THE MAYOR SPEAKS OUT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 79, 12 July 1910, Page 4

THE MAYOR SPEAKS OUT.

A CHALLENGE MADE AND' ACCEPTED.

During the course of the Borougln Council meeting last night one or two members made sarcastic and critical references to the engineer's work. Towards thi- nose of the meeting the Mayor throw down a challenge. "There's been a lot of talk lately by some of you councillors, and it seems to me you're 'getting at' the engineer. If you'.re not satisfied with him, say so. I don't believe in this sort of thing. Why don't you move a straight-out resolution? If you haven't confidence in him, move that he be dismissed."

Cr. Hooker immediately remarked. with some heat: t suppose it's me you're referring to. I will move that when the time comes. And I'm going to do it soon, J tell you.

Cr. Bellringer said that as far as he was concerned he had confidence in the engineer, and he thought the Council hail. He would take this opportunity of saying that there was now a better state of affairs in the borough department than there had been for years past. Mistakes were fewer and lesser in magnitude than ever they had been. He didn't always agree with tin* engineer, all the same. He hoped ttfet the criticisms made in the Council millings would not deter the engineer in hi* work, and he went on to express the opinion that when the Council required more clerical work of tlie engineer Wan he could perform he should 'not be afraid to obtain assistance.

Cr, Dockrill hoped the Mayor was lot endeavouring to muzzle tne CounciL The Mayor would be very wrong in seeking to check any reasonable and proper discussion. As far as he was concerned, as long as he remained on the Council he would' act fearlessly, opposing what 'he considered to be wrong. In asking that the engineer should report monthly as to works completed lie was only asking the re-enforcement of a resolution that had been suffered to lie in abeyance too long. He proposed to ask Mr. "Kendall to report on three questions: Why he made such a convplete success of tarring Egmont street, and such an absolute failure of Devon street; why, when the tar was removed from Devon street, the roadway became so muddy; and why he failed to supply good, asphalt to Messrs. Nolan and. Co. when private contractors \vere turning out good asphalt with the same tar and the same gravel.

Cr. Gilbert: How are we to know it was the same tar?

Cr. Dockrill: It's out of the same yard. The Mayor: But that doesn't make it the same. I know from asphalting I've had done that they have two kindsgood, and the other' kind.

Cr. Gilbert: They've got petroleum tar sometimes.

Mr. Kendall, the engineer, thanked' the Council for the various suggestions made at various times. "But £ thought it was a bit rough'', he said, "when a Councillor told' me in the street that he'd \w even with me before the week's out." He didn't think that was quite> right.

Cr. Clarke deprecated such a remark from a Councillor, and thought the member should be named. .. "IT WAS ME." Cr. Hooker: It. was; me. Cr. Wilson remarked that if the Councillors were to get home to bed at all that flight they would have to adopt business tactics. Let. the engineer put his complaint in writing, and fee could depend on a full enquiry. At present the Council was descending to the wrangling stage.

Or. Clarke moved that the engineer be asked to place his complaint in writing. It was a thing that, the Council should know something about, and it was quite wrong that a Councillor should threaten to "get even" with one of the Council's officials.

Cr. BHlrin'ger: I think it. The Mayor: Do you second' the mo* ,tion?

O. Rellringer: No; I think it would' he better to let-the matter drop. They'lF be better friends. It was a very unkind' thing for Cr. Hooker to make that statement, and I'm sure he feels sorry for it at the present moment. After fo-n'srht he will be one of the warmest supporters. Tlv' motion was not seconded.

ANOTHER ATTACK:. • APPOINTMENT OP FOREMAN URGED. At another stage of the meeting theFinance Committee reported on actual tuul estimated expenditure of revenue for the past three months. Cr. Dockrjll noted that, the streets department had overspent its allowance. I'M suggested that the engineer should" give a return of work done.

Or. Hooker produced a copy of <a resolution passed in the Council, four years >'<ro, instructing trie engineer to give "•".Council monthly reports of work done and its cost.

The engineer said that he endeavored 'i comply with the resolution, even To +1 '» »ytent ofYmuch night work and 'Sunday work.

Cr. Hooker an id it was evident that fie onmVer hnd too much to do. He "ominri a fn»ptr"n to HI-p f>hnr*« of the oiits-'do work. He lji>«4f had seen the iwoif'i workmen in the eentm of the tn"-T> lin-'itinor, their «''ne«. smoking pi<r"'",ii"a "'"l «o on. TV Council was not pettin? <?ood value for its monev. 'fv rinrke asked wlmt was thp u«p of •ie.Vin| ! r for p return from nn »i<rrnppr M-i,n i,n<i m ore work than he nn-hi „„f tbro»M,. '"'•• tToo'-or- TA lite *<i know bnx? jSnm ilifl it, wlion h(i wis for«"ii"l. tt 0 ,v.,c>'t p„ nn ordinnv pini; vet be did it. rtorkp. TJirl he l«ive to do nil this e<Mro W v-'nrk an'' offipp work that our pimJppnv l>as to do now? n "* ■ Vo. and "O.i»«tion." Th.P diss"•i=<in:i was cut short bv the Mayor.