LOOSE RECORDS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4751, 15 September 1924, Page 2

LOOSE RECORDS.

COMPLAINT BY COUNCILLOR. BUSINESS NOT IN MINUTES. At Tuesday’s Hauraki Plains County Council meeting Cr. McLoughlin asked for the minutes of the previous meeting, at which he was not present, and a copy of which had been posted to each member, to be read. Upon his request being complied with Cr, McLoughlin asked if anything had been omitted. There was nothing on record of the appointment of the engineer, the shifting of .the old office to near the bridge, the authority to erect a hut as a residence for the new engineer, or whether he had been granted permission not to reside in the residence provided for the county engineer ; also, how the assistant engineer bad been led to believe that he could reside in the council’s house. Other councillors claimed that the minutes were a true report of the previous meeting, and a motion confirming them was carried, it being understood that Cr. McLoughlin could bring up his question at a later stage. When the matter was again mentioned the chairman said that the several points raised by Cr. McLoughlin required the council’s endorsement or otherwise. The inspector had been asked to give an estimate for shifting the office. It was brought before an informal meeting, called to meet Mr Basham, and it was then shown that it would be cheaper to shift the old office, make an addition to the bridgekeepei’s house, and have a new hut erected for the engineer than to provide additions to the bridgekeeper’s house and convert the office into a residence for the engineer. Cr. - McLoughlin asked why Mr Basham was not asked to occupy the county house. The county engineer, whoever he was, should be responsible for tlie rent of the house. The ratepayers were not satisfied with the position. The house had been built for Mr Higgins, and now another place had been built for Mr Basham. If, when he left, a married man was appointed, would the council build another residence. The hut recently built had been paid for out of the general rate, and thus the roads were suffering. Cr. Madgwick pointed out that the assistant engineer would be glad to occupv the residence and pay the i-ent. ‘Apparently Cr. McLoughlin was out to take exception to everything done at a meeting at which he was not present. Cr. Mayn said that Cr. iMcLaughlin was quite within his rights in bringing up the matter. The chairman said that if members left meetings before the business was completed they should, not complain about what was done later. Cr. McLoughlin held that the business should have been conducted properly and recorded in the minutes. The chairman pointed out that by deferring the appointment of the engineer until, a full meeting a month’s delay would have been caused. Cr. Paifitt thought that the matter should have been reported to the next meeting and approved by the council. He moved that the chairman’s action in authorising the erection of the engineers hut and the alteration to the bridgekeepers hut be approved. Seconded by Cr. Hayward and carried. Cr. Hayward remarked that on numerous occasions committees were appointed to do cetrain work, and when they reported to the council their actions were criticised. If councillors could not trust each other they would certainly not take office on committees. To put the .matter in order, Cr. Hayward moved that the council now confirms the appointment of Mr Basham as county engineer. Cr. Hare seconded, and the motion was carried. The clerk stated that the resolution passed at the last meeting, when the agreement was- read and ordered to be signed and sealed, was sufficient indication of the council’s intention to appoint Mr Basham.