SANITARY MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 947, 28 January 1911, Page 3

SANITARY MATTERS.

DISCL-SION BY COUNCIL. At last night’s Council meeting the resolutions passed at an extraordinary meeting held on Wednesday, the ISth instant, in reference to dismissing the sanitary collector and pouudkeeper came up for confirmation. Cr Robinson asked if it was legal to call a meeting together in the manner in which it had been done on the 18th instant ; also whether it was a fair proceeding to “ sack ” a man without giving him a chance to defend himself.

The Mayor said it was customary to hear both sides of a case. He was not present at the meeting in question, and was not aware of what took place. Cr Robinson said as far as he could hear the man in question was dismissed without being given a chance to defend himself. At a previous meeting when a complaint was laid against an employee of the Council, the whole of the Councillors were unanimous (and rightly too) in favour of hearing the other side of the question before taking any action. If the man was wrong he should certainly be “ sacked,” but before doing so his explanation should be heard. Cr Robinson referred to it as “a dirty piece of business,” and said he was ashamed of the Councillors who sat at the table and voted for the motion.

Cr Speirs said he regretted that Cr Robinson was not at the previous meeting, as if he had been he would see that the course taken was the right one. The sanitary callector had neglected his duty. He had received money for doing certain extra work and had not done it. On account of the cart and horse being kept at the pound it was necessary for the positions of sanitary collector and poundkeeper to go together, and therefore he had been dismissed from both positions. There was no intention of doing the man harm and he vs as dismissed solely on account of grossly neglecting his duty. Cr Gibbs referring to Cr Robinson’s remarks about being ashamed of the Councillors who voted for the motion said as mover of the motion he was not ashamed of the action he had taken. When he was elected he had stated he would do his best to safeguard the ratepayers interests and this he always tried to do. There was nothing to be ashamed of. The Council at a previous meeting had received a complaint about the manner in which the work was being carried out and the collector had then had his duties distinctly pointed out to him and his wages increased by ten shillings per week lor doing certain work, Ever since then he had collected the extra money every week and had not done the work. The dirty business complained of by Cr Robinson was not on the Council’s side, but on the part of the workmen. Cr Gibbs concluded by saying that a man who would collect money for doing certain work, knowing that he had not carried it out was not fit to hold any position under the Council.

Cr Coley also spoke of the gross neglect of duly on the part of the collector and said there was no other course open to the Council than the one taker..

Cr Robinson said one thing he particularly objected to was “sacking” the man from his position as poundkeeper. Because a man was not fit to hold one position that was no reason why he should be dismissed from another. This was the first council table he had sat at and he hoped it would be the last that he would sit at and see business transacted in the manner in which this had been done. The Mayor said he was not present at the previous meeting but from the facts before him he quite agreed with the action taken. The collector had agreed to do certain extra work for ten shillings per week, and had collected the money and not carried out the work. A man that would act in that way was not fit to continue in office and the Council did quite right in dismissing him summarily. Cr Rimmer considered the right steps had been taken in dismissing the man. He considered the collector’s assistant was also to blame as he should have informed the Council of the manner in which the work was being neglected. Cr Speirs said it was not fair to blame the assistant as payment for the extra work supposed to be done was kept by the collector himself.

Cr Adams, who was not present at the meeting on the 18th inst., said he was fully in agreement with the action taken. He considered the collector ought to “tbank his lucky stars” that an action was not brought against him for obtaining money under false pretences. The action taken was confirmed.

It was moved by Cr Adams and seconded by Cr Speirs, that Mr J. McKnight be appointed to the position ot sanitary collector and poundkeeper. As an amendment Cr Rimmer moved and Cr Coley seconded, that applications be called for the removal of nightsoil and position of poundkeeper. Applications to be in by Monday February 6th. On being put the amendment was carried.