ON TRANSFER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32423, 26 April 1944, Page 5

ON TRANSFER

PAEROA TO WHAKATANE NOT TO BE REPLACED TRAFFIC-INSPECTOR DOGGETT Advice that the Paeroa traffic inspector, Mr R. Doggett, was being transferred from Paeroa to Whakatane and that it was not proposed to replace him but work the area from Thames, was received at the April meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council from the Commissioner of Transport Mr G. L. Laurenson. The commissioner wrote to the council as under: — “In view of the man-power situation and a considerable diminuation of work, it has been decided to reduce the traffic staff of the Transport Department by some 12 men. This means a readjustment of the territory covered by the various inspectors and the elimination of a number of the present traffic stations. The Paeroa station is among those which it will be necessary to eliminate. Inspector Doggett is to be transferred to Whakatane and his former district will be controlled by Inspector 'G. A. R. Ferguson, who will remain stationed at Thames. No Resident Inspector

“ As the existing agreement with youi’ council provides for an inspector to be stationed at Paeroa, I would like the council to consider whether it is prepared to continue its arrangement for control of traffic within the borough by the department without a resident inspector. I am confident that a satisfactory service can be given to the town, particularly as the

Thames* inspector is situated only 20 miles away and will be covering the district surrounding Paeroa. I am prepared to enter into a modified agreement with your council on this basis. The traffic staff has been considerably increased during the war on account of additional emergency duties. However, this work has now largely disappeared and in view of the fact that traffic on the rural highways is now extremely sparse, and is likely to remain sparse for a considerable time, I do not feel justified in retaining men who could be more usefully employed in other essential industry. The step is a temporary one and will be reviewed when traffic returns to normal. “ I would ask your council to at least, give a trial to the above proposal. I do not wish the department’s association with your council, but if the proposal now pur forward is unacceptable, I regret that it will be necessary for me to terminate our present agreement. Decision Of Council “As it is desired to effect the transfer of Inspector Doggett without delay, it should be appreciated if your council could give urgency to this matter. “ I have already discussed the proposal informally with His Worship the Mayor and Chief-Inspector Treadgold of my Auckland District is available to discuss details with your ‘council. The Mayor, Mr Edwin Edwards, reported that the committee appointed by the council had had a conference with the chief inspec’er. The committed had pressed very hard to have a traffic inspector stationed in Paeroa and Mr Treadgold had appreciated the value of Paeroa as headquarters. The Mayor recommended that the council accept the terms of the commissioner if it could not be arran' r ed to have an inspector stationed in Paeroa f* trial only the whole position to be reviewed in 12 months’ time. I