ENGINEER AND COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1922, Page 5

ENGINEER AND COUNCIL

INGLEWOOD COUNTY INCIDENT. A FURTHER DISCUSSION. MOTION FOR REINSTATEMENT At the last meeting of the Inglewood Ckiunty Council it was decided, after considerable discussion, to dispense with the services of the county engineer (Mr. R. D. CEmie), and to pay him three months’ salary. The subject was again under discussion at the meeting of the council yesterday, when, in accordance with notice of motion, Cr. G. Capper moved that the resolution be rescinded, and that Mr. Climie be reappointed engineer and overseer to the council. Cr. Capper said his reason for movin" the resolution was because he considered the engineer had got rather harsh treatment at the list meeting, when he was unprepared for the resolution, and so were the council, so far as he knew. Mr. Climie was unable to be present to defend himself, but he had forwarded some information. which Cr. Capper read. This showed with regard to the allegation that no one was appointed to take charge of the work at the crusher, that Mr. Barrack had been placed in charge by the engineer, and Cr. Capper said that Mr. Barrack had admitted to him that he bad been placed to a certain extent in charge. Cr. Capper considered that the council would save zhoney by re-appointing Mr. Climie as engineer, as the appointment of an overseer, and a consulting engineer would cost more than £6OO per annum. Mr. Climie admitted that he had made errors, but it was impossible to get a perfect man. Cr. Capper

had heard no dissatisfaction from ratepayers regarding the engineer. If the engineer did not give satisfaction when reappointed they could reconsider the matter, but he thought the action in dismissing him with three months’ salary was too harsh; they should have given him three months’ notice. z The chairman said that Cr. Capper’s remarks insinuated that some of the counciliors knew of the motion before the 'last meeting. THE CHAIRMAN’S ATTITUDE.

Cr. Capper said that, to be perfectly frank, a certain ratepayer had told him that she had been informed four days before the meeting that the engineer was “to get the sack”. Cr. Hair seconded the motion, which was supported by Cr. Hunter. Cr. Jones opposed it. He did not go and see the drays measured again because he was satisfied the measurements that he saw taken by the chairman were correct. He was not satisfied with the way the work had been supervised. In fact, he considered the engineer should have paid for one mistake himself. Cr. Cowley said he would, no doubt, be branded as a turncoat, but after the way the engineer had acted when he was dismissed he felt he could not support him. Moreover, he was not satisfied with the work in the Tariki pit, as a result of what had transpired since the meeting. Cr. Stewart also opposed the motion. The chairman said that he would say straight out that, as far as he was concerned, the matter was not a personal one between himself and the engineer. He had reported matters to the council as he found them, and he believed that to be his duty as chairman. He did not know that Cr. Topping was going to move the resolution before he put it over the table. They could believe him or not, but that was an absolute fact. He had given them the measurement of the drays as worked out by an expert from measurements he had himself taken in the presence of Crs. Jonee, Topping, Stewart and Laurence and the drivers of the drays on the job. Mr. Climie admitted that he had not measured the drays. He had not asked the council to dismiss the engineer, but had merely stated what had happened. He was not responsible for the way the councillors voted; they could vote as they thought proper. He would say that he had never attempted to influence a vote, though it bad been said by a correspondent in the Daily News that he had been trying to influence councillors against the engineer for some time. He would challenge any councillor to say that he had done so. He would challenge any councillor to say he had spoken to any of them in the street about the matter; nor had he moved to have the engineer's services dispensed with. THE MOTION LOST.

After further discussion regarding the drays, Cr. Capper remarked that he took exception to the chairman’s statement that if Mr. Climie did not go The chairman: “I challenge you in that. I was dissatisfied to remain under the present conditions.” Cr. Capper thought it was the chairman’s duty to have spoken to the engineer. The chairman: ‘The engineer takes his instructions from the council.” Cr. Capper: “If anyone takes any stand you appear to get very venomous. If you took things in a quiet way it would be much better.” He would be sorry if the engineer were not re-appointed, as it woukt’ cause a great deal of trouble. He did not go to any public bar and discuss the position with his neighbors. In fact, he did not go to any sports meetings, as the matter was certain to be brought up for discussion. Cr. Cowley: “Neither have I.” Cr. Jones said that he had been to sports meetings, but was too busy enjoying the sports to discuss this matter. The chairman said that he had done his best to get results, and if he had had his own way he would have got results. The motion was lost, Cra. Capper, Hair and Hunter voting in its favor and Crs. Stewart, Cowley, Jones and the chairman against. Cr. Capper expressed the hope that the chairman would take the matter in good part. The chairman said that he was sorry if he appeared to speak with venom. Perhaps the fact that they had had that talk would do good. He believed in being sincere, and when he went in for anything he went into it whole-heartedly, and perhaps at times spoke more forcibly than he should, but he did not intend to be spiteful.