An Unpopular Appointment.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7747, 24 February 1905, Page 2

An Unpopular Appointment.

DISSATISFACTION OF BOROUOH EMPLOYEES. A deputation consisting of sixteen of the borough employees waited on the Works Committee of the Borough Council on Thursday evening to protest against the appointment. 'of T. McCarthy as ijorough foreman. . 'Mr Chivcrs acted as spokesman, and gave the reasons for the dissatisfaction which existed amongst the stall 'at the appointment, He also presented a petition from the men 'containing details of their grievances 'against McCarthy. I In reply to the Mayor, Mr Olivers stated that the engineer, must have 'known there was ■dissatisfaction among the men with McCarthy on certain matters. | In reply to Cr. Collis, the Mayor intimated that the foreman had been suspended, and he informed the |deputation that the engineer had power to' maku a temporary appointment until the Council elected a foreman. This duty having bvi-n im'posed on the engineer, he only did what was right in carrying) it out. | The engineer warmly protested against the course taken by the employees in laying their grievance befoio the committee before '..rinsing 'the ma tier to his attention. He had never, iin all his experience, known such a course to be pursued. McCarthy had proved 'niirself (to bo an ex-, cellcnt man for the position. lie assured tho men that no complaint had leached him, and thai he would I never allow any foreman to be harsh ( towards them,. "Do your work well, j and I'll lake care you are not suck- f cd," said the engineer, in reply to one ,' of the men who said there was a : ] rumour that McCarthy intended to ,'

"sack" one of the hands.. | air Chivcrs thought that the men shoiftd have boon notified that McCarthy had teen appointed foreman. He said he had .been in the Council's I employ for 2<i years, and the old order was that if the men, had a complaint they should bring it before Works Committee, and until that order was repealed he should uxlhero to iti

r i he Mayor pointed out that in tho old days every councillor, acted as an engineer, but now there was only one engineer, an d that officer was responsible for the work of the staff the Council wished every employee to;,be treated wiih civility and "respect, and he advised the men to wait till uppSicaeions were called for the position of foreman. | Cr. Ahier considered Hie men had erred through ignorance, and gave hem credit for doing what thev was right. He was conivinced that they would see that the Engineer would take care they were .fairly treated, '

| 11 he Muyor then informed the deputation that their petition would bu jcoiwidercd, ami Dial they might rely on being fairly treated. Mr (Jhivers thanked (he committee, and the deputation withdrew.