COUNCIL WORKS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 105, 28 January 1920, Page 7

COUNCIL WORKS

REPLY TO CRITICISM. A question by Councillor Fraser at last evening's meeting of (to City Council, concerning the position regarding tho progress of certain work which the council had agreed to undertake, caused the Mayor (Mr. ,7. P. Luke, C.M.G.) to reply to the criticisms which had been directed against tho council for its laxity in pushing forward urgent works. At the outset lie expressed the opinion that the council was doing all it possibly could in the inn tier of accomplishing urgent works. He desired to pay a tribute to tho engineer's staff for what they had accomplished—one had only to look round the city to see the work that had. been done in spite of abnormal cr>n : ditions and the lack of materials. The, City Engineer had been away for nboiit eight months, and he desired lo compliment tho engineer's staff for tho way they had carried on during Mr. Morton's absence. Mn.'h of the council's work was held up as the necessary material could not be obtained. 'Tho engineer's hands were tied. Tho serious shortago of cement had upset the'council's programme, and he could not see but that the council had done its utmost under the circumstances. There was also the coal difficulty, and he wished councillors to know how much ho appreciated the work of tho firemen at the power house. "They nro working like Trojans to keep tho trams going." A councillor: Yes, lli hours a day! Tho Mayor: The people are on (ho edae—wanting even-thing at once. Continuing, the Mayor further emphasised his deep appreciation of the d'flhm!tics of the firemen to maintain sufficient power to keep Hie trams going". Thero was not only the shortage of coal, but also the inferior nuality of the coal. Councillor L. iJ'Konrh: Why can't we , 1 fpt cm) ? The Mnvor: We have purchased all the j i-nal thai 'is offering. T bnwht 2000 ton* I of coal recently and was told that I was I mad. but if T had nor bought '.hat coal the tram services would liaye hail to be considerably reduced. Continuing, (lie Mayor said lliaf (ho furnaces at llm power house would not take Hip bit' Newcastle coal which the council's strme-eTttsViev etvnlA wA bvoak up sufficiently quick to keep up a conslant supnly for (he furnaces. To overcome Ihal difficulty llio council Imcl had \n rttmro f.t this coal on to CaMo Street and have it crushed by a steam-roller. The public did not know tho difficulties under which the council was working. '