RUCTIONS AT ROSKILL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 101, 20 July 1927, Page 13

RUCTIONS AT ROSKILL

DESIRE FOR ECONOMY MEMBERS AT VARIANCE WHO GOT THE POLICE? Rumours had been prevalent for some days that “high jinks” could be expected at the meeting of j Mount Roskill Road Board on I Tuesday evening. Rumour on this occasion was not a lying jade. AJR. E. J. JONES presided, and he was confronted with a most difficult and disagreeable task in maintaining any reasonable degree of decorum in a gathering where the pointer of the barometer remained at a veryhigh degree. The business was to discuss the estimates with the view to striking the new rates, and such was the financial position shown (an adverse balance of £1,200) that the point for decision resolved itself into either drastic retrenchment (including the cutting down of staff salaries) or a serious in crease upon the rate to be levied. As chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. T. Davies presented an unusually extended report. With the view to relieving the position, the engineer, Mr. J. D. Whitmore, reported that he had still further reduced his estimates (now at the lowest possible minimum), whereby several hundreds of pounds might be saved for the time being. Mr. Tozer, attempting further economy, protested that the proposal to allocate to the engineer the sum of £IO,OOO to carry out the improvements of 7S roads in seven months was an utter impossibility, and he moved the reduction of the amount to £B.OOO. BAD MANAGEMENT Mr. Davies argued to the effect that for the past four years, at least, the financial affairs of the board had, apparently, been managed in quite the w ong way. He pointed out that their neighbours at One Tree Hill had managed their finances in a far more successful manner—an assertion which elicited some very sharp retorts from members of the old board. Pressed to openly state his views as to reduction in the office staff salaries, Mr. Davies maintained that the costs involved in the salaries was heavier than the district could bear. Instead of paying the clerk £9 10s per week, he considered that £8 should suffice, whilst the salaries of the other members of the indoor staff should be cut down to effect a to;al saving of £175 per annum.

Aspersions were cast upon the lethargy and utter indifference of the old works committee in dealing with road improvements, and ending their responsibilities by merely accepting the engineer’s reports. The recent bone of contention (so vehemently debated at the last meeting) that the chairman had taken upon himself to order improvements in Quentin Avenue, where he resided, without getting authority from the board, was again introduced.

Mr. Jones replied that had all such works been left to himself and the engineer alone, a vast improvement in the appearance of all the district would speedily be effected, instead of continuing the shelving policy pursued under the old regime.

Mr. Robertson suggested that the fixing of the rate should be deferred until the board was satisfied as to the possible effect the new unimproved values would have upon the rating. He also pointed out that with increased roads, houses, etc., the work and duties of the clerk’s office were materially increasing accordingly. Mr. Kerr supported the actions of the old board, and considered it would be more creditable to the chairman if he paid visits all round the district on foot. Perhaps he would then spend £5 on the purchase of a punt to get about over the borough. The engineer had more work on hand than he could carry out; but, if left alone, he could accomplish more. NO FINALITY For about three hours the board continued to argue and debate items on the reports without, however, approaching any nearer to a decision Finally, the members decided to defer definite action until the next meeting, in the meantime making an effort to rearrange the estimates and endeavour to meet financial demands. Several members entered strong protest against any reflections upon the clerk, pointing out that his qualifications, capabilities increasing activities were recognised by all other local authorities in Auckland as second to no other public officer. He was the lowest paid of all the local and suburban town clerks, but had recently refused a much higher salary elsewhere. Subsequently Mr. Warren, with unmistakable indignation, severely condemned and resented unwarranted attacks recently made upon him by a member. He despised such actions, which had tended to humiliate him in his official position. One person had phoned him from Queen Street, Auckland, warning him that ho was “going to get hell” at that evening’s meeting, and other most objectionable circumstances had been made apparent of late. Such was his view of the position in which he had been placed that he asked the board to seriously consider his retirement from the service in three months’ time. This was followed by the engineer also protesting against attempted humiliation of the staff. Banging the table with his first, Mr. Brewer also declared that he “had enough of the damned nonsense taking place inside and outside the council.” He did not care a for anybody, and if the disgraceful scenes recently enacted in the board-room were not instantly ended, the board could accept his resignation. Mr. Tozer spoke in a similar strain, avowing that he was also seriously contemplating quitting the board. Hostilities, with serious allegations and denials, continued for some time, particularly when Mr. Kerr asked who caused a policeman to be in attendance at the previous meeting. This was characterised as the most serious, unnecessary and undignified circumstance that had ever occurred at the board meetings, disgusting to members and ratepayers alike. Finally the chairman, in well-bal-anced terms, successfully advised an end to all recriminations and ill-feel-ing, and the meeting toned down somewhat, although the atmosphere remained at an undesirable temperature to the end.