BOROUGH COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2623, 23 August 1923, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held on Tuesday night. Present : The Mayor (Mr John Chrystall) and Crs. Adams, Parkin, MeMurray, Alex. Ross, A. N. Smith and Bryant. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from Mr W. Roy re cancelling his appointment as municipal plumber, pointing out that lie had given up his home in order to take up the position. He stated he had worked for the Council for twelve days. He was not sticking hard and fast to the agreement, and would leave the remuneration to the Council. The following resolution was carried on the motion of the Mayor and Cr. Ross: —“That, while not prepared to make any payment under the agreement, which has not been carried out, the Council is willing to pay Mr Roy the sum of three guineas for the work of revising a portion of the by-laws, without prejudice to any other matter.” APPOINTING A PLUMBER.

Cr. Smith moved his motion to rescind a motion appointing a municipal plumber. In doing so, lie said the Council was not going to save money by such action. Such appointment, if a local plumber were appointed to the position, would lessen competition. There was not much in the work if a local plumber was prepared to give up business and accept a position under the Council at £6 per week. Cr. Adams, who seconded the motion pro forma, said if the Council employed a man they would not get the trade discounts allowed to tradesmen of from 15 to 30 per cent.

The Mayor said there was no reason why the Council should not get similar treatment to tradesmen. He urged that the appointment be made. The Council had received two applications for the position, and the applicant they had decided upon was a first-class tradesman, and with the assistance of Mr Neville the undertaking could be profitably worked. The Council had £2OO worth of material lying idle, and to go back on the previous decision would make the Council seem ridiculous. Cr. Ross said the Council’s original programme should be carried out, which would facilitate the work of connections. The Council’s object was not to make money, but to assist householders in every possible way, and the Council would be justified in making the appointment. Cr. MeMurray suppo led the motion. lie said there were plenty of to cope with the wok, and if not, the plumbers r odd obtain other men. The Mayor: The objection has been that there were not .-ulfioint plumbers to cope with the weak. Cr. MeMurray said they could overcome the difficulty. He did not think a plumber would throw up a good thing to take a job for the Council at £fi per week. Besides, outside plumbers could be obtained to do the work. Cr. Bryant could not support the motion. The need for the work being done was just as great to-day as months ago. Cr. Smith, in reply, said the Council would not look ridiculous if it changed its policy. It- was no use the Council employing a plumber to carry out the business at a loss. The work should be done by public tender. The motion, on being put, was lost. For: Crs. Smith, Adams and MeMurray; against: The Mayor, Crs. Bryant, Ross and Parkin. Cr. Smith said that Cr. Coley, who was absent, supported his views.

The Mayor withdrew his motion held over from last meeting re appointing a local plumber to the position in favour of a motion moved by Crs. Bryant and Ross, that fresh applications be called for the position at £6 per week. Applications to close on Saturday, September Sth. Or. MeMurray said if an outsider were not appointed they would not be any better oil' in expediting the work.

The motion was carried, Crs Adams and Smith voting against it