Waiuku Town Board's Engineer.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 259, 24 December 1914, Page 4

Waiuku Town Board's Engineer.

Appointment Criticised

ITO THE EDITOR.]

Sir, --Although one does not like to rush in and criticise a newlyelected body, si ill the circumstances of the appointment of an engineer by the Town Board, as reported in your last issue, constitutes such a glaring instance of apparent maladministration that the ratepayers cannot let it pass without very strong averse comment. The chairman is reported to have said that the Board should try and Eelect the man best fitted for the position, and I slruld like to ask what qualifications the successful applicant had which could in any way compare with those of Mr Simmonds, and what led the chairman to record his vote against the latter. Mr bimmonds' credentials are unimpeachable and his testimonials come from men recrnnised as beina at the head of their profession n New Zealand.

Apart from qualifications, in which I submit Mr Simmonds stands incompirably ahead, have a majority of the Board not recognised that, where compatible with other things, local industry should be encourageri? If not there is a very timple way of bringing this principle forcibly under their notice, verb sap! Another point which does not seem to interest a majority of the Board, thcugh it is of paramount importance to the ratepayers, is that on the face of it th.* appointment of Mr Simmonds must have been more economical to the Bard; he hss an office here and, as I believe he 3tated in his application, would have treated Waiuku as his headquarters, const que.i ly saving to the Board heavy travelling expenses into which the present appointment will run them.

I wait with interest ai explana-

tin of a situation fchich, lacking a very sufficing reason to the contrary, c rfainly to the unprejudiced observer savours of jobbery, and would suggest that the Board in the interests of fair play, much less the besi interests of the disttict, fhould end an intolerable situation by rescinding their previous resolution, which on the fsce of it was arrived at without proper consideration, ar.d appointing our local and splendnly qualified en gineer, Mc Simmonds.—l am, etc., RATEPAYER. Waiuku, December 19th, 1914.

[TO THE EDITOR., h'ir, me, but I am one of these* queer people who love to see justice dore "though the heavens fall down," who like to tea the risjht thing done at all times and in all places. But even if I were merely one of thosd extraordinary people who like to get 'the most tor their money, or even value for (heir money, I should characterise the Town Board's appointment cl an engineer and surveyor as a most outrageous and unbusinesslike one. There was no excuse for the it had the qualifications >:nd diplomas set before it. ar.d had to decide how to get the best value for the money, rot of the members of the Brard, but of the ratepayers who elected thtm. And what did the Board do? It turned djwn a man who is uot only a licersed surveyor and the holder (f the degree cf Bachelor cf Science, but also a man of wide practical experience in local body works. Moreover, Mr Simmonds is a local tran who has set up an office here and helps the town along by paying rent and living a great part of his time here. J here is not, there simply cannot be, one in favour of the appointment made by the Board. 1 ekn't care who it is, but I will say that any fair man, after viewing the respective qualifications of Mr Simmonds and Mr Gannon, will unhesitatingly point to Mr Simmonds as the vastly better qualified man. What on earth ie the use of having a man to do our surveys who is not licensed by the Government, who cannot sign any

plan which will be officially recognised by the Government as coming from an authorised surveyor? It fairly makes one rub one's eyes and csk the question—what was the leason of the appointment of the man referred to? There must have been some reason, aud the ratepayers, whose money will pay for Mr Gannon's services, are entitled to have it.

In Waiuku ore hears very big talk of "helping the district on," of "helping local industry," and here on the first possible occasion our town representatives declare for the outside men, nay, actually go out of their way to appoint him. It seems to me that tome of the members of our Town Board are quite ready to benefit by the maxim of "supporting Itcal industry" but, ignoring the equally good maxim of "live and let live," deal with an outsider with other people's money, and make a bad bargain at that.

Obviously, if we want to have the luxury of a licensed sutveyor on the spot and one who will not charge travelling expenses to and from Waiuku, we will not encourage him by going to Auckland for one. It'a obviously ridiculous to hope t develop business in Waiuku by going elsewhere. A very important point, which does not seem to have occurred to the Board, or if it did must have been lightly passed over, is the additional security that good work will be done by a licensed surveyor. A licensed surveyor is liable to be brought to book and his license taken away at any time if he acts unprofessionally or does bad work. The present appointee, not being a ifcensed man, has nothing like that at stake. He will be responsible to the Board only. If Mr Simmonds happened ti do bad work and it came before the notice of the Board of Surveyors he would immediately lore his license; but if Mr Gannon does bad surveying he might lose his appointment under the Town Board, but cettainly nothing else, If the Board had chofen a licensed man they would also kr.ow how they stood with regard to charges for surveying and engineering, because a licensed man is under the control of the Board of Surveyors and must charge according to that body's scale. Mr Gannon is under no obligation to anybody, but can charge as much as he likes. These are all plain facts which cannot be disputed. Now, will some of Mr Gannon's ready supporters on the Town Boaid defend the man of their choice by explaining their reasons?—l am, etc., "DISGUSTED." Waiuku, December 18th, 19.'4.