CONTROL OF LOAN EXPENDITURE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 201, 18 August 1916, Page 2

CONTROL OF LOAN EXPENDITURE.

Council's Heated Debate.

Mayor's Ruling Defied.

A decidedly stormy scene occurred at the meeting of tbe Pokekohe Borough Council on Wednesday evening last in connection with a discussion that took placs concerning tbe course to be adopted of carryi o(r "tbe water scheme into exication in the event of the proposed loan being approved by thev ratepyers. The matter leading up), to tbe angry arguments that ensued was tbe receipt trom Mr J. T. Stembridge, bon. secretary of the Pokekohe Ratepayers' Association, of a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of that Association to the effect that members ot the Association would vote for tbe loan scheme provided tbe Council agreed to engage an expert hydraulic engineer to report on the water project.

Cr Roadley led off and expressed his opinion that it would be tbe Council's duty to appoint a civil engineer to carry oat the water scheme. He therefore proposed that a reply should be sent to the Ratepayers' Association that it was the Council's intention to appoint an engineer such as waa suggested. Cr Clarke seconded.

Cr Barter claimed that the resolution asked for an engineer to be appointed prior to the poll being taken, which would be impossible, Cr Roadley contended that the Association would be satisfied if ai indication was given them of the Council's intention to appoint an engineer. In any case he ii*, not consider that tbe Council woold be justified in spending the ratepayers' money without an engineer in control. V^ Cr Patterson priboeed" aa an amendment that "thV letter be received." The Conncil, be Mid, bad agreed to carry the water scheme through in any eventuality and the course proposed by Cr Roadley was only going back on past resolutions. Ua considered thev would he very foolish if they lotto iiito consideration effusions emanating from ibe Ratepayer!' At*

ncialion. If members of tbat orgunisanon or any Cooncillor thought anything was wrong with the proposals why did thfey not come torward at the public nueting? It was his opinion that as with the n»ctric liebt the man moat capable

car ying tb-j scheme through was owe who had furnished it. Ht Top Mayor secorioe I Cr Patteramendment, remaking that IP<Mr McArthur bad promised to

assist by supervising the work

Cr Koadley u»ed that the circumstances of the ehctric lighting and the wat*r schemes were different. The former, he baid, was ■applied by an expert electrician and the latt?r by an employe of the Council. It wai one thing to lay out a scheme and another thing to carry it out. In the interests of the ratepayers he would ohjjot to the £4OOO for water being spent by rule of tnumb and not by an ixoert. In tajing what he did In wa' casting no refaction on the originator of the scheme. Mistakes had been maae in the pa*t, and be wanted to be' sure that in spending the monsy now it would be laid out to the best advantage and that the work would be a credit to them.

The Mayor expressed bis astonishment at tbe attitude taken up by Cr Hundley, who knew that it was the irtcntim of the Council to let the designer of tbe scheme, Mr Wyatt, carry it out. Cr Koadley had io effect insinuated tbat it would suffice for an ignorant man to design a scheme but a good many was required to carry it through. Where, he asked, was the most skill required—in the design or the execution? 'Cr Roadley had exhibited a curious perversion of the right couras and bis reference to "rule of thumb" was also cutiour. The Mayor, continuing, said: "What knowledge, 1 ask, bas Cr Koadlev of Mr Wyatt's experience. Has he, Cr Koadley, had engines ring experience. 1 have a knowledge of the science on which hydraulics are baaed-perhaps a knowledge more than tbat of any other laymap io Pukekohe—and I 8m able to ■ay that Mr Wyatt is essentially a scientific engineer, and the Council will go a long way before we can find an engineer to serve us better than Mr Wyatt. It is very foolsh to thiak tbat we can do better than let Mr Wyatt carry the scheme through." ANGRY WORDS. On the conclusion ot the Mayor's remarks Cr Koadley rose and claimed tbe right to reply to tbe Mayor's reference to bim, but tbe Mayor ruled bim out of order, and the following was the sequel. Cr Roadley: I want to make a pergonal explanation.

The Mayor: Obey the Chair, please. Cr Kcadley: I intend to make my explanation.

The Mayor, sternly: Sit down! Cr Koadlev: I shall not sit down. The Mayor, in a lord voice: Sit down!

Cr Koadley: I shall not sit down and you can go on yelling at me, but 1 shall not take, notice of it. if you say much more I will move that you leave the chair.

The Mayor, pointing to Cr Koaaley wi'hhis finger: Sit down! Cr Koadley: I won't have you pointing your finger at me. J The Mayor: Will you sit down and apologise to the chair.

£Cr Roadley: Certainly not. The Mayor, indignantly: I call on you to apologise for not obeying tbe chair.

Cr Rondley: You won't get any apology from me. The Mayor, to the Council: Very well. Yon «ee Cr Roadley defies tbe chair.—To Cr Roadley: Go on with your explanation. Cr Roadley: The Mayor has said that I kuow nothing of engineering, but for 45 years I have had experience of all classes of machinery

Cr F?tteraon, interrupting : I rise to a point of order. 1 am not going to ait here and listen to Cr Roadley'a self-glorification. CALMER TIMES.

Cr Roadley, after explaining tbat his was a personal explanation and not self-glorification, went on to say that particular care was necessary in regard to water and hydraulics. The place of the hydram and the distance of delivery were most essential points. If a mistake were made as to tbe position cf tbe hydram, even of one foot, it would be a very serious thing for tbe scheme. Cr Barter stated that Mr Wvatt had had experience of rams and had erected them, out nevertheless the arrangements were that the agents for the makers should be responsible for the erection of the hydram. He suggested that a reply should be Bent to the Ratepayers' Association staling that tbe Council intended tbat Mr Wyatt should carry out tbe scheme under Mr McArthur't supervision.

Cr Motion thought tbat the public would be satisfied with Mr McArthur to supervise. AN INTERLUDE.

Mr Wyatt: May 1 have a word

Lr Roadley: No; I object.

Mr Wyatt: Yes, I will. I only want to say tbat wben my report was under discussion I asked if any Councillor had any question to ask and there was no reply. TEMPORARY PEACE.

On the Mayor's suggestion the respective movers and seconders of both the resolution and amendment agreed to withdraw the same and to accept, a proposal made by Cr Barter that the Ratepayers' Association should be infomed that the time was too short for an engineer to be employed to report prior to the poll «» d tnat the Council intended that Mr Wyatt should carry out the scheme under the supervision of Mr McArthur, the agents for the makers of the ram to supervise its erection—A motion to the foregoing effect was adopted. ANOTHER BREEZE. Later on in the meeting an offer was read from a Christchurch firm to supply a certain type of steel pipes, whereupon Cr Roadley enquired ot Mr Wyatt if he proposed to use <uch oipes. Mr Wyatt, sarcastically: 1 will consult Mr McArthur. Cr Koa/Hey: It is your scheme ft* i w * nt y° u t0 anßwer '*• e;r Clarke: He won't bury the banner Mr Wyatt: i'es, 1 do Cr Clarke: Then why throw off.' Mr Wyatt explained that as the Council had just previously decided that Mr McArthur was to supervise the scheme it would be hi« duty to ™n«» 11 hKn us '" w,,al pipes should be used, He *Wwl that bis idea was not to use the pipes under consideration.

Chamber of Commerce's Action. At a meeting of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce held last evening the following resolution id regard to the loan proposals was adopted, viz., "That whilst approving of the principlea or the works to be included in the loan proposals, as submitted by the Borough Council, this Chamber cannot in the interests of the town recommend the ratepayers to allow the water scheme to be proceeded with unless the same ban been approved by, and its execution will be supervised by, soma leading Auckland Eoaiieer, and the Chamber fails to Bte wby the Mayor or the Waterworks Engineer should be afraid to submit the scheme to aucti expert if it will stand investigation.

As the outcome of a deputation from the Chamber that waited on the Mayor this morning, a meeting of the Waterworks Committee was held this afternoon, and consideration was given to the resolution passed by the Chamber. The Committee, however, decided that the same could not be entertained owing to time not permitting of a legal Council meeting being possible before the poll next Wednesday.

" Rule of Thumb." [TO THE EDITOR.] Sir,—When supporting the Ratepayers' Association's application at the meeting of the Borough Council on Wednesday for the appointment of a fully accredited hydraulic engineer to superintend the construction of the new water supply scheme, 1 stressed tbe danger and likely failure of any undettaking constructed under "rule of thumb." The Mayor ridiculed my remarks; but the admission made in the witness-box at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in the alleged coal stealing case, by the Waterworks Engineer that it is his usual custom ti "measure the weight" of all coal passing through !his handß by means r.f a kerosene tin, which he estimates holds 321bs, and also his assertion that the same receptacle, after being in use for a considerable time and being consequently stretched in all directions, woull not have a greater holding caracity than when it was first used, with its sides in perfect shape, must flagrantly demonstrate tbe eccuracv of the statements 1 made at the Council meeting in regard to defects of "rule of thumb" methods."—l am, etc., CECIL ROADLEY. Pukekohe, August 18th, 1916.