ALLEGED WASTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1922, Page 4

ALLEGED WASTE.

COUNCILLORS’ CHARGES. REPLY BY ENGINEER. The allegations of extravagance and lack of method in carrying out the work on the roads and at the crusher, which were made by Crs. R. L. Parkin and J. Brown at the meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council on Monday week, were the subject of a lengthy report in reply by the engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) to last night’s meeting of the council. Dealing with the allegations of extravagance, Mr. Cook stated that the operations for the year had resulted in a saving of £2894 on the estimates approved by the council for the year ending March 31, 1922. Under the headings of general maintenance of roads, scavenging, and path and road repairs, the estimates approved were 17s 4d per chain, but the actual expenditure was only 14s 2d per chain, as against £3 10s allowed by other local bodies. Since taking charge in 1916, Mr. Cook stated that he had reorganised the council’s crushing plant, and now had three men running two crushers, where five had run one previously. He was satisfied that the men were trustworthy and were giving a fair ddy’s work, while the men employed on spreading metal on the roads were of long experience and knew their work well. In conclusion, Mr. Cook drew attention to the numerous inquiries which had been received as to the methods employed in carrying out the borough works, and he invited inquiry concerning their methods. costs, etc.

Cr. R. L. Parkin maintained that he had been right in his statements, and questioned the wisdom of the methods of handling stones at the crusher. These, he said, were handled five or six times by hand, while he considered it was squandering money to allow the lorries to stancl idle for forty minutes while two men loaded them. Cr. J. Brown also reaffirmed his statements with reference to the methods of spreading metal. He considered that if the Clemow Road were properly scarified there would be sufficient metal on the spot to repair the road.