THE BOROUGH STAFF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 125, 24 June 1909, Page 4

THE BOROUGH STAFF.

DISCONTENT AND DISMISSAL. MR. DOCKRILL'S PROTEST. The engineer, according to instructions, submitted a comprehensive report dealing with the stall' and the best method of reorganisation to the Special meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council ou Tuesday evening. Before dealing with the report itself, (Jr. Dockrill asked the Mayor if it was true that the engine-driver (Ardcrn) had been dismissed. The engineer: Yes. Cr. Doekrill then spoke at\ome length on the -need for the Council to assert ilse'.f, unices it' was willing to occupy the position that it merely struck rates ind handed the money over to others to expend as they liked. The Council had appointed Ardern, and only the Council had any right to dispense with his services. He complained that the Council's machinery had been taken away from a man whom they could rely on, and been placed in the hands of a man whom they knew nothing about and who might know nothing about engines either. The Council had once placed its horses in charge of a man who understood them, but the engineer had ended that. He wasn't one to allow any engineer to RIDE ROUGHSHOD OVER HIM,

and he took this opportunity of telling that to the ratepayers. He was' going to assert himself. His idea of reducing the number of employees was that the more recsntly engaged men should go first. He moved, "That as the engineer has infringed on the rights and powers of the Council by giving notice of dismissal to the engine-driver, this Council exprcs'ses its disapproval of his action, and move in the direction of placing the man back in the position he has occupied." Cr. Hooker seconded. Mr. Kendall, the engineer, assured the Council that as yet he had placed no one in charge 'of the machinery in succession to Ardern. He mentioned also that he had now got together some splendid workmen, and he was keeping on .these in preference to some of the older .servants iwho had been there too long already. He was' trying to get the Council good value for its money. The information was elicited from the records that Ardern was engaged by the Council in 1903, and was put on the permanent staff a little over a year ago, still at the rate of 10s a day. Cr. Bellringer asked why Ardern had been put off. The engineer said the man had TREATED HIM DEFIANTLY. I He reported that to the Council, and the Council told him he had the matter entirely in his own hands. He had learned that Ardern had endeavored to get other workmen to come before the Council and swear something against the engineer. Now, he could hardly keep a man like that working with him. Cr. West: You're quite right, too. Cr. Bishop considered the motion out of order. The Council had already givm the engineer full power over the men. Cr. Hooker was sure the Council hadn't intended Mr. Kendall to "saek" Ardcrn when the matter had been left in the engineer's hands.

Mr. Kendall: The man was more defiant than ever after the Council meet-

Cr. Browne reminded the Council that at last meeting he stood alone in his protest against the Mayor dismissing a permanent employee. But the Council approved the Mayor's action. Now, it seemed, the Council disapproved of the engineer acting upon the precedent thus established.

Cr. Wilson maintained that if the Council ever going to get .proper work from the people it paid, there must be discipline. When the man Ardern came before the last meeting the Council shirked its duty and left the matter to the engineer. If that meant anything it meant that the engineer was to deal with Ardern as he thought fit. . Cr. Dockrill: No.

Cr. Wilson strenuously urged that if any employee of the Council was disrespectful, as had been charged against Ardern, and that man had refused 1o withdraw—but what would any councillor do to any employee of his own under the circumstances? He'd SACK HIM OX THE SPOT.

Had he been here at last meeting he would have moved that Ardern be dismissed on the spot, simply because he had been rude to his superior officer and had refused to. withdraw hie remarks when given the very fullest opportunity. Unless the Council was ready to back up its engineer they would have half the time of the meetings taken up with these, "tinpot" disputes. Cr. Bishop agreed that the Council had made it pretty clear to the engineer what he was to do, and he lad taken that proper course. The only way to get discipline and proper work was for the Council to put the, engineer in charge and hold him responsible, upholding him except where it could be seen lie was' on the wrong lines. There was a lot of talk about "kicking out the engineer," but he thought the engineer was in the right. WORKMEX CRITICISED. Cr. Gilbert asked for a definition of the term ''permanent man." Was he a man to stay on for ever?—a man to do nothing? He was convinced that the Cojincil had not received from some of the staff a fair return fo r the wages paid. The engineer must have full power to "sack" any man he thought fit. The engineer must be the judge, and not the councillors. Incapable or insubordinate men should be sacked quickly, and the rest would work better. There should be no appeal to the. Council unless the Mayor was satisfied there was something to appeal about. Cr. Hooker: There'll he no staff at all soon.

Cr. Gilbert: We caa get plenty of men, any day. . Cr. West was tired of all this tittletattle about the engineer, and reckoned that unless they mere going to have a head of the staff the Council would never have any peace. The proper thing to do was to clear out the discontented folk, (iive the men to understand they must do as they were told, or else go. If any man was not satisfied, let lum get out. Cr. Bellringer recognised the difficult position of the engineer, who had been compelled to discharge a workman of whose capabilities he held such a h'Mi opinion. But Mr. Kendall had given the man every chance, and Ardem was evidently a malcontent, with no one but I himself to blame for his'present position. Mr. Bellringer wanted to know what had transpired since last meeting. Mr. Kendall: "Here's your answer." as he handed a document across tii table. AX AFFIDAVIT. Cr. Bellringer read .an affidavit: T hereby swear and affirm that on the 14th June, 100!). at about seren o'clock in the evening. Mr. Ardern, enginedriver, and a person whom I thought to be Case, the turncock's assistant. came to my house, and asked me if I would go before the Borough Council and swear anything against the borough engineer, Mr. A. 11. Kendall.—(Signed) •John Smart," before Mr. D. 15crrv,".J.P. Cr. Hooker asked how long the deponent had been working for the Council. Mr. Kendall: For about two years. Cr. Dockrill still contended that as Ardern had been appointed by the Council his dismissal should have been by resolution of the Council. The engineer should have suspended him and reported the matter to the Council. He lamented the fact that the Council had so far lost control of its' men that it allowed the engineer to displace the Council's appointees (as in the ease of the man in charge of the horses) by someone else who knew very little about horses at all. THE ENGINEER UPHELD. The motion was lost, only Crs. Dockrill and Hooker voting for it. Cr. Watkins will move at next meeting that all men working under the engineer be placed absolutely under his control. At a later stage it was decided that the engineer should reconstruct tire staff as recommended, carrying out the reduction rn such a way as would cau=e as little hardship as possible.