BOROUGH WORKMEN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4540, 16 March 1923, Page 2

BOROUGH WORKMEN.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —When penning my letter of the 12th Inst, to you criticising the Borough workmen, I quite expected it would call forth a reply, and am disappointed with the low tone of intelligence displayed by J. W. Silcock and “One who knows’’ (or one who thinks he knows) in your edition of the 14th. Both letters are quite beside the point at issue, and- wander off into paths of sentiment and presumption. J. W. Silcock rightly defends my "decrepit old man,” but all his allusions thereto are beside the question at issue.' I did not expressly advocate that present borough employees be put off, but that more efficient and economical methods be used to speed up the work generally, more especially that in the side streets and drains. W. Silcock and some ratepayers are willing to allow war-time sentiment to weign against the value which they should receive for their rate money, then the Borough Council is none other than a charitable institution. I admit and admire the usefulness and loyalty of this employee and his late sons, and would like fo be one Of tee first to find him a less strenuous and more congenial job, with suitable appliances. J.W.S. admits the policy is a go-slow one, and says it ’’s not for him to discuss it, yet, as a borough councillor, and in the same breath, says that the borough ic “spring cleaned” with only three men. Why clean in spring and not, in autumn ? Three men should be ample if they would only work and do less smoking and yarning, especially seeing that the Council is letting out some of the larger works to others on contract. The revenue, Sir, is ever likely to be limited if it is going tc> be wasted by inefficiency and lack of method. “One who knows” concerns himself with the state of my liver, and evidently objects to my criticism, yet at the same time he admits also that the work is slow, the appliances antiquated, the so-called side drains are filled with old jam tins and sacks, and that the Council could afford something better. This, Sir, is the essence of my complaint; hence my friend’s liver must be in a somewhat similar condition to my own. ONE WHO PAYS.