BOROUGH EXTRAVAGANCE.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1042, 4 June 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH EXTRAVAGANCE.

, ; (to the editor.) Sir, —Last month in reviewing the annual balance-sheet and accounts of the Borough Council you ■■ pointed out that particular attention should be directed to the Engineer’s department—pointing out that an expenditure of £2136 15s 6d on works cost £682 10s for “ engineering”—and that this extravagance must cease. As a ratepayer, I have looked anxiously to see if any steps were being taken by the Mayor to eradicate that, which under the name of “ engineering,” is mining swiftly and surely onr local body. Oar Mayor was elected because it was well understood by the ratepayers that the affairs of the Borough were in such a state that they required a man to guide the Council who would curtail every needless expense, and who would act with firmness and decision. Our Mayor has been in office six months, and I would ask has he acted up to expectations in the matter of the Engineer ? About nine months ago a resolution was carried unanimously by the Council, asking the Engineer to explain the terms of his engagement with the Cbtmcil; and, after treating the request with silent contempt for about six months, he at length condescended to tell them his was a yearly engagement, and that any resolution the Council might pass he could not consider binding on him. Now some months have elapsed since this, and nothing definite has been done to put this matter on a clear and satisfactory footing. It is oho of those disagreeable things, that if not referred to the Works Committee, is quietly shelved; and would appear to bo intended to be handed over to the next Mayor.

If the Mayor will not do his duty in this matter, is there not one councillor out of nine with the moral courage to stand up and demand that the Mayor shall, without further delay, have a proper agreement entered into. , .As far as I can learn the has only to give part of his time to Borough. He is allowed private practice and that without limit; for part employment his salary is £2OO a year. I understand that the office work, including all map making and plans, has been executed by two draughtsmen, Messrs Watts and Phillips, employed by the Engineer and paid for by the Borough. 'One of these gentlemen is, I believe, still on pay, although there is now apparently no work that requires any such assistance. In fact, to my unprofessional mind we have an expensive sort of Engineer King with a large salary for simply allowing the Borough to have the honour of his occupying the position and signing his name to maps and plans in a fine flowing hand. All the real work in the office and out of it would seem to be done by qualified men without the rank and paid by the Borough. .It would appear that instead of decreasing expenditure in the Engineer’s department it is being increased, for an overseer has been appointed to superin-" tend the laying of Beere’s celebrated “ ass-felt con-glora-o-ration” water channels down Bedford street. He has been “ superintending” for two or three weeks back at £3 per week and is still I believe employed, although little, if any, channelling is being made. How long is this to continue, and how many more of them are we likely to have to swallow up the few pounds remaining ?—« Yours, &c., Non-professional.