ENGINEER OR FOREMAN!

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 221, 28 September 1901, Page 2

ENGINEER OR FOREMAN!

A DUAL POSITION. HOW IS IT TO BE FILLED? HARBOUR BOAKD SHELVES THE ' QUESTION. At the Harbour Board meeting on Friday, a batch of sixty applications for the position of engineer and foreman at the harbour works was laid on the table. The Chairman, explained tha* he had called for the applications when the Government inspector had stopped the sand pump, because it was not in , charge of a certificated driver, At this point Mr Connett wished to make a personal explanation, but Mr Hignett raised a point of order and this was upheld. Mr Ward moved that the chairman'" action in inviting applications be confirmed. Mr Italfe proceeded to refer to the sand pump, when Mr Connett raised a point of order. The Chairman ruled that the next business was to deal with the pump, and applications should bs opened. He ' moved accordingly, Mr King said the Board could not say at present how long it ould engage a man for, and these applications were for an appointment of a parmanent uaturs. He would vo'e for a man to be employed for a month. Mr Sarien seconded the chairman's motion. Mr Connett moved an amendment that a competent man be employed to work.the pump for one mouth, Mr King seconded. The Chairman (aid he must say straight out what he thought, He was confident the pump would have been working properly if reasonable care had been taken, There was a most peculiar agreement of opinion between those working the pump in the earlier trials, and people in the street and some members of the Board. Ai one of the men was connected with a member of the Board—he referred to Mr Connett, to be clear—he thought the latter should not be so prominent ia the discussion. Either one man should not be on the staff, or the other should not be on the Board. Mr Connett: No one connected with me has been on the staff for some timi. Mr Maxwell: There was one at the time I refer to. Mr Connett said ha was known well enough for people to form their own opinion of him. It was unfair and unmanly for the chiirmun to make/uch a charge as he had. 1 M ears Ward, Sarten, and Price also spoke, deprecating the personal tone of th« discussion, and condemning the chairman's remarks, Mr McLean : I rise to a point of order. A voice: The chair man started itMr Connett; I'm not going to withdraw my amendment, Mr King urged that a proper trial for a month be given the pump, to see what it could do. It would b ) useless to appoint a permanent engine-driver if he could not be given twelv.i month's work. The Chairman said the Board would still havH him for a foreman, Mr King pointed out that a foreman would have to be a different sort of mar> from an engine-driver,

After some further desultory discussion, the amendment was carried on the voice?. I The npplicatior.s already received will be be!d ov«r in the meinti up.