STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 5, 25 May 1914, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of tlie Council was ■held at the county office on Saturday, there being present: Crs. Hatiliaway (chairman), Thomson, Christoftel, Smith, Rogers, Walter, Were, Anderson and J. Young.

OPUNAKE RAILWAY. The chairman stated that he 'had received an invitation to attend the ceremony of turning the first sod of the Opunake railway. It would be advisable for him to attend, as it "would be an opportunity of bringing before the Minister several matters affecting the county, such as the decision to erect toll-gates, and the supply of metal. He mentioned that the road from Midhirst to the Piakau bridge had been down for four years, and was now patchy, adding that reinstatement of roads and bridges coat £4BO a mile. It would be advis? able to bring before tflie Minister the necessity for a larger subsidy for'trie main roads, or it would be necessary to have toll-gates. There was also the question of motor traffic. The Government had failed to deal with the question of a motor-tax, so that unlcßS something was done toll-gates must be erected.

After some discussion as to the pressing needs of the countjy, it was decided that tflie chairman and Cr. Christoffel attend the ceremony and bring any matters of importance to the county before the Minister. WAGES. The chairman brought up ft complaint made to him as to the difference in wages paid to the men, some receiving 8a and others 9». I .

Cr. Smitfli moved that all the men he paid 9s a day and foremen 10s, up to the date of the last meeting of the Council, when the. rates of pay were fixed.

After a longth discussion the matter was held over. OVERSEER OR ENGINEER?

The conditions drawn up by the clerk in relation to the duties of engineer were laid on the table. The Council flhen resumed consideration of the question of appointing an engineer, an overseer, or a combined engineer and overseer. The chairman said the question was whether there should be an engineer or on overseer. What the Council wanted in (in overseer was a capable practical man, who was qualified to judge the value of the work done by the men. On the other hand, the Council imight appoint a young man who was qualified as a draughtsman and engineer. What the Council wanted was a man with a fair knowledge of the work required for the mnAntcnnnee of the roads, and the value that the men f.hould give for a fair daiv's work—a thoroughly practical orsranipe.r and overseer. Cr. Thomson said tint the -South riding wanted no more than they had at present. There wis still a lot of un- . opened in the county, for which the cervices of. an engineer, would lie .required: TTe,'wis strongly opposed, to reverting to the system of paying an engineer by commission, and he. favored implications hcing called for both positions—overaecT and combined engineer and overseer. It might be that two overseers would be necessary, as t3ie work to be properly done might oc too much for one. On the other hand, there was always the danger of a bridge going wrong or some other work calling for expert advice, so that it would probably 3>e advisable to combine the offices of engineer and overseer. He suggested that at the commencement of each season -the members of the Council nhnuld. wibh the foreman, go over the county I roads, so.as to ascertain their condition I and requirements. The present trouble I was (that some of the. roads were not provided for. TTe strongly advocated tenders being called for work insteau of J it being done by day labor, which had proved far too expensive, and landed I the Council into financial difficulties. He intimated that 3ie would vote for the 'employment of a permanent official.

Or. Smith considered tlhe Council would "be right in calling for applications for the services of an -engineer mho would devote ihis whole time to the service of tihe county. He admitted that Mr. Robinson hnd done excellent work, hut insisted that more, supervision, was necessary in order to weed out the. incapable or inefficient men who might l)o employed. All that wns wanted was a competent overseer. Or. Walter said he hnd given the matter a great deal of thought. There weTc, no doubt, good arguments in favor of appoining an engineer, and equally pood reasons for appointing. an overseer, hut ihe would certainly vote for an l overseer being appointed. Engineers j belonged' to a profession wjmdh obtained ! a high rate of remuneration, and he did not think it likely' that the Council would the able to procure a good man' for anything like £350 a Year. Engineers had not only a pride in their work, but they were ambitious, so that it was not reasonable to expect that an engineer would waste his time over the mere superintendence of details. An oversew was not in the same category, the supervision of details being ihis .special work, and he would' try and give satisfaction to the county, and especially to the portions. As to ihe commission question, things had so altered that Cr. Thomson's argumncts against paying commission were not serious, as there was so little call for an engineer's services that the cost would not be great, lie was quite convinced that Mr. Robinson had treated the Council fairly, anil t'hey could depend on 'him to do in the future if he were appointed consulting engineer, but they might not be able to depend on a new man. lie considered that livesixths of the work was supervision, and it wns of the utmost importance, for that work to he done thoroughly. The chairman said he 'had not quite made up his mind, but lie rather favored | (railing for applications for an engineer ', whose services would he paid for on a | commission basis, lie considered that . muh good would result from the ap- : pointnient of a practical man as overse/r I who would make full and reliable reports on the state of ithe roadis and i (lie works in progress. There was a 'huge part of the comity still undevelop- ' cd, so tiliut an engineer's service would be required, but no harm would lie dime ; in calling for the position of engineer and for that of overseer. They might | get a young engineer who was trying 1 to work his way upwards, and if such ' a man were provided with a motor for getting about the. county with expediition he should meet the requirements of ! the Council. In any event, whether an engineer or overseer was appointed, it would pay the Council to supply the means of rapid locomotion. . -Or. Young said his mind was quite ■ open on the question, and he therefore would support a proposal for alternate applications being called, leaving the ! final decision until it was seen what apI pieations were received, ... w fi

Or. Were was strongly of opinion thai a practical overseer would be the best appointment the Council could make. He was not,satisfied with.the work that was being done, and now was tilie time to do the correct tSu'ng by placing a good practical man in charge of the roads.

Or. Rogera favored the appointment of an engineer, wlio would also supervise work in progress.

Cr. Anderson said ho possessed.a considerable experience in supervising, and he favored the appointment oi a pro-perly-qualified, and , thoroughly experienced man. It did not matter whether he was called engineer or overseer. As to the. bridge work, if an engineer were ipaid Qn-conjmi&sion it was to his interest! toijnake the work as expensive as poßsible, so as to increase his commission. The appointment of a permanent salaried officer -was the only satisfactory course .to take, but if he were not a qualified engineer (he -would bo of no use to the Council.

The chairman reviewed the past in relation to the engineer. He pointed out that to obtain an engineer such as the county required would mean paying a high, salary A the man were worth ihis salt. He was opposed to employing a pupil teacher, and would only vote for tho best and most qualified man, whether overseer or engineer. So long as be was on the Council he would insist on getting the best men he could to carry out tho work. A practical overseer would know more about laying down metal than an engineer.

Or. Thomson moved as an amendment tihat appliations ibe invited both for an engineer at £350 a yeaT and an overseer at £250 a yeaT. Or. Young seconded the amendment.

The chairman reminded tthe Council that when it paid by commission the cost of engineering was about £4O a month, but the same conditions did not exist to-day. The amendment was carried by 5 to 4, Ora. Smith, Were, Walter and the cltairman voting with the noes. After the luncheon adjournment the Council settled the conditions in coiuiec•tion wiitli ithe applications for th.e positions of engineer and overseer. The schedule of proposed toll charges was discussed and settled, and it was decided to hold meetings at various parts of the county to explain the action of the Council relative to the tolls.