The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1922. SETTING BACK THE CLOCK.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1922. SETTING BACK THE CLOCK.

It is an open secret that, for some weeks past the New Plymouth Borough Council has been meeting in camera to consider the reorganisation of the staff, and that a decision has been arrived at to terminate the genera) management scheme and reduce Mr. Bellringer’s status to that of town clerk at a considerably reduced salary, also to dispense with the services of the borough engineer. For many months past friction between these officers and the council has been apparent, and the wonder is that the officers have for so long put up uncomplainingly with the pin-pricking indulged in by some of the members. It is, therefore, hardly a matter for surprise that, in these circumstances, Mr. Bellringer is not turning a deaf ear to an invitation extended by the Launceston City Council to take up the position of city manager there, at a salary very much in excess of what New Plymouth is paying him. We believe, however, that the possibility—nay, the probability—of his leaving New Plymouth is a matter of very real concern I to ratepayers, particularly at the [present juncture, and on that account that every means should be taken to retain his services. We should like to say in the first

place that the council has no right whatever to alter the system of municipal management without a mandate from the ratepayers. The scheme was in operation for eighteen months before the present council came into office. Neither the Mayor nor the councillors, before election, expressed views against the scheme. Had they done so we venture the opinion that they would have met with strenuous opposition, and the majority would have failed to gain seats. For ratepayers as a whole had seen and were impressed by the improvements made under the scheme, which, consequently, they were disposed to give a fair trial. It cannot be said, however, that the present council has given it a fair trial. Just the reverse. They have hindered its working at every point, and given the manager little help, and certainly no co-operation or direction, which he was warranted in anticipating from the council. Notwithstanding this opposition, however, the system has proved successful and justified its establishment. The public have proverbially a short memory, and so we propose to briefly refer to some of the benefits and advantages conferred on the town as the result of the inauguration of the new system. One of the first things done by the general manager when he took up the position was to co-ordinate the different departments and improve their methods, working with the departmental managers, and facilitating their operations. The condition of the main streets then was not satisfactory. The streets ■were taken in hand one by one, and put in thorough order, with the result that to-day they are in a vastly better condition than they ever were before, more than favorably comparing with the main streets of any borough in the North Island. The footpaths were tackled in the same manner, and gradually they are being brought up to date. Three years ago the borough had little system in respect to its working plant. There were four different yards, which were at once concentrated into two depots, one (the crusher) at Fitzroy, the- other (the asphalt plant, engineering shops, etc.) in Lemon Street. As a consequence the plant is now in a most efficient state, and the cost of running has been greatly reduced. The town manager pursued a. similar policy towards the running of the municipal baths, the Carnegie Institute, the public cemetery, the sanitary system, etc. But where Mr. Bellringer rendered most valuable service was in connection with the hydro extensions. He first of all proved that it was a mistake to allow for only 50 cusecs in No. 1 tunnel, recommending that, whilst about it, the council should provide for 150 cusecs. The adoption of his suggestion meant the provision of an extra 1000 h.p. at a small increase in cost. When the financial stringency was felt, the prospect of floating the £60,000 loan was so poor that the council at first. resisted a suggestion ■by the town manager that he and a deputation from the council should go to Wellington and endeavor to raise the money. But eventually he went, and succeeded in raising the money. The alternative was the closing down of the works, which would have meant a very heavy loss—well over £lO,OOO a year—to ratepayers, who would have been compelled to make it good out of rates. On that occasion Mr. Bellringer saved the brokerage (some £600), whilst he raised the rest of the loan moneys required for the hydro-electric and other purposes at. under one per cent. He was also successful in arranging with the bank to waive its regulation re charging upon overdraft limits and preventing the transference of moneys in credit in one account to the general account. As we figure it, this saving amounted to at least £lOOO for the past year. In regard to the Ngaere leases, which had from six to ten years to run, he can claim the credit for increasing- the revenue for the periods mentioned from £250 to over £2OOO a year, a clear profit of over £1750 a year. We could say a great deal more in refer- [ enee to the advantages of vesting control in the hands of a I competent general manager, but surely we have said enough to show ratepayers that they owe a great deal to the system and to him, and that it would, especially at this stage, be suicidal to allow the council, in what is its dying . months of office, to terminate a [ system productive of such beneficial results, and lose the services of the man responsible for them.