GASWORKS AGAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21369, 13 March 1941, Page 9

GASWORKS AGAIN

HEATED DISCUSSION NEW PROCEDURE ATTACKED QUESTION OF ADMINISTRATION BOROUGH COUNCIL DEBATE The administration of the Hamilton gasworks was again the subject of heated discussion, sometimes acrimonious, at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last night. An amendment to the staff organisation at the works, recommended by the borough engineer, Mr R. Worley, was strongly opposed by Messrs C. Lafferty and C. Croall on the grounds that it would provide grounds for further dissatisfaction at the works. Messrs Lafferty and Croall also criticised the action of the council in placing the borough engineer in control of the works and expressed the opinion that it would be preferable to appoint a gasworks engineer. Certain members of the gasworks staff were subjected to strong criticism during the debate. A motion moved by Mr Lafferty to the effect that the resolution carried at the previous meeting of the council in regard to the appointment of Messrs Worley and J. R. Baird to the control of the gasworks be rescinded and that a practical manager be appointed to take over the works was lost after a lengthy discussion. The only supporters of the motion were Messrs Lafferty and Croall. “If it is possible to obtain a practical gasworks manager, then this council has a duty to the ratepayers,” said Mr Lafferty. “In the past we have had difficulties at the works but these could be overcome with the appointment of a practical man: It is not the machinery at the works that is at fault, but the administration.” Not Fair to Ratepayers The appointment of incompetent men would not be fair to the ratepayers, and it was high time that the council made some permanent arrangement at the gasworks, continued Mr Lafferty. “This is a matter in which the interests of the ratepayers are at stake,” said Mr Croall in seconding, the motion. “As a council and as individual members we have to rise above personal feelings in anything that militates against the interests of the ratepayers. We should appoint a capable man to take charge of the gasworks at the earliest possible opportunity.” Mr Croall added that he did not think the borough engineer was going the right way about the work. “Mr Lafferty has talked a lot of the most arrant nonsense that it has been my lot to hear at the council table,” commented Mr T. G. Reynolds, who said that the first wise step that the council had taken in , the matter of the gasworks was to obtain qualified engineers to undertake the engineering problems that needed attention at the works. “Given a little time and a little encouragement they will put matters right,” said Mr Reynolds. He was convinced that the problems at the works were engineering ones and not gas-making ones. “I am confident that the ratepayers are being served best by the arrangement that the council has made,” said Mr F. C. House. Satisfied With Arrangement Mr J. R. Fow said he was satisfied to leave the matter in the hands of Mr Worley. Mr Lafferty’s long speech contained little else but criticism of the engineer and what could be almost termed the persecution of an old servant of the council. “Where we have competent officers we have to trust thesQ officers to the best of our ability,” said tne Mayor, Mr H. D. Caro, who said that to criticise a man who had been manufacturing gas for the past 20 years was really out of order as there was no councillor present who was an expert on gas.

Following a discussion on individual councillors visiting the gasworks and obtaining information from the men, Mr Worley said that councillors were welcome at the works. However, it would be better if they obtained their information from the heads of the departments instead of obtaining it from men who probably knew little beyond their own particular work.

“My information has come from Government officials, and did not come either from the works or from the men,” rejoined Mr Lafferty. The Mayor then read an application for the position of gasworks manager, but a motion moved by Mr Croall that the applicant should be asked to meet the council and place his qualifications before it was lost.

Messrs Lafferty, Croall and W. R. Shattock were the only supporters of the motion.