BOROUGH MATTERS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1921, Page 4

BOROUGH MATTERS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I have been waiting for the Pres*, to comment upon the extraordinary action of the Borough Council last Monday in bringing in a layman to report upon the plan of the borough engineer to strengthen and raise the Mangamahoe dam. As nothing has been said ro far, 1 would like to ank the Mayor how he would like to have his legal opinions referred to a layman for confirmation or otherwise. The council’s action was nothing short of an insult to the engineer. If the council are not prepared to accept the advice of the engineer, don’t humiliate him by obtaining a report from a layman, but go outside and get an opinion from a qualified engineer Further, if the council is dissatisfied with Mr. Cook’s opinions and estimates, treat him properly and give him adequate notice of dismissal. There’s a right and h. wrong way of doing things, even in terminating the services of an engineer. I for one would be sorry to see Mr. Cook go, for he has made good under most adverse circumstances, and ratepayers generally acknowledge this. I would also like to ask who gave the town manager permission to apply for the Tasmanian position referred to in your personals lately. I thought Mr. Bellringer was under a definite agree ment with the council to stay here till the end of next year. If the council has waived its rights under the agreement then ratepayers should know. It is a matter that concerns ratepayers very vitally, and if the council did give the manager permission to leave his present position then it went quite beyond its powers. Where would New Plymouth be during the next year or two without the services of the present manager? I would not like to say, but I have no hesitation in saying that the borough could lose half-a-dozen Mayors and more councillors with less harm than would be caused by the retirement of the manager at the present critical stage of New Plymouth's development.—l am, etc. FITZROY