THE COUNCIL’S CEMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 32, 9 February 1915, Page 6

THE COUNCIL’S CEMENT.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

The ingredients of the Borough Council were well mixed at the meeting lUst‘ evening, and; naturally, when dealing with- cement 1 , these set haid ‘when used in-the structure of verbosity. ' To -spend an hour, or more, in ‘rescinding a motion taking from the engineer the power to order ihe biarid ’“of s cement lie wanted, especially a s it transpired that nobody cared tuppence'which of'the throe brands( Golden Bay,” “Star,” or “Crown”) was ’used] ' all 1 being equal—to waste so much time, theft; it might be imagined there' was some underlying cur:reut at; york in the interests of a. ■particular'brand. But the opposite Was* really the' casej or, at any rate, it was so in the case of the mover of ( he resolution, Gr. Predric, who stressed point that he was fighting for a principle, viz., the interests of the ratepayers as a whole. In 'moving the motion, Or. Fredfic said'he wanted it fairly understood that he was casting no reflection upon the Council’s■ engineer (Mr Sullivan). "What the Council should secure was a guarantee from the other cement coriipanies. 1 Hb considered thqt' eVeryb'odj? who did business in| Stratford and paid rates was entitled j to a share' in- tlib ‘Council’s' business.

Cr. King seconded’the'motion; The Mayor opposed it. He said the polity that" : 'every ratepayer should have a share was all right' within reason, but this was a v jnatter that should rest with their responsible officials, for the reason that the Council' should entrtist them what to buy in the best interests of the Council and abide by : “that decision. As to a fair share, he thought the people .who -were making the reqpelst for the cement business had'had a good share, as within, siy. months they had received £SO ;' they 'evidently wanted more than a “fkir- share.” _As to the quality -of the cements, lie was. not prepared to discuss that. The Overseer’s opinion'was better than any ? and he should diave d free hand. Council should, not: .step iiij as that would'be a wrong policy. v . He. not agree that, the Council should be dictated to as to where' or_ what ma-terial-they should, buy. Gr. Thompson : Has the Engineer used any cement in the. work now gding on ? ' ‘ ! Mr Sullivam; in His reply, was evidently under a misapprehension (as was shown later)-as he replied, yes, in, Regan street, but not in Broadway. Thd-work seems all right.

Cr. Thompson, proceeding, said he differed from the Mayor. He wanted any firm to have a' fair share—not Necessarily any one selling cement. *The “Golden Bay” firm did not spend 'one' penny with' the Council. Gr. Thompson said' he did not want that point lost sight of. The matter had been rushed through' the Council meetings before. He did not impute ;pny wrong to the Engineer. He fstrohgly supported the resblhtiph 1 ;' Ere intended- thart ratepayers who could sell stuff to suit the Council should - get order? before’those who were not contributing rates. Cr. M'orison supported the motion.

Cry Richards thought the Engineer should let the Council’ know his objections if he had any. ’ Mr Sullivan: I have no objection to any brand of cement.' I 1 have been using cehieht in’ very large (Quantities for over 20* years. Tire reason I' am using “Golden Bay” is that I am responsible for it aiid this cement is the best on the market.

Cr. .King :"’ls the “Star” as good as.’“Golden Bay?”

Mr Sullivan: It appears to ho all right—my only object is to get the best material' for the Council.

1 Cr. King; The Engineer should know ff one cement is as good as another.

* Cf. ! Boon said the “Star” cement would stand the test anywhere, and he saw no reason why the Council’s orders slibhld not be Handed round. After Cr. Thompson rose to a point of explanation and Cr Boon again had a word, the Mayor said they were taking the matter out of the hands of the. Engineer, who considered “Golden Bay” was the best. In reply to a remark by the Mayor about “putting words into the Engineer’s mouth,” Cr Kjng said nothing of the sort had been done, as lie was the only councillor who had asked the Engineer any question.

1 Gr Fredric said he was prompted to move the resolution by the fact that they 5 were getting 5 a guarantee from the “Star” firm. So long as .they got that the Council had nothing ;to worry l ahotit. Cr. Masters, who at this stage made ihis first appearance in the discussion, promptly got on his feet' and emphatically controverted the idea of a guarantee. He said there was absolutely ,no guarantee with'dement worlf. The (firth/of course, a guarantee of tli6 'material' but the man mixing it had more to do with it than the man who made the cement. The guarantee applied to the cement, not to the structure built with it. The motion Avas then put to the meeting and declared' carried. But the meeting Avas far from finality, and a series of. motions folloAved fast upon the heels of one another. Cr Fredric set the ball in motion, followed by Cr Boon, Avho mentioned the firm of Bellringer. The Mayor: I cannot accept it in that form. Cr Boon protested that liis sole object was in the interests of ratepayers. Cr Richards then de/initoly moved that the next cement ordered be “Star.” Seconded by Cr Morison. Cr Frpdr’ft y«vwl ns an n m"T'd~ne:nt

that the Overseer be instructed to give a. fair share of the Council’s cement business to those firms who are prepared to , give a guarantee. * Seconded by the Mayor.

Cr Morison supported the motion. At this stage the cementing quality of the discussion was insufficient to hold together the attention of Cr King, who was well ensconced behind the latest copy of the New Zealand Times.

On the motion being put to the meeting the voting was 3—G. A further amendment by Cr Masters was that lots bo drawn for the first older.

This Was seconded by Cr Fredric, who said’he stood'for principle first and foremost; whether a man paid £1 or £IOOO in rates, it was all the | same to him. j Cr Reader enquired of the Mayor;

how the Council would stand with the Gaming and Lotteries Act under'such

a proceeding as drawing lots. The Mayor, smiling across the table at Gr Masters, said he could hardly accept the amendment, and eventually Cr Masters appeared to become resigned to the position. The hour was after ton, which might have accounted for the growing desire of councillors to become more conciliatory. At any rate, the reason, Cr Richard’s resolution was withdrawn, and by general consent it was decided that the orders “Go Round.”