UNAUTHORISED WORK.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 8, 1 May 1912, Page 2

UNAUTHORISED WORK.

I «, [And a Time Sheet Trouble. I A very sultry discussion developed | nt the last meeting of the Pukekohe ! Town Board. It arose in a curious 1 way. It will be remembered that 1 some time ago Messrs Roulston Bros, requested the Board to accept dedication of a new road to continue along Hall-street (past the Post office, off King-street) and then to the west to Library-road. The conditions of metalling were arranged but later on a doubt arose as to the effect that might be produced by storm water being diverted by the new road. As liability to"the Board appeared to be involved the Chairman (Mr R. F. Webster) moved to rescind what had been done. His motion was postponed pending an understanding being arrived at with the owners of the properties jaffected. But meanwhile work went on, men engaged by the Town Board being employed on the job. The question was, Who engaged them? One of the men, T. Hunter, had been put off but he had not been paid and his endeavours to get his money disclosed a vary curious state of affairs. The Board collectively, and the Chairman specifically, denied that any authority had been given for work on this road to be proceeded with. The Foreman (Mr S. Little) claimed that the Board hsd instructed him to go on with it. The accounts due to the workmen were consequently challenged, and Hunter, who had worked for seven days (five days on the new road) was only paid fur two days. Similarly payment was refused to the other men who had worked on the new road. Hunter made a sensational charge about his time-sheet, namely, that the sheet he signed showed the work as having been done in Hams-street whereas it was done on this new road. He said that the time-sheet now pro- ; duced was not the time-sheet he had signed. The Foreman characterised < this statement as a lie and said this : sheet was the one he had issued lo ' Hunter. Commissioner Dell pressed for a i complete clearing up of the position i and at times the controversy raged 1 hotly. This trouble, and a discussion over i the water service, kept Board yo < ing until after midnight. <