Council staff restructure criticized

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 306, 26 September 1989, Page 4

Council staff restructure criticized

Maybe 1500 people don't count, but the management of the Waimarino District Council have a lot to answer for when Raetihi's affairs are concemed, and with the elections looming, now is the relevant time to reiterate these points. Point One: The Raetihi office number was deliberately excluded from the last edition of the phone book. This was the first step in downgrading and undermining the ability of those in the office.

Point Two: Two experienced office workers in Raetihi, one with many years experience in post office management, have been denied employment in the new regime through someone's managerial decision. Whose and why? Point Three: These same office workers had refused to work in the Ohakune office several weeks ago because of the poor working relationship between staff in that office. (How many people have resigned from that office?) Whose decision

was it to get rid of these people? Point Four: Why has a former senior management person been demoted and finally "got rid of" by losing out on the job stakes to someone of a lot less experience. Are we going to question her competence, too, even though she managed the Raetihi and Waimarino County offices for years? Point Five: Whose

decision was it to replace two workers in the Raetihi office with only one. It becomes apparent that the downgrading of the Raetihi office is occurring by hook or by crook - mostly by crook. Councillors, when questioned about the various matters have stated - "we don't agree with it, but we can't do anything about it." I thought that manage-

ment was accountable to council. I could (and will) be accused of parochialism but I suggest that the management take a close look at where their interests lie instead. Let's hope that the new district council management isn't so blatant about its preference as far as Raetihi is concerned, or at least that their public relations improve at least one thousand per cent, because I would say, the people of Raetihi would vote - NO CQNFI-

DENCE - if, given the chance to vote on the management of the W.D.C.

Leigh Ryland