THE ELECTRICAL WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 339, 15 March 1910, Page 8

THE ELECTRICAL WORKS.

TROUBLE AMONG THE STAFF. At last night's meeting of the Borough Council, Mr. W. H. Howlett wrote at some length, and had also circularised councillors, complaining that lie was unjustly treated by having a junior employee placed temporarily in charge of the power station during the absence ot Mr. Sandilands on leave. He also claimed qualifications as a mechanic, and considered he should have had preference. The letter had been referred to the electrical engineer for a report, and he reported that Howlett had not been unfairly treated, but the course adopted had been taken in the best interests of the plant and the ratepayers. He had no knowledge of Hewlett's mechanical qualifications. He submitted a report from Mr. Sandilands, in charge at the powerhouse, which supported the engineer's report, and more so. A testimonial given to Mr. Howlett by the writer was also read, addressed to "whom it may concern," and recommending him for any electrical employment.

Cr. Bellringer: Well, if that's not the hottest staff I've ever come across! Cr. Hooker expressed strong dissatisfaction with "the engineer's way of doing things." Cr. Bellringer, in view of the contradictory nature of Mr. Sandilands' letter and his testimonial, asked what reliance could be placed on either. The Mayor: The best thing to do is to send Sandilands' letter on to Howlett. Cr. Wilson said that he was exceedingly sorry to find that there was such a very unhappy state of affairs in the electrical department. At every meeting they had some evidence of dissatisfaction, and when they found that it spread from the junior right through the staff, there must be something serious at fault. He hoped the staff would take it from the Council that if there was dissatisfaction those dissatisfied should either send in their resignations or else demand a general enquiry. Hewlett's letter, in the circumstances, was most ill-advised. Whilst the engineer wa« here he would like to say, too-, that when a matter was referred to him he had no right to bring before the Council ft report irom one of his juniors, and say, "There's the reason." Let him take the whole responsibility himself. Mr. Sandilands might be a very good engineer, but he was not a good letterwriter, and two of the letters that bad just been the Council would "have been better never to have been written. They breathed spite throughout. If Howlett was not doing his duty out there, why hadn't the engineer complained 1 When the complaint of a man was referred to the' engineer, it was then, and not till then, that they found the man was no good. He moved that Mr. Howlett be informed that the Council had left the matter in the hands of the engineer.

Cr. Watkins seconded. Cr. Bellringer considered the attention of the chairman of the Electric Light Committee should he specially directed to the unsatisfactory tone which perv.nded the staff, and take steps to bring about a better state of affairs. It, was the most unpleasantly administered committee that the councillors had to do with. There was hardly a meeting'but what the Council hnd to consider some squabble or other arising 1 out of this department. Fe referred again to tho eont7-ndiction contained in Mr. Sandilands' testimonial and his report. He concluded hv expressing his belief that there was "a screw !oo=e somewhere.'' THE PROPOSED EXTEXSIOXS. A QUESTION OF TASTE..

At the Borough Council meeting last night, Cr. Bellringer entered a very protest against the course of action adopted in connection with the calling of tenders for the contract at the headworks of the electrical supply. He reviewed the facts, stating that, upon receipt of. the plans and specifications from Mr. Climie, the consulting engineer, the executive committee had advertised for tenders for the work. A few days later a memorandum was received from Mr. Black, the electrical engineer, advising th? committee to "withdraw ; tlie advertisement, as, in perusing the plans and specifications, he had found several matters which ought to be amended. The committee decided to ask Mr. Climie £o come to New Plymouth and confer with the committee and engineer, hut in the meantime Mr. Black had gone to Hawera to interview the consulting engineer personally. Cr. Bellringer considered that it was in very bad taste for Mr. Black to criticise the spscifications and to go to rlawera to confer with Mr. Climie without the Electric Lighting Committee or the executive committee being consulted or being present. The speaker considered that the Council's staff had no right to trespass on tlie consulting engineer's ground. Mr. Climie was quite competent to carry the work through, but. of course, if tlie Council theught it necessary for its engineers to traverse and amend his scheme he thought the whole question had better be withdrawn. The Mavor said he had authorised the electrical engineer to 20 to Hawera and confer with Mr. Climie, and he thought ! it quite right that the staff engineers should have access to the plans and specifications. But that he, had been very anxious to save time, and that he thought the whole scheme had been evolved by Mr. Climie as the result of conferences with the Council's own engineers, he would have sent the papers on to them for consideration. Cr. Browne said he had moved in the committee that this course be adopted, but, he had not been supported. It was on his advice that Mr. Black had perused the papers, and as head of the committee lie had approved tlie consequent suggested amendments, with which Mr. Climie had since agreed.

Neither the Mavor nov Cr. Bellrin<rer rnnlil romemliPr that Cr, Browne had moved as stated.

Cr. Dockrill said it was quite wrong to assume that a consulting engineer could make no mistake. The whole of the correspondence which had passed on the question was read. Mr. Climie, who had attended at the request of the Council, said he did not take Mr. Black's action as a reflection on himself in any way. He had fully expected his scheme to be perused by the Council's experts and by the committee, as he realised that on some matters of detail the local engineers would be able to make suggestions to him. He had adopted many of Mr. Black's suggestions, and had practically agreed to take his advice in regard to the matter of the tailrace entrance, delaying this work until the time came tor putting in the new machinery in subsequent contracts. This was so that the present plant would not be endangered. He considered he had provided for this, though, by inserting a clause that the tunnel contract could be stopped at any time, should the ground prove unsuitable. Mr. Climie said that be had been surprised that 'tenders had been called before the scheme had been perused by the Council's own engineers. It \v,as decided that Mr. Climie, Mr. Kendall, ana Mr. Black should confer this morning, and report to the committee later in the day; and that amended tenders be advertised.