NOT IN THE MINUTES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 15

NOT IN THE MINUTES

PAYING THE ENGINEER

A COUNCIL RESOLUTION

Dissatisfaction . with' the; system under which the cost, of .employing the council's consulting engineer is met wasi .expressed at the' monthly! meeting -.-last evening of the Hutt ;County Council by Councillor* A. Mackay, who considered that-one riding was liable to be called upon to pay much more heavily than another. His motion that the engineer's' charges for. the past year be meio'lt of the general account gave rise to an unusual position when the chairman (Mr. D. R. Hoggard); stated that 'Councillor Maek.iy's lpotion had already' been passed as a resolution of the council, but had unfortunately been omitted, from the minutes. ; In support "of 'his motion, Councillor. Mackay pointed out that ..the Whareroa. and Taupo ridings were' charged more than other ridings, and when the chairman put forward 'his motion■-•.. involving -an Amendment of the minutes of the meeting of 20th -June, 1930, Councillor1 : Mackay asked whether the charges already .made had not been levied.without authority. Mr. .Hoggard: "We are going, to record the necessary authority mow.", ,- Councillor Mackay:'"But it" is'not- recorded now." '/ v - ;, '■„■ ; .;" . The. chairman.remarked that there was no doubt in the .minds of those who, had attended the meeting in question as to ■whether the resolution was passed. There was then a passage of words . betweeri Councillor Mackay and Councillor W. V. Dyer as to-whether Councillor Mackay was presetit when the resolution was passed, Councillor Dyer stating that he had a clear recollection of a' reriinrk passed at •lie meeting by Councillor1 Mackay. Reference to.'the, minutes showed that Councillor Mackay was present, but'he said that lie left before the resolution was passed. . Councillor E. L. Button suggested that, as his, riding and. Councillor Maekay's, riding were the areas concerned, Councillor Mackay might agree to allowing the charges to stand as they were at present, bilt that in future the"consulting' engineer's fees should be made.. a charge \on the general account.; . ' The 'chairman's motion that the minutes should be'amended to record'the council's resolution that the engineer's fees should be debited to the respective accounts was carried "with only Councillor Mackay dissenting. ■ Councillor Maekay then moved that the' engineer's services nhould not be availed of in the Whareroa riding, and Councillor Dyer pointed out that the engineer never acted unless asked by the council. ill. Hoggiihl;1 ""Thiit was also agreedupon, and J will move it as a fiu-ther amendment to tbo minutes.". .-...- Councillor Mackay: "There were quite a lot p£ times that the engineer was in my riding that I.knew nothing about." It was finally, resolved- that the confulting engineer should do no work in any riding without the direct consent of the .councillor for the riding, to be conveyed to the engineer through the County Clerk.