COUNTY INSPECTOR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 24, 14 June 1939, Page 4

COUNTY INSPECTOR

Sir, —On taking up my "Herald' this evening I noticed an advertisement I'or a County Inspector for the ...

Wbakatane County Council. A similar advertisement appeared sever?! weeks ago, as a result of which 10f> applications were received. At a meet ing of the ccuikml it wn.s decided that an a.dvisory committee reduce the applicants to four. These men (comprising three outsiders and one local) were subsequently interview, ed by the councillors. One of these four intimated that he had been of_ i'ered an increase in salary by his pro sent employers in order to retain his services, in view of which he declined the position at the wag e offered. This move on his part reduced the | finalists to three and eventually Mr Smith was appointed. Approximately

a week later Mr Smith relinquished duties. To the man in the street the most logical conclusion would be the appointment of either of the other two instead ol which we read the advertisement mentioned above, it i,s fair to ask the council to acquaint the ratepayers through this paper the reason for the unpreeedenl. Ed step taken, considering that these other two applicants were evidently considered by the council to have the necessary qualifications to be in. eluded in the four finalists. When it is known that the expense incurred in bringing the finalists to Whakatane was borne by the ratepayers it is only reasonable to know why it is necessary to repeat the expense, together with on extra £38 increase on the former salary. If the position was of a specialist nature carrying a large salary, we could understand it better, but at present we read that the council is undcr.stafTed, and it is nearly two months since this position became vacant and at least several weeks will elapse before it is filled. In the meantime we must be content to tolerate the danger to traffic from straying stock. Yours etc. RATEPAYER. (The above matter has been referred to tiie acting County Chairman, Mr Burnett, who states that not only were all the finalists, mentioned by our correspondent, reconsidered, but the whole of the applications receiv. Ed were rescrutini.sed. W th the exception of one finalist, who upon investigation was not considered suit, able for the job, the other finalists declined to accept the position. E;l).