AN ENGINEER OVERWORKED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 42, 8 February 1908, Page 4

AN ENGINEER OVERWORKED.

The question of making fresh arrangements, as suggested by the engineer, for the supervision of road maintenance and the general engineering work of the Clifton County was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Council. Cr. Joll said that he had given the matter some consideration. It seemed that Mr. Dowsett, the engineer, was most anxious to get rid of the maintenance department, and was prepared to accept a smaller salary. The proposal was to make the surfacemen foremen and give them control of the roads. ll'. Dowsctt's duties would be to attend *o the ollice work and contracts. At present the surfacemen were directly under the control of the engineer, and would not move foot or finger without his instructions. Thus the men took no pride in their work, ami took no responsibility. Mr. Dowsett said he wanted something fixed up right away. He had 100 mu-h work for one man 10 do, and lie was working such hours that he was getting only laliorei's pay. about Is 3d an hour. His idea was that the foremen should take over the roads, and all'contracts up to £SO. He himself would superintend all larger contracts and do the professional work of the county for 200 guineas a year. Or, they could put a man in charge of the outside duties, such as the roads, the pound, wheel tyres, and so forth. He thought that the new system would be productive of more efficient road work, and it would certainly lighten his duties. He fully <vpceted that afler this long spell of fine weather there would be a deluge, and twenty calls at once on his time.

Members thought the foremen could be made to do that work, but the engineer said the foremen would not do a lot of things. The chairman said he would welcome a change. The foremen now would do nothing unless ordered by the county engineer. They had no responsibility whatever. It was not easy to find a county situated as Clifton was, but Stratford was very near it. There the foremen were directly responsible and reported to the Council. The engineer did such work as was ordered by the Council, but was to make visits to various parts of the district, and he was empowered to make suggestions to the foremen and to the Council. Tliat system worked well. The Stratford engineer was a nice sort of fellow with a lot of tact. He" was allowed to take other work so long as it did not interfere with the work of the Council. The foremen were paid 9s a day wet and drv, except in the case of the East Riding, where the foreman got 10s, as he always had a gang of men under him. In the Taranaki County the system was the same, except that the county engineer worked on commission.

In answer to Cr. O'Sullivan, the engineer said that he proposed still to hear the responsibility for maintenance' of bridges.

_Cr.oau.stad suggested giving further time for consideration.

Mr. Dowsett: I don't know that I'm prepared to accept that. Cr. fiaustnd: Then you're sick anJ tired of it, are you? Mr. Dowsett: I didn't say that. But I wanted to get rid of that'responsibilifv in nil these little things. Cr. 'Ratistad said the Council was eititled to a mouth's notice.

The chairman said that if the engineer would not accept the proposal to defer the matter, there was the usual alternative. For his own part, he wanted more light on the matter.

Eventually it was decided to hold a special meeting of the Council on Saturday next lo arrive at an agreemeat