OTAKI’S WATER-WORKS.

Otaki Mail, 9 March 1923, Page 3

OTAKI’S WATER-WORKS.

A MATTEE VENTILATED. At the Borough Council meeting last night a request from the Works’ Committee asking the cost of laying the first mile of water mains was considered. The Clerk stated that the first 95 chains cost £s<l2 or in round figures £9

per chain. Cr. Cockrell said the ratepayers were not satisfied with the progress made, and that when they knew the cost they would be further dissatisfied. He contended that the proper staff was not engaged, and that the motion giving 11s should be rescinded as several of the men were not worth the amouni. lie moved that the men be graded and paid from 12s to 14s according to their ability.

Cr. Kilsby asked Cr. Cockrell to make the rate to pay from 10s to 14s, adding that one of the men was not worth ss. He had seen one man with a pick but saw no energy, attached to it. further, he maintained the way the men wore sacked was unsatisfactory, being unfair and unjust. Cr. Carlteok said men had been sacked because they were too big for special tv o rk.

The Mayor said the explanation given was that the men sacked were the least, efficient, and that it was impossible for big men to do certain work.

The Clerk said he had told the men they were the least, efficient, and that lie had pointed out that, the trenches were such that big men could not get into them.

Cr. Broadway said if the men were too big for certain work they could

have been put on other work. Cr. Kilsby said he was quite satisfied that the men had been put on under a ltacl system, and was satisfied more work could be got out. of them by working them in a different way, He maintained the men should have been toid they were inefficient when sacked. Before resuming his seat Cr. Kilsby moved that the work of laying the pipes from the raihvav be done by contract.

At this stage Cr Cockrell’s motion was put and carried. Cr. Bills said it would be a good plan to do the balance of the work by contract. If left to day work it would be another twelve months before the water was turned on.

The Mayor: This trouble has been going on for months and should have been brought forward earlier. The Council should be guided by the Engineer unless there is proof he has done wrong. If Cr. Kilsby had brought the matter forward before things could have been investigated: it was not fair to jump on the Engineer and staff.

Cr. Kilsby said he had mentioned about the men nor doing their work some time ago. He was not to blame for not having the matter threshed out —he had done his duty!

Cr. Broadway said he did not believe in the classification of men. If a man was not capable of earning 14s a day then sack him. If the Council was going to alter the wages there would be trouble. The Clerk said he had turned capable men away as he was instructed tp employ ratepayers. If lie was to be blamed he should be given full control. Cr. Kilsby said he was not keen on employing ratepayers only. Cr. Cockrell said the Engineer’s hands had not been bound—preference was only to be given to ratepayers. It was only recently that slow progress had been made with work. Of recent date the going had been easy with no deep sinking, yet only one-third of the work was being done compared with progress mode nt the start. ITiie Mayor: We hear a lot now, but it is a fact that a well-known Wellingion contractor congratulated nr- on the way our work was being carried out. Or. Kilsby said he would work under a different system, which caused the .. Clerk to remark that his system was I a? good as Cr. Kilsby’s. He consider-

ed the foreman had done remarkably well, and stated that if £jiv;jii fortnight ho Would prove good work was being done. The contract system had its advantages and if carried, out would save him work. After further discussion the Engineer was given a free hand in the employment of labour.