A WAITARA DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 4 February 1907, Page 2

A WAITARA DISPUTE.

WHAT CONSTITUTES "FULL T-LUE'"i The chairman of tlie Clifton Countv Council reported 011 Monday that lie nad been approached by the chairman of the Waitara Harbour Hoard, wli" was desirous of obtaining the services of -Ml' Dowsett, the eounly engineer, ill supervising the repairs to the Wai tara bridge. He bail explained' li j (he Board, however, that, the countv engineer was very busy just now, and had bis hands lull. Kntepayers waiting for roads would growl if they got an idea that the engineer was doing ouvside work at tlie expense of theirs. ,Mr Dowsett was soinewaat aggrieved, so he thought it as well to have the matter ventilated in Council. The chairman concluded that he had 110 personal feeling 111 ,he matter, and his action had been from a sense of just ice to the ratepayers, -Mr Jul! said it had occurred to him tiiai .Mr Dowsett should have been consulted in the matter. The Council should not block Mr Dowsett from earning a few pounds extra, provided tin- County work was not affected. Mr Dmvsett asked leave to explain. \\ lien he was engaged j( W as understood he was to give his "whole time'' <0 the Council, but that meant (lie whole of his ollicial time, !l to 0, an,l ] not (lie whole of his waking hours, wuiely. Dm, as the chairman and' some of tile councillors knew, 'he had given up Sundays and statutory holidays to this work, and lie thought he should not have been prevented from taking this engagement, which could have been done without interfering 111 the slightest with his countv work seeing that lie crossed the b'rid"e 11 •l'«en tunes a day. He could have supervised tlie work before or after Office hours. l| c had done professional work privately for the chairman. If tiiht iuul been done in nri vate time, why not this* and if it luul taken county time, why not so in tins instance'; One of ;i, members of the Council !,,„! K'le was work undone in the countv t u. engineer had not a minute to call own. Ie would never allow or. 1 f »•«"* »Hwt his duties to council.

, ( ' r - Wright llionght the com.,-; « "ui«i am™ ,he engine,., t„ , Uts,,lu I'.'ietieel uiiuit* uurk was „„t neglected. Mr Dow-ett said lie wis ..... ning after tdT ciMicd scvi'ial joh> -Mr Do\vs;'t virilism asked lor n modilication of liis agiveineii!, to giv,. ~i s whole time t tii council. H,. wanted permission ; "I 1 outside work w„en and 1 "." ,H ' How were thev to know when eonniv work wis i. jeeled? lie would 'draw his'salan" nether his coin,!y work was done or 1101'. t'r. .loll: Wasn't that a slip „f tintongue? One of „« would S()|)ll ••M|ueak 11 he neglected our work? ihe chairman: Tim vale,«,vers are •-I f <mg as ,t is. Th, people up lit. 1 iikearulie arc wailing for a road and they nave to lieln 1 , , , v. « : ,l.

-Mr Dowsett said there was no wait mg /or 'urn. llis work was up to time, lint otiier matters, signatures and SO fortli, had to be obtained be line the work could proceed. All lie wanted, he said, was Hi,, same right as was given to the poorest paid ~f the councils stall; the right to do what lie liked in iiis own lime. Mr Foreman rep ! ied that the ongin ! cor was conlincd bv his agreement" to | county work.

'fill' engineer: Hut surely I can do what I like on a Sunday, for instance? Mr Foreman: That's" for the council lo decide. Mi .loll: 1 beg to ililler. \Ve have no right to dictate to any employee as to his conduct or how he shou'd spend Sunday. They couldn't do it to a surfaceman. Mr Foreman: Hut Mr llowsetl is no! tile same sort of employee as a surfaceman. Mr .101 l moved that Sir Dowscll be allowed to act fnr the Harbour lioard in file matter of the bridge. Mr Uowsclt: JtV too late, its ail been araiiged.

Mr Joll: Then what are wc bark ing at?

In the end it was decided that the engineer may engage in outside work, provided the chairman is satisfied such work will not interfere with his du'lies under the council.