“No Inefficiency”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 507, 9 November 1928, Page 1

“No Inefficiency”

MURRAY CHARGES NOT SUBSTANTIATED TIME AND MONEY WASTED The so-called Murray charges have ended in condemnation of those who laid the allegations, and an assertion that the inquiry has been a waste of time and money. • The committee is forced to look upon rh© whole business as an organised attempt to disparage the administration of the City Council and its officials for propaganda purposes, rather than an honest endeavour to assist the council in clean. honourable, and businesslike methods of carrying on the business of the council.” was the final paragraph in the report of the special committee of the council set up to inquire into the charges. The report was presented o the City Council last evening. After reviewing the history of the inquiry, the committee reiterated its previous reports on kerbs and pitchers, and recommended the sale of the Stone Jug quarry. The committee said no new light had been shed on these Questions by the Inquiry, and much valuable time had merely been wasted. Apart from considering that Mr. J. Matheson, clerk of works, was unwise in being actively though not financially interested in a private quarry, the committee recorded his assiduous attention to his work, and merely recommended that the council should lay ✓town a definite policy for future guidance. DESPICABLE Regarding the suggestion that council material had been wrongfully delivered to an employee, the committee stated: “Your committee regrets to state that this was a despicable attempt by insinuation, without making direct charges, to attack art official of the council, namely, Mr. J. Tyler, assistant city engineer. The insinuations had no foundation of fact on which any honest inquirer would attempt to build a charge.'* "We certainly found nothing to warrant the large expenditure of public money, and waste of time of our officials and others incurred by the holding of this inquiry, besides the thorough disorganisation of routine office work, and serious weakening of discipline among our workmen through the very undesirable methods adopted by inquirers of gathering evidence and information from our workmen on the different jobs.” The report occupied 12 pages, closely typed. “LITTLE TO SAY" T have very little to say to-night,” .said Cr. Murray, when invited by the Mayor to comment upon the report. The fact that the report is detached from the order paper, and has just been handed out, is characteristic of the Star Chamber methods adopted right through. You bring a report down, and expect me to answer it in the 10 minutes allowed under standing orders. lam going to take this report home, and peruse it, and reply in the manner I think best. Cr. W. L. Casey: Oh, take the Town Hall! Cr. Murray: Yes, I might take the Town Mall! The Mayor: Address the chair, Cr. Murray. Cr. Murray was then heard grumbling in an undertone about the Mayor's rulings. The Mayor: I will not allow you to criticise my ruling. Cr. Murray: I am not criticising. The Mayor: Then deal with the matter you have brought forward. The councillor then sat down. "I would like to point out that Cr. Murray has had chances other councillors have not had to consider* this report,” the Mayor explained. CR. MURRAY’S FAULT ‘He is the last one who should complain. It was his own fault he resigned before the inquiry was complete. lam going to dispose of this to-night.” "Cr. Muray is not uhe accused, but the accuser.” observed Cr. J. A. C. Allum. He was of >pinion that the right thing had been done in not 'ringing the report down earlier. He nad the greatest sympathy with the assistant engineer. , r - Murray has been chasing the Shadow, and has lost the substance,” Ads . how Cr. M. J. Bennett viewed the Position. The report was adopted. Cr. Murray 'lone dissenting. The council exTessed commendation of the manner •committee had con--1 ucted its investigations.