SUPERVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS

Southland Times, Issue 1173, 29 November 1869, Page 3

SUPERVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS

(TO THS EDITOR OF TBE TISCE3. )

Sir, — It was stated in the Council today that the province had benefited to the extent of some £3000 per annum through the leasing of the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway. This appears to me to be open to question, and to depend on many other tilings besides the mere putting down of certain figures on the balance sheet of the Appropriation Ordinance.

It was also stated that further departmental economy or reduction was impossible, and yet there "appears on the estimate sheet a Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Eailway Manager, at £300 per annum, an Oreti Railway Civil Engineer at £500 per annum, with an Assistant Engineer at £300 per annum, and a Eoads and Public "Works Engineer at £300 per annum, when everybody knows that the three departments might well be rolled into one, under the management of

one good and efficient Civil Engineer, with his own staff of professional pupils, and perhaps a small allowance for occassibnal or extraordinary professional assistance, at a time when heavy extra works were being executed. In no place except Southland would such a multiplicity of, offices and departments be allowed to ex'st commensurate with such a small amount of work to be done. — I am, &:., Common Sexse. November 23, 18G9.