COUNCIL MEETING BREEZE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 571, 25 January 1929, Page 13

COUNCIL MEETING BREEZE

MAYOR AND FOREMAN DIFFER I j (From Oar Ousn Correspondent) DARGAVILLE, Thursday. A slight disagreement between the Mayor and foreman was ventilated at the monthly meeting of the Dargaville Borough Council last evening, when Cr. S. L. Spanhake took exception to a clause in the foreman’s report and wished it recorded that the committee had every confidence in the chairman of the Roads and AVorks Committee (the Mayor). The clause read: “Where there is a difference of opinion between the chairman and myself over materials and the way work should be done, I think the committee should inspect, and then I can carry out its instructions.” All*. lUobinson's (the foreman) grievance was that as the man who was doing the work, he thought that he ought to be allowed to express his opinion. He had been told by the Mayor to use certain materials which he considered were unsuitable, and lie thought that the committee should i have been called together so that theji could hear him and decide for themi selves the suitability of the materials. "It is most unsatisfactory, this ‘too many cooks business,’ ” said Air. RobinThe Alayor, Air. F. A. Jones, explained that invariably before instructing the foreman in any matter he consulted with other members of the committee. They were not all men of leisure and could not come together at any time. Ho pointed out that when instructions wero given to the foreman he should carry them out. The efficacy of the work was not the foreman’s responsibility. All*. Robinson: Have I ever not done what you told me? The Alayor: I have had difficulty in persuading you to do what I have asked. Air. Robinson: I only want to meet the committee and get their instructions. rf 1 had not put this in my report other members of the committee would not have known. The Alayor indicated that he did not propose to argue further, as the report had been referred to the Roads and Works Committee.