WATER AND DRAINAGE MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2542, 13 February 1923, Page 3

WATER AND DRAINAGE MATTERS.

WORKING FOREMAN’S RESIGNATION.

DISCUSSED BY THE COUNCIL,

At last night’s Borough Council meeting the resignation of Mr J. J. Reid as working foreman of the water and drainage scheme was received. Mr Reid stated that he had accepted a position as foreman to the Wairarapa Electric Power Board and asked to be released from his duties as soon as possible. The Mayor, said that he had written to the. borough engineer re Mr Reid’s resignation as soon as he heard he was going, for a furtherance of time, but Mr Climie had been away and evidently did not receive his letter.. Mr R. Climie submitted two telegrams he had received during the afternoon from his brother re extension of time which read that Mr Reid’s appointment would have to be cancelled unless he arrived at once. Mr R. Climie said that Mr Reid was the only applicant whose qualifications met with the requirements of the Power Board and they wanted his services in connection with a big scheme. Mr Neville, the other Council employee, was quite capable of carrying out the completion of the borough scheme. There were also a number of capable men employed on the water and drainage gang and if Mr Neville had Mr Krebbs as his first assistant no trouble would occur.

The Mayor said'that he considered it was extremely unfortunate that the Council should lose Mr Reid’s services before the completion of the works. Mr Reid had done his work whole-heartedly and had given the Council every, satisfaction. Mr Reid had a happy gift of being able to control men a gift very few possessed. Mr Reid was willing to stop on for a short while if an extension of time could be obtained from the Power Board’s engineer. The Mayor suggested an increase of pay. He considered the engineer’s treatment very unfair to the Council. The Council should have two weeks’ notice of termination of agreement. The notice of resignation was only put in on Thursday night. They could detain Mr Reid Until one week had expired after the receiving of the notice. Cr. Ross said he quite agreed with the Mayor. They had eeived proper treatment from the engineer. Some mutually satisfactory arrangement should haye been come to. He was of the opinion that the had a big job on and had not given the Council any consideration.

Mr R. Climie said he would like to see Mr Reid stop until the end of the week but the telegrams conveyed urgency.

The Mayor suggested interviewing the chairman of the Wairarapa Power Board.

Mr Climie said that they had a man ready to take Mr Reid's place if the Council did not think the scheme could be done by the local men. Mr Reid said that the local men were quite capable of carrying on the work, quite as capable as he was. If he thought he was leaving the Council in a. hole, he would put up a fight to stay. There was no chance of the men making a mistake. They have now got the water to test joints and therp was nothing to worry about,

The Mayor suggested calling tenders for completing the rest of the work if Mr Reid’s services were to be lost.

Mr Reid said thaf- there was only 145 chains of pipe to lay—three weeks’ work.

Mr Climie said he was sore about Mr Reid having to go. He would, however, come down every week end and supervise without extra charge. Cr. Smith said that he was agreeable to Mr Reid going, provided Mr Climie gave the extra supervision as suggested. Cr. Thompson said that Mr Climie would have to take the added responsibility. Civ Ross said that provided Mr Climie would do that Mr Reid might ■just as well go to-morrow. Mr Neville said that he felt quite confident of' being able to do the work reqUired of him. Cr. Coley said that he was not satisfied with the treatment given the Council by the engineers all through and he questioned whether .the results would be the same in the absence of Mr Reid. x It was ihoved by Cr. Ross, seconded by Cr. Bryant that Mr Reid’s resignation be accepted as from Tuesday, the 13th inst. without prejudice to any negotiations with the engineer; that Mr Climie undertake to pay weekly visits to supervise the work done without extra charge and to accept full responsibility for the carrying out of work be accepted; that Mr \Y. Neville be placed in charge of the gang at a wage of £7 per week for three weeks. Cr. Coley opposed the motion. Cr. Smith said, he agreed with what previous speakers had said. He adversely criticised the engineer’s treatment of the council during the past two years. He would like to thank Mr Reid, however, for the way he had carried out his work. The motion was then put and carried, Cr. Coley dissenting. It was moved by the Mayor, seconded' by Cr. Smith, that the Council desires to place on record its high appreciation of the manner, in which Mr Reid has carried out his duties as foreman in charge of the water and drainage scheme and that a letter be conveyed to Mr Reid to that effect.

” The motion was then carried unanimously.

The Mayor said that Mr Reid was going to better himself and he wished him every success in his new work.

Mr Reid thanked the Mayor and Councillors for their remarks and said that if they wanted his services at any convenient future date he would be only too willing to come back to Foxton. Mr Climie said he didn’t think the Council realised what a good man they had in Mr Neville.

It was moved by Cr. Ross, seconded by Cr. Bryant that at each monthly meeting of Council a report on lines as follows be made by engineer in charge of pumping station: Number of hours pumping; fuel and oil used; maintenance cost; number gallons water pumped; pumping cost per 1,000 gallons; time and what work done outside pumping station. —Carried.

It was also moved by Cr. Thompson, seconded by Cr. Smith, that provision be made for a tap at end of water main on Avenue Road junction of Spring Street. —Carried.