THE COUNTY ENGINEER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 37, 18 May 1916, Page 5

THE COUNTY ENGINEER.

i STORM CLOUDS PASS AWAY. 1 ! 1 At the meeting of the Stratford County Council yesterday afternoon, in am ordance with notice given at the previous meeting, Cr. Baskin moved that “the services of the Engineer be dispensed with.” Speaking to the motion, he quoted some instances to bear on t his contention that the Engineer overrode the Council. He had granted permission for the crushing plant to be used outside, without first obtaining the permission of the Council. Cr. Smith seconded the motion, and agreed with Cr. Baskin in the strictures passed upon the Engineer who had, the speaker maintained, no right to lend the crusher on his own initiative. In his opinion Cr. Baskin was a good, conscientious worker and was not fairly treated by other Councillors. Among other matters, Cr. Smith stated that the West Riding was neglected, and alleged numerous cases to show that estimates for work did not agree with the ultimate cost. The “pin-pricking” of which himself and Cr Baskin were accused, was only fair, honest criticism, and though only in a minority on the Council, it should be remembered that if they chose, they could exhaust all the forms of the Council in order to obtain fair treatment. If the Engineer looked at matters in a proper light, he would realise that he was unsuited for the position and retire gracefully. Without further discussion the motion was put and rejected the only supporters being Crs. Smith and Baskin.

Or. Chistogel then moved: “That tho Engineer’s salary be increased/' and speaking in support of the motion, said he was surprised and disgusted at the constant heckling that the Engineer was subjected to by certain members of the Council. Nearly all tho complaints were trivialities and he doubted if a man could bo found in the universe with a sufficiently narrow mind to satisfy the parochial wants of the Councillors referred to. He moved that tho amount of increase should be £25 per annum for the present, for two reasons i—one that the cost of living was going [up, and the increase was only a fair one; and the other, as a special mark of the confidence and appreciation I which the majority of the Council felt for the Engineer. Cr. Anderson seconded, and while Jnot claiming that the Engineer was 'perfect, he had done and was doing good work and was entitled to support, j Councillor Walter supported the motion strongly. The Engineer was n painstaking, conscientious man, whom it would be very difficult to replace. He made thp ratepayers’ money go as far as possible, and though woTking under difficulties through shortage of labor, was entitled to all allowance 'and consideration from the Council, j Crs. Worthington, Coleman, and |Were supported the .motion, and Crs. i Baskin and Smith opposed it with j much vehemence, the latter declaring {that it would be “an unpardonable sin—nay, a .damned sin” if the increase was voted. (Laughter), j The Chairman, in putting the mo,tion, said he was not going over the old ground. The Engineer had not applied for an increase, and the onus of ‘granting the same, if any, rested on j the shoulders of those who had forced I the position by their constant fault--finding. The Council was showing, as 'a majority, its appreciation and confidence in the Engineer.

| The motion was then put and carj ried by 7 to 2, Crs. Baskin and Smith being the dissentients. Before the Council rose, Cr. Walter, with the Chairman’s permission, ad(dressed Councillors on the unfortunate i position matters were in at [He said a cloud was over the Council, (which was a very great pity, and very | unlike old times, when Councillors iwere a happy family and none of the (present friction existed. Why not i bring back and preserve the old friendship, and cheat the lawyers. It was known that certain Court proceedings wore pending between officials and •Councillors, and he had been iustru- ! mental in getting matters held over unitil after this meeting. “This Council jhas vindicated our Engineer better than the Court could have done,” said ;Cr. Walter, “and Cr. Smith could never prove the Engineer ‘incompetent’ in Court.” The Councillor named could only plead “privilege,” and if he took refuge in that plea the ratepayers would surely turn him down. Mr Lopdell came to Stratford with a great reputation from Waimate and Southland, and could well afford to ignore what had been said. If Cr. Smith could prove the Engineer incompetent in any work of over, say £IOO, he (Councillor Walter) would pay £4O to the' War Fund on condition that if Cr. Smith could not substantiate his charge, that Councillor should contribute £5 to the same fund, and concluded with “There, Mr Engineer, is that good enough?” Cr. Smith thanked Cr. Walter for his efforts to restore friendly feelings, and said that he had no recollection of ever using the word “incompetent” in connection with the Engineer. _Ho had certainly said he had lost all confidence in him, but maintained that in all his criticism he had been actuated by honest motives and spoke from conviction, and a sense of his duty to the ratepayers who had voted him to the Council. Assuming that he had used the word “incompetent,” he unreservedly withdrew it, and would be pleased if, as Councillor Walter suggested, Councillors could once more resume the old relations.

The Engineer } Mr Lopdell, with the Chairman’s permission, made a personal statement. He thanked Cr. Walter for his attempt to bring an unpleasant matter to a satisfactory conclusion. He had been very reluctantly forced into the position of having to protect his reputation from ‘the attacks made upon