INGLEWOOD COUNTY TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1922, Page 6

INGLEWOOD COUNTY TROUBLES.

CHAIRMAN OR ENGINEER? A LIVELY DISCUSSION. There was another lengthy—and, at times, heated —discussion at the meeting of the Inglewood County Council yesterday afternoon, when a resolution was finally carried dispensing with the services of the engineer (Mr. R. D. Climie), who was appointed to the position a few months The discussion was introduced by the chairman (Mr. A. Corkill), who stated that he had measured the drays on the Motukawa Road contract, and they were all from 44 feet to 9 feet short of the required two yards capacity. In all, the four drays were over a yard short. He had also measured another dray, and found that it was only 50 feet, though at last meeting the engineer had stated that it was 54 feet (2 yards), and had also stated that the chairman could measure it. He thought the engineer was not doing his duty to the ratepayers and the council in not discovering this sooner, for the council was paying for metal it did not receive. They were paying the engineer to do work, and had to find these things out for themselves. He also visited the crusher and found that some of the men had not arrived at work at 8.15 a.m. There was considerable delay in the work, and, when he spoke to the men, they said they were all bosses, so he put one man definitely in charge. The engineer stated that that man had been in charge from the commencement of the job. The chairman: “You have been sidetracking us and throwing dust in our eyes, and I will not stand it from you or anyone else.”

Cr. Laurence corroborated the chairman’s statement that there was no one in charge. The engineer said he was employing farm Lbor as far as possible, and they could not always get down early. THE CHAIRMAN’S ULTIMATUM. The chairman said that the state of affairs was no good to him. He had given up a good deal of time to the affairs of the county, and was prepared to give more. He, however, considered that the engineer had neglected his duty, and he was not prepared to carry on as chairman any longer, because he could not face the ratepayers, who, he felt, were not getting a square deal nor getting value for their money. They could appoint some one else as chairman unless this was altered. For five solid months the engineer had been here, and had not measured the drays, some of which carried little over 1A yards. He was not prepared to carry on as chairman under the conditions. He could not understand why no report had been submitted at the meeting regarding the Motukawa Road, on which a dozen men had been working.

The engineer: “Only about six.” Continuing, the chairman said that from the tallies given’ him by the man in charge of the work, 366 yards had been got out, costing in the vicinity of £1 per yard, instead of the 8s 6d or 9s they had been led to believe it was costing. He again remarked that he was in his position to do the best for the ratepayers, and was not prepared to sit there and see them not get a square deal. Cr. Hair said that he wished to hear what the engineer had to say. THE ENGINEER’S STATEMENT. The engineer said that he had not measured the drays himself, but they were on for the day, and he had been informed by the man in charge of the work that they were full measurement. The tally showed that 600 yards had been put out on the road. Forty-three chains had been done, at a cost of £317 6s sd, and as £715 was available for a mile, he thought he was well within the mark. The stone was solid, and even if it cost 16s or 17s per yard they would have a good job. The lowest tender for similar stone was 18s per yard. He admitted they had had to scratch to get the metal, and councillors saw the work as they were finishing up the river. He had stopped the work on the Motukawa Road. He had measured Julian’s dray, and was certain it had measured 54 feet. He would not have been so foolish* as to have tried to bluff the chairman by telling him to measure the dray if it only measured 50 feet.. Cr. Capper here intimated that he would have to leave the meeting, as he had to get away, and the chairman expressed his regret, as the matter was a very serious one to him. The engineer said that he had placed a man in charge of each job. MORE COMPLAINTS. The chairman said also that they wanted the cost of every job laid on the table, and this was never given. The engineer stated that it was no use giving figures in the middle of a job. He laid the figures on the table at the end of each job, and they were in the office. He was always pleased to give details.

The chairman said that the engineer had read out a list of figures, but he had never seen the details laid on the table.

Cr. Stewart also complained about the cost of prospecting for shell rock- He considered the estimates were misleading, as the quantities given were not carted out. After further discussion, Cr. Capper asked: “What are you going to do about it?” PARTING OF THE WAYS. Copping considered that there had bee .. aste over the prospecting for shell rock at Motukawa Road, which he had condemned ■ from the start. They would never know the cost of the prospecting. He knew personally that the drays were not carrying two yards. He had lost confidence in the engineer, and he would move that his services be dispensed with and he be given three months’ salary. Cr. Jones seconded the motion, just to test the feeling of the council on the matter. He did not like the question of the shell rock, but was pleased with the stone from the river, considering Mr. Climie had done good work until the question of the drays cropped up. The chairman said that, meeting after meeting, he had drawn the engineer’s attention to matters he had been careless with. He had nothing personally against the engineer, but was speaking in the interests of the ratepayers. Two years had passed since the formation of the county, and they had had a very bad spin, having been up against labor troubles and bad management. They had not done the work with the money at their disposal. He thought it was necessary to have an engineer for certain works, and that they must have a consulting engineer, out after close watching ovex sevggal years

he had come to the conclusion they could get better value under an overseer. He thought the engineer had failed in his duties.

The engineer: “Failed to well crawl to you; that is all I’ve failed to do.” The chairman: “Keep quiet or you 11 leave the room.”

Cr. Capper said that he had moved some time back in the direction of appointing an overseer and a consulting engineer, but had been over-ruled. He was sorry the engineer had failed in his undertaking. Personally, he did not like these squabbles at the meetings, and it was better for the council and the engineer that they should part. The chairman said that he had never asked the engineer for any favor, but had always done his best to assist him, and had given him the benefit of his experience. Cr. Stewart expressed regret at these troubles.

Cr. Cowley considered that the council had been a little bit at fault. They should have assisted him by the appointment of an overseer. He thought they were a little bit hard, as it was impossible to get a man who would be perfect—-i.e., a good engineer and a good supervisor. Cr. Hair also thought the motion a bit hard. The work done out Ratapiko way had been satisfactory. His biggest mistake had been over the drays and in not being hard enough with the men. Cr. Hunter had opposed the appointment of an engineer, but had always considered Mr. Climie very energetic. He would not support the motion, as he considered the engineer should be given another trial.

A COMPROMISE NEGATIVED. Cr. Capper asked whether a compromise could not be effected between the engineer and the chairman.

The chairman said that there was nothing personal between the engineer and himself. It was not fair of Cr. Capper to put the matter that way. He was not prepared to continue as chairman unless there was a change, but there were plenty of other good men round the table, anti perhaps a change might be good. The engineer remarked that nothing had been said about the money he had saved in getting metal on the Richmond Road, Ratapiko Road, etc. Cr. Hair said these heart-to-heart talks did good, and the mistakes would not occur again. Cr. Capper pointed out that the chairman had stated that unless the engineer’s services were dispensed with he would not continue as chairman. Personally he did not like to part with either. He would like to see the matter boiled over.

The chairman: “How can you, with all this going on?” A councillor: “There is nothing very serious about any of them.” Cr. Jones suggested that they should give another three months’ trial to the engineer. If they dispensed with Mr. Climie’s services he would not agree to the appointment of another engineer. Cr. Topping said that he had spoken to the engineer about men whom he did not consider good enough, and had seen these men still employed some time later. Cr. Capper asked the chairman’s permission to allow Cr. Topping to withdraw the motion. He pointed out that there was a lot of work in hand at present.

Cr. Laurence did not wish to see the chairman leave the council, in view of the great work he had done for the county. He also considered that Mr. Climie should pay more attention to supervision.

Cr. Capper again urged the chairman to overlook the matter.

The chairman: “You’ve no right to make it a personal matter between the engineer and myself.”

Cr. Hair: “You’re making it a question between yourself and the engineer.” The chairman said that he could not possibly sit with a man who. talked to him as the engineer had.

Cr. Cowley: “You must admit that you make your remarks personal at times.” Cr. Capper: “You won’t compromise.”

The chairman said that he would not stop after the annual meeting in May. There were three nominated for the chair a few months back, so there would be others available.

An amendment, proposed by Cr. Capper and seconded by Cr. Hair, that the engineer be given three months’ trial to make improvement, the position to be considered at the end of that time, was lost, Crs. Capper, Hair, Hunter- and Cowley voting for it, and Crs. Topping, Laurence, Stewart, Jones and the chairman voting against it.' The resolution was then put and carried, the voting being the same. The engineer, in leaving the room, addressed a heated remark to the chairman, who said that he would make him prove his statement before he left Inglewood.