FORTY YEARS AGO

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3276, 16 June 1943, Page 3

FORTY YEARS AGO

ECONOMY IN THE COUNTY REDUCTION IN THE STAFF CRITICISM OF THE STEP TAKEN (From the Ohinemuri Gazette of June 16, 1903) At the usual meeting of the finance committee of the Ohinemuri County Council we learn that the county engineer was instructed to keep the wages sheet down to £2OO per month, and to dispense with the services of the assistant engineer. This was done no doubt to economise, but as to this we can only surmise, as the matter did not come before the ordinary meeting, and was not therefore open to the press or reported in our columns. If it is for economy we venture to say that it is false economy at the present juncture and in view of the fearful state of the roads throughout the country, many,of which, if not kept up, will require double the expenditure in the course of a few months. Then, again, with reference to the assistant engineer, it is simply a matter of impossibility for the engineer to look after the whole of the contracts now in progress, and see that they are carried out according to specifications and it is essential to have an assistant engineer. It is a matter of great regret that the Council cannot see its way to keep the men employed during the winter months, and thus endeavour to keep the roads in repair. To-night, however, a number of men have to be put out of work in order to keep the pay sheet to a limit and we feel sure the action will not be taken with very, good grace by J the public. i