerk to suo the other body,—what a position they would b? in. Cr Joyce said there could be no comparison in regard to the Hospital Trustees and Charitable Aid B >ard. There was some discussion as to whether it was ri<jht to make a decision on the rough report. Cr McLernon contended that the saving by amalgamation would be greater, and combatted the idea that if there were any differences it would affect the head clerk in his work. Cr Lewis proposed an amendment that the Borough Council join with the Harbor Board, or failing that, ths Council retrench on its own account. He did not think that the Board would object, but if so it would be the ratepayers’ loss, as the Board for £lOO a year had more work done by the Clerk than the Borough had while paying £2OO. The amendment was seconded by Cr Dunlop: those, ho said, who had opposed amalsramatioa had considered efficiency besides redaction in expenses. Why did those who wanted to amalgamate s’op there ? They might O'i the same principle get a gigintic scheme by which the Engineer and Harborrnlater might be reduced and get a dozen boys *o do all the work, under one man. He thought that long and f iithful nervioe should be considered and suitable men he paid fairly, He had no doubt they could get men to offer to do the Town Clerks work for £lOO. but that was not the principle upon which a judgment oou’d be framed. The amendment was carried, all voting for it but the Mayor aud Crs Coleman and McLernon, Cr Joyce moved as a further amendment th it the office of Town C erk be msae a distinct position, but there was no seconder. It was then rqsolved, on the motion of Cr Lewis, sec >ndrd by Cr Taylor, that the motion carried be handed to the committee to confer with the Harbor Board f Cr Joyoe dissented.