PLAINS COUNTY STAFF.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4775, 12 November 1924, Page 2

PLAINS COUNTY STAFF.

ASSISTANT ENGINEER REMAINS. INSPECTOR TO GO. When general business vas called for at yesterday’s meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council Cr. Mayn brought up the question -of the dismissal of the assistant engineer and asked the engineer if he required th-3 assistant's services. The engineer said the council had agreed that the assistant would be retained if the loan money became available Councillors had no idea of the amount of office work in connection with the engineering department. Cr. Mayn said that the cost of the assistant should be charged to loans. If this could not be done his services should be dispensed with. The chairman (Cr. Miller) traced the position from the formation of the county, and mentioned the fact that ah assistant had been required by engineers in the past. The position was that a man and a half were required, as there was too much work for any one engineer. Cr. McLoughlin said that the engineer’s salary was paid out of the general account, yet he was necessary for the work involved in connection with the loans. His salary should be a charge on the work on which he was engaged. The ratepayers in the ridings where there were no loans had to pay but they received no benefit Cr. Madgwick said that when the assistant was appointed no loan money was being spent. He had been kept or. through the winter, and those councillors who had urged his appointment now urged his dismissal. They should have done so before the winter if they were truly considering the interests of the ratepayers, as they now professed to be doing. Cr. Hare stated that an assistant had been necessary owing to the number of estimates that were being asked for.

Or. Madgwick held .that the assistant was appointed prior to the requests foi estimates. In reply to Cr. Mayn the engineer said he could not see any reason why the a'-sistant’s salary should not be paid out of the loan accounts. Cr. Parfitt pointed out that if this had teen done the various riding overdiafts would only have been reduced by £3B 17s 9d each. Cr. Mayn moved, and Cr. McLoughlin se- onded, that the assistant’s salary be charged to loan accounts. Cr. McLoughlin said that this could not b regarded as permanent. Me wished to relieve his ratepayers of some of the burden. It might be possible to give the assistant the duties of the inspector and dispense with Mr Clare's services as inspector. In reply to Cr. Harris the cjerk said that he did not think the assistant could be retained as an assistant engineer if his salary was to be paid out of loans for work. Cr. Madgwick said the point was that the assistant would have to be retained as an assistant engineer or isacked. There was no doubt that had Mr Higgins still been the council’s engineer the question would not have been brought up. Crs. Mayn and McLoughlin appealed to the chairman on a point of order, whereupon Cr. Madgwick raid that he had had his say and nothing could be done to unsay it. The motion, not being in order, was withdrawn. Cr. Hare said that Mr Basham had stated at the previous meeting that with an assistant on the Plains and one a'. Thames he could act .as engineer for both counties. His ratepayers therefore wanted to know why two men were necessary. He did not see that the assistant was necessary. Cr. Madgwick pointed out that if the assistant was given part of the inspector’s work Mr Clare could be employed to do the bridge and hopper work. His total wages by the day would probably be more than he would receive than if paid by the year. tn reply to Cr. Mayn the engineer said that the assistant could find time to do the building permits and by-law business portion of the inspector’s duties. Cr. Mayn moved that the inspector be given one month’s notice terminating his appointment, and th.at the inspector’s duty be .transfened to the assistant engineer with the exception of that portion dealing with the collection of dog tax. Seconded by Cr. Miller and carried.