Amalgamation of Local Offices.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 607, 14 May 1891, Page 3

Amalgamation of Local Offices.

AMENDED PROPOSALS. At the meeting of the Borough Council or! Tuesday night foe Committee in regard to fhe 'ama’gsrna'.ion of offices reported to foe following effect That tbs Committee resolved that tbe offices of Borough Council and Harbor Board should amalgamate. They estimated a saving Of £75, by the appointment of a ohi-.f clerk at £2OO, second clerk at £l5O, and third clerk £5O. By this there would be a system of check, reducing the possibilities of fraud, Tbe Committee considered that a greater saving could be made by amalgamation of the offices of the Borough and County Councils and Harbor Board. Present cost £Boo—Town Clerk £2OO, assistant £5O, Secretary to Harbor Board £lOO, Wharfinger S2OO. County Cieik £2-50. Proposed ophetne— Biel clerk £250, wharfinger and clerk £l5O, assistant £lOO, showing a saving of £370, including a reduction of £7O for rent, fires, lights, etc. Proposed apportionment of expenses—Borough, two-eighths, £125; Harbor Board, tbiee-eigbths, £lB7 10a; County, foree-eigbths, £lB7 10s Saving to each body—£l2s to Borough, £ll2 10s to Board, £52 19s and rent to County.

The Mayor said the matter was now clearly put before them. The report showed a considerable saving, and probably a better system, with satisfactory cheeks. Cr Joyce thought they had already decided not to amalgamate with the County Council, and could not do it without a special resolution. He had not changed his opinion in the matter, and still thought there were no reasonable grounds for joining with the County Council. As to the appointment of Town Clerk, the matter should be deferred until all the books had been put in order. As to the system of check proposed he was inclined to think that it was the amalgamation of offices that had caused the muddle made by the late clerk. He failed to see that any saving could be made to the Borough by the proposed scheme. A ratepayer coming to pay his rates did not like being referred from one clerk to another, and there would be considerable confusion in that respect. As to checking he thought the Finance Committees of each body would be the best check, and a regular monthly report should be given, and the defaulters' sheet regularly be p-stecl up, or read out at the meeting, no matter who were the defaulters. If that were done there would not be many defaulters. There ought to be proper printed receipts given out by each body. He considered the Finance Committee were in some degree to blame for allowing the matters to be done so loosely. The Mayor read the previous decision, which was that the Council did not think there could satisfactorily be an amalgamation of the three bodies, but the Committee wore to report on tbe proposed amalgamation of the Borough Council and Harbor Board. He thought the report could fairly be discussed. Cr Lewis said the reference to the County Council was more in the way of a suggestion. The figures bad been plainly set out, showing a substantial saving. By amalgamation of only two bodies there was still a good saving. He himself was at first opposed to the amalgamation of the three bodies, but with the figures now before them he viewed it in a more favorable light, There would be a saving of £75 by the amalgamation of the Council and Board, with more assistance than they previously had. At least the thing could be taken as a trial.

Or Dunlop could not understand how the Committee arrived at their conclusions. The work would not be lessened, as the books must be kept separate. The Committee proposed that there should be less pay than if the offices were carried on separately. He failed to see the reason of that. If the wharfinger could do for £l5O what he now got £2OO for, he must be very much overpaid He did not see why the work ehould be increased, and tho pay decreased. If the system were carried out with ad the local bodies they would get to the stage of getting the work done for nothing. He favored amalgamation with the Board. As to eheaking, he thought they should have the same system as with drafts in the Bank, whioh were signed and countersigned.

Cr Lewis said with regard to the Wharfinger they thought a great dee! more of his time could ba given to office work, and there would be less to do outside. The Mayor eaid tbe idea was that all wharfages ihould be paid at the offioe the same as rates,

Cr Harding : It would be rather hard lines for a man having to pay sixpence wharfage on a box to have to oome up to the offioe. Tbe Mayor said all freights had to ba paid at the steam company's offioe. Cr Joyoe was of opinion that any amalgamation would mean a muddle. The Mayor slid as they were now working illegally it was necessary some decisive slop should be taken as soon as possible. Cr Whinray said that after recent revelations he favored the proposed system on account of the check given against irregu'ar'tles. [Cr Joyce: Question) A substantial saving was also shown, and he thought they were justified in re-opening up the question, and that a better mode than at first eugges'ied was now apparent, Cr Coleman thought they would he quite in order in making a resolution approving of the triple amalgamation. Then the other bodies oould consider the matter, and from what he had heard he believed they would consider it favorably. No one doubted that three men could do the work of three offi-es, and therefore he could see no objection to the report. Practically recent experience had shown that it could he done. Ths work oould he lessened, as in r»gar I to wharfages and the collection of rates. If notice were given, and it was understood that every defaulter would be sued, 'bore would not be much trouble in collecting tho rates. Then there were the savings of light, elc. Ha would move tbe adoption of the repart, that the triple amalgamation be approved of. Cr Harding said it seamed a matter of reducing salaries, and if the bodies thought they oould get the work done for less they could now reduce those salaries. As far as tbe idea was concerned it had mush in its favor, but he would like time to consider it. At present it seemed merely to he a reduction of salaries. If he could see a substantial saving, with efficiency, he would favor it, Cr Whinray said they oould only that night refer the report to the County Council and Harbor Board, The Mayor, said 80 far he had heard no argument against the amalgation, but if there was actually a majority against it, it was no use continuing in a false position ; he himself strongly favored the proposed scheme. Or Joyce was not so much against gajustion with the Board, but he strongly objected to any amalgamation with the County Council. Amalgamation would not make a mqn honester. The savings set out seemed to him only to be imaginary savings. Tbe two Councils were often at variance with each other, and there were many difficulties which could'not be overcome. Or Hepburn said that he had changed hit? mind in the matter when he saw that £3OO copld be saved. He thought that there should be less distinction between the salaries of the two first officers. The Mayor said those were details whioh could if necessary be adjusted. Cr Lewis went on to combat Or Joyce's assertion that the savings were imaginary cues, but Cr Joyce was not convinced. He said that if they put it to the ballot they would not find a twentieth of the burgesses vote in favor of it.

Cr Dunlop thought they ehould adhere to their original motion, whioh had been made after the matter had been fully threshed out. He instanced the ease of the bridge to show that the two Councils would not get on well together. Cr Taylor opposed amalgamation ; if they wanted to lower salaries they oould do so without amalgamation. He favored continuing amalgamation with the Board, Cr Joyce strongly contended that the report qs to the County Council could not be passed in opposition to the bylaws, He moved that if any amalgamation be made it be only as between the Borough Council and Harbor Board. Cr McLernon seconded Cr Coleman’s proposion. Cr Joyce said it would be illegal If pasted. The Mayor said the subject was te-opened by the instructions given to the Committee. Cr Joyce said it was done like many other things were done that got them into a mess. All the Councillors vo'ed for the motion but Crs Dunlop, Joyce, Harding and Taylor, and it was therefore carried ; for—The Mayor and Ors Coleman, McLernon, Hepburn, Lewis, and Whinray, Cr Joyoe: Will it come back to us again ? (Laughter.) Cr Whinray gave notice to have the previous motion rescinded,