SENIOR CORPORATION OFFICERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 739, 11 February 1910, Page 7

SENIOR CORPORATION OFFICERS.

/■ MAY. THEY, BE " HIRED : ' : DEBA.TE.: .:;■.; ;v . .The "lending" of corporation officers in ' high positions' to. outside bodies;' aud prK vate' individuals/was the' subject, of a. discussion at 'the .City Couucil \ meeting last ljight.-.-...'..-., .'•!..' , ''. ;.;':■ <>'• • The Johnsonvillo ;Town Board, desiring to-'arrange fpr.a water 'supply, had made : ■ an application .that tho city.'engineer. (Mr.' ,\\'. ii: -Morton) .should'.b'o.- allowed to re.port,on tho.proposal. Tho Finance Committee recommended that'the request bo •not acceded to.-,''. ... .'i ' ',';'.''•*■'■ This recommendation, was approved, but not before some councillors had pointed out that recently' Mr., Stuart Richardson (City, electrical engi/ieer) had been. allowed to proceed-to Auckland on a' special mis-' sloiu .Thoy urged also .that,;in the past, the services, of the' City onginoo'r.had-been, granted to a-number, of local bodies. >, >Tho .Mayor -(Dr..:Newman)- explained,:however, that. Mr, Morton's, department was exceptionally' busy just now, and, (.hadeparture of Mr, Patterson,: wlio had obtained ah appointment .in Gisborne,. would', leave : thein- shortrhanded, ~;.\\. :was' : also pointed-out.;.that.::.thoro , :.w , Qro'inany enginoei's .capable .of.-'.making a', satisfactory rpport .for.':.tlio,iJoiinsonvillo Tow'u. Board.; .:.,;!'!; am. not ,-mifavouv. of ,■onv ■ liighly-pnid officers.engaging, in privatoipractice," said the Mayor, '.'and Mr'/'Mortou lias no desire* to ,do it;, although.l: I 'doubt .not;\that lie.would furnish'this'report i-if the'council desired;-that.it.should be done'.''' ;'."'."

:>lJater, Councillor Luke,"chairman : bf-the' Reserves .CbimniUee,' reported.tjiat.ho had. 'iiistrucledi-.that the-.services, of ; :Mr.:.Glen,: superinteniloiit of the city reserves; should bo granted, to .■itho:.-'Govcrninent.,.,in;.c6n-.iieetioh .with the laying out of tho grounds of tho new.'.'vice-regal- residence- at Mount View- '.■'■■'.. ■.-■,•' .-.■.;-..• ;■,,;'• ■.!•.;."-■ ■:;'■.'■'

. :'A';' section of.; "councillor's opposed 'this; and: attacked Councillor Luke for uh'dertnking to "hire .aUt',' : .Mr..,Green, without first- referring ..the matter to tho, council. They contended;. further, -that .the couu-'-oil should act .consistently. If, tho engineer was iiot.to'be>allowed to act'for.the. Johnsonvjlle Towiij.Board, '.who were in... difficulties and-ba4ly.needed garding:their 'water-supply," tho.superin-. . tendent,of .reserves'.should not be allowed/ 'to! work toy"the"'C'pVerumeht. ~: " surg!y,",' remarked bho.."c6uhcillor,. "thcro; ara. sufficient competent' gardeners ment service.!' .'.'.j' ■, '" ; ." •'/«' ': "And ' who''will'-.'see'Ttho garden's' when tliey.'aro ; laid "■ but'?"' : asked' Councillor Fletcher. "Co«hciiror- : -' : 'Lukb,. ; '-bei'ng ; 'an M'.P.j will be present at tho; levee,'.--and' Councillor M'Lareh will-: also have an invitation: But the-piiblio'cannot see those gardens." :"•''■':■>-''" - ; ' " : ■ ■:- : ' -■ ''Perhaps the chairman of the, Harbour Board will get'an' invitation," remarkedthe'.Mayor. '■ ' .'' ■' ■_■' ,' ■ ! ' . "Perhaps,";.' replied Councillor '■ Fletcher, with an uhbelioving smile. "•-■ ■'■ -' ' " ' In defending-:his -. action, ,-• Councillor.' Luke pointed out that; the ■ Governor's new residence was.nn-important city, im-provement,-and it was costing something like £25,00(1.. The gardens, if-laid'-.out tastefully, would add considerably-to the. attractiveness of a valuable Government property,'within-the city. Ho. was quito willing that -the'. council ; shorild- rescind his' instruction, if -tlie'y -decided' hot.; to lend the sen-ices of the city gardoneiv but he held that the council' should this, assistance. -."■ '■>■ .•'■' ; '.'•-.' The council confirmed Councillor Lukes action in authorising tho superintendent of reserves to'undertake the work.. The voting was: For .the'.confirmation, 9; against, '5. ~. ... .."".,,.