THE SACRED SABBATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 121, 25 May 1927, Page 10

THE SACRED SABBATH.

COUNCIL'S ENGINEER'S PROTEST.

RUNG UP AT 5.30 AJM.

RESPITE FROM DUTY CLAIMED.

A protest by the acting county engineer against being rung up by a councillor at 5.30 on a Sunday morning appeared amongst the reports which came up for the consideration of the Waitemata County Council to-day. "1 must," said the official, "claim the privilege of some respite from my work, except, of course, in very urgent cases, when 1 am only too willing to assist in every way possible." It was not surprising to find the sturdy farmers who compose the membership of the council almost unanimous in their sup|M>rt of the acting engineer's protest. -Why." asked Mr. Di prose, of Kaukapakapa. should an official of the council be compelled to work on a Sunday T" •'Hear! Hear." said several members, and Mr. J. Mackie (Mairetahi). inquired with some feeling, whether it was right for any public body to interfere with an employee's one day of rest. "Have we control of a man'* muil as well as his body!" a*ked Mr. Mackie. The explanation of tho guilty councillor (Mr. Oliphnnt). was that tho matter to which be had drawn the attention of the actinic-engineer in the wee sma' hours of an autumnal Sabbath was'oiit? of urgency. About £400 worth of timber at Bond's Bridge (over Henderson (/reck) was involved, and the matter needed immediate attention. "I would do it again,' , said Mr. Oliphant.