ENGINEER'S RESIGNATION.

Shannon News, 13 December 1927, Page 3

ENGINEER'S RESIGNATION.

ACCEPTED WITH REGRET BY COUNTY COUNCIL. APPLICATIONS'TO BE CALLED KOl3 TUB POSIT LOIS. Tlii l resignation of Mr W. N. Anderson from the position of Comity Engineer came before the Horowhenua County Council, in the form of a letter, on Saturday afternoon. Mr Anderson wrote as follows:-: — "J have to request the Council to accept my. resignation from the position of County Engineer in accordance with the terms of my appointment, to -:dafe from the 10th iiist. Meanwhile and to the end of the. term I will carry out the duties of the office to the best of my ability. '"Owing to the slate of my health, and aciing on medical advice, I have, to take this course, ami for a time at least get'away from cnirying so large a responsibiliiy as my present work involves. Naturally one would have liked to have seen the Main Highway scheme brought to a successful conclusion, bu: it is "satisfactory to know that the work can be carried on without any serious difficulty by whoever may be appointed to take'up and finish the work." The chairman i/Mr G. A. Monk) said he regretted the necessity for Mr Anderson's resignation and the reason for ■its having been brought- about. The speaker probably recognised, more than anyone else, the difficulties Mr Andei : son had had to contend with, and he thought that these were primarily the cause of that officer's breakdown in health. At the same time he fe.lt tha:. although their highways scheme had not come out exactly as they had expe'eted, he had yet to learn that all schemes did so. 'lie thought Mr Anderson would leave behind him, particularly in regard to the Main Highways, something .of which he might justly be proud. While the chairman was sorry that Mr Anderson did not see his way clear to complete this, he felt that rheir engineer would have left a mark in this district for which there would be appreciation for many years to come. It was necessary, under the circumstances, that the Council should accept" the resignation, and he would move that it be accepted with rcgretA There was a question as to whether, in view of the state of Mr Anderson's health, the Council should release him from all further duty in the future. That was a question which the speaker thought would be taken into consideration and probably be discussed by the 'Council, or alternatively whether Mr Anderson be requested to carry on for the three months, of which he had to give notice. I-I.e understood that it .was the wish of' -.lie Council that, under the cue urn j stances, the engineer lie released from j further service. j

Cr. Ryder (chairman of. the Works Committee) said he believed that fir* was the wish of the majority of'the Council. He did not think it was ne-c-es-.-aiv to. say any more.

The' chairman said he had. a. resolution, moved by Cr. McLeavey, and secaided bv Cr. Jensen, that on account of the state of health, of the Engineer, he be given three months' holiday on full pay and that at the end of that 'rime his service would terminate. The chairman said the effect of th:s would be that, at .the end of the Engineer's ihrce months'' notice, the Council would be giving him a further three months' pay'on holiday. He did not think the mover intended' that. The, Engineer said that his office would terminate on March 10th. Cr. JNJcT-euvev: !N"(.>. ■ The chairman: I would support thai, but it is not. the wish of the mover. Cr. McLeavey: The chairman knows whal 1 mean, all right. . The chairman said he was not joking about the matter. Anybody could read into the motion what he had said. Cr. Kilsby: It dates from to-day, The Chairman: You must understand that Mr Anderson's employment'with che Council does not terminate until March 10th. He is required, under his agreement with us, to give us three months' notice, terminating on March 10th.

Cr. McLeavey: Do you want me to write out another, motion ? The Chairman: No; but I don't want you to put that through/ because I know that it is only going to bringabout complications. I want to move that the resignation be accepted with regret. Cr. Ryder: Owing ,to his health. I too agree. i Cr. "Kilsbv: Owing to his health, from LO-day. I'think that will meet with the wish of the Council. The Chairman: I understand they wish to release him from further duty. The chairman then moved as follows. Cr. Barber seconding: —That in view of the circumstances mentioned in the communication from the County Engineer, dated December sth, .1927, this .Council accept with regret the resignation of Air W. N. Anderson, and ; hut, in consideration! of Cue state of h : s health, from date until the termination of his engagement he be relieved of all duties.

"There stems to be a certain suspicion attached to this," the chairman remarked. "I don't, know what, you .-ee about it. If you think it should be worded in any other way, I am prepared to accept an amendment," Cr. Jensen: 1 am quite prepared to support it. The Chairman: I regretfully support it.

The motion was then put to the meeting, and was carried unanimously. On the motion of Cr. Ryder, seconded by Cr. Bryant, it was resolved that the assistant engineer lie authorised to carry on in the capacity of engineer from date until further notified.

It was also resolved, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Dryant, that applications be called for the position of engineer to the Council, the same to ch.se with the clerk at 12 noon on January 13th, 1928; the salary to be £SOO per annum, increasing by £25 perannum until £6OO is reached; and further that a committee consisting of the chairman and Crs. Whyte, Catley and Ryder, with the clerk, draw up the conditions of the appointment, and

make such arrangements in respect to the present car as they deem necessary and report on the advisability or otherwise of purchasing a new car; such committee also to open and elassity applications for the position of engineer before the Council's January (IJ)JJ>) meeting.