Proposal to Purchase Metal

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12824, 19 August 1939, Page 5

Proposal to Purchase Metal

mayors motion defeated

keen debate at special meeting

as ked to take Chairmanship of Works ComCr. Einb " mit tee and Signifies Acceptance. ,

ioi meeting of the r lauA S Borough Council held yea ter- j ranga Bor . vas attended by His day f er f h ° e on Mayor. Mr. L. R. Wil'VorSslPthe Deputy-Mayor, Hon. C. itinson, J, F j_ Allcly, J- *■ K A.' W. Bvery. H. W. F. • VL D ‘ r s Moffatt, E. c. Pernraan, Kin xMtheson and A. A. Fleming. ww to .0.1- ‘ o ff er for the sale ot metal tW< i r he Council. It somewhat tojny at times and occupied an W A mot?on a wa8 dl moved by the Mayor tnPurchase the metal, and on being °. t to the meeting, alter a piofracted discussion, the motion was V,'Vtpd by six votes to lour. SSliig at the. outset the Mayor tied that the meeting was calico consider an offer for the supply metal to the Council. The matter 4 ten before the Works Commitb the other day and they had afked that it be submitted to the Siicil The metal that was ofterTwas' stacked about twelve miles frnm town. He then submitted parZlars of the offer to the Council, ? portion being broken metal and the remainder quarry grit. The Council could do with the metal and his opinion the offer was a reasonable one. He moved—That the Council accept the offer. Cr. Perriman seconded.. The quantity of metal was approximately 1100 yards. Cr Every asked if there were a report from the Borough Engineer as to the suitability of the metal. The Mayor read a note from the Engineer, who said he considered that certain metal which he had inspected would make suitable footpath cover. Cr. Every stated that the Council wanted metal for the roads. Samples of the metal were placed on the table and inspected by councillors. ' Cr. Moffatt said he had a recollection that the report) from the , Borough Engineer, which had been read had reference to a heap of metal dust which the Council had asked the Engineer to inspect with the object of ascertaining whether It would be suitable for the Edgcurabe Road footpath. He (Cr. Moffait) and Cr. Macmillan, at a meeting of. the Works Committee, definitely stipulated that a report by the Engineer be submitted to the meeting that afternoon. The Mayor stated that several of the councillors and himself had inspected the metal. Cr. Every wanted information in regard to the quantity that would be suitable for the roods. Cr. Moffatt contended that they should have a full report in regard to the metal by the Engineer. Cr. King voiced his objection to the meeting that afternoon. He could not understand .the urgency for calling it. Why should the .Council decide the purchase of the metal without being guided by a report from the Engineer. The Mayor answered that surely councillors should be given a certain amount of latitude, especially the Works Committee. He had seen the metal and was satisfied with it. Cr. Moffatt: I disagree with you. The Mayor: I don’t mind that. Eepyllng to another question the Mayor said the Works Committee felt it their duty to consult the whole Council, .although the matter had been left In the hands of the Works tommlttee with power to act. The meeting that afternoon was in order, '♦w w , as wltb the best intentions mat he had called the Council gather. His opinion was that the oner 'was a good one.; The Council was badly in need of metal. Cr -King pointed out that the ? esdon °f metal had been referred m the Works Committee ' on July ‘A meetin SS of the Committee Ann 6 Council had been held since, it was a matter of urgency jo metal was purchased. The conQence of the Council would be Aw , lf the rec °mmendation of eri h,° Committee were supporttLy a re P° rt by the Engineer, but was n °t forthcoming, o matter m the Mayor gaid there difl nJ embe f s of the Council who ent in < Cons bier they were competwithmif 6 the suit ability of metal officer A repo . rt by a competent k ♦ 6 price for the metal was cost 6 nf fc, n ° information as to the whLu b , r nging in the me tal from fitted to tbe borough was submarine fK 6re was no w ay of cornfirm g S® C ? st with that of another Ployed although they emnot aakp,! En smeer his advice was Ws The Mayor said the Jhfige. mmit tee was competent to Mbe Engineer? ° b3eCt t 0 dragging j eplied was not a beer. Thai draggin g In. the EngiratePayer R elected by the the EnriJ bad a right to have Cr K S adviceduality. att ' raised the question of Port. d I 6 funlish a monthly • reT, C ° f nte V ded that the I? 6 metal th^+ 0t asked to report on ? oT ed—Thatti offer ed. He Mediately. the Engineer be -called J a <l inspected^? 4 that the Engineer he was Jin! ? atal now offered « Tll6 Mayor* yb him at the time, don. yor * It is-a good proposif MofCa tt: I wlll tell you how

good it is. supported the motion and said there was no doubt about the quality of the metal. He did not think anyone present wanted to overstep the Engineer. He thought the Engineer ought to be present. He was willing to do his share on the Council, but if others were going to hold up the proceedings he would have to consider whether it was worth while being there.

Cr. Fleming stated that the Mayor had said they could get metal from a quarry at Welcome Bay and could save four shillings per yard. If the Council equipped that quarry would they want the metal that was now offered. The Mayor answered that ' the Welcome Bay quarry did not concern that meeting. Cr. King asked: What is the cost of carting the metal to town? No answer was given at this stage.

Cr. Macmillan said he understood that the Engineer was asked to report, and his report stated that another person was prepared to offer metal to the Council. He felt that they owed a duty to the ratepayers that before accepting the present offer they should get a competitive price if such could be obtained; otherwise, it was . first come, „ first served. He was not disputing the quality or the price, but if they could get a better price they should have it. If they gave the order to the first person without considering the other person they would be doing something that they should not do.

Cr. Every: Can you answer Cr. King about the cost of delivery? The Mayor replied he had asked for that that morning. He then quoted the prices of a private firm, for the cartage of the metal to the borough. He said he believed tha,;t the Council could do the carting cheaper with its own lorries. Cr. Every wanted to know if the Council’s lorries would be available.

The Mayor then moved—That the proceedings of the meeting up to that stage be not published.—Cr. Perriman seconded. Cr. Moffatt: I Want to speak on that.

The Mayor said he had called the meeting to consider a certain, matter,. and now they wanted to turn it into a propaganda meeting. Cr, Macmillan moved an amendment —That no prices or names of firms be published.—Seconded by Cr. Every,. Cr. Daines contended they should have competitive' prices. The Town Clerk, who had left the meeting- for a few minutes to seek the Engineer, th,eii returned and intimated that the latter was not to be found.

Cr. Moffatt rose to’ speak and while he was on his feet the Mayor put Cr. Macmillan’s amendment to the meeting and it was carried.

The amendment was then put as the substantive motion and carried. A protest against the procedure was made by Cr. Moffatt, who contended that the Standing Orders had not been'observed.

Cr. Every‘said he was qorry the Engineer was not .preseint, as he Wanted partidulars in regard to the quantity of metal suitable for roads, also : the cost of cartage, etc.. The scf§enin^s : would be suitable for footpaths, hut he did not think, the Works ‘Committee had sufficient 'footpath Wdfk for the stipulated quantity of material. The Council had called already tenders for metalling certain streets. He would .have liked to aSk the Engineer certain questions and had told the Mayor prior to that meeting that he wanted a report front the Engineer. He op-r posed the motion for the purchase of the’metal.

Cr. Perriman quoted figures in regard to cost of transport by using the Council’s own lorries.

Cr. Fleming raised the question of number of daily trips which the lorries could make, and intimated he did not agree with Cr, Perriman in that respect. . Cr Moffatt did not agree with the figures, submitted by Cr Perriman. There was,'he said, a state of emergency in regard to requiring metal for the streets. The Engineer’s report dealt with a request by the Council to report upon a heap of fine screenings for footpaths and that was all he had reported upon. At the meeting of the Works Committee Cr Macmillan and he himself strongly insisted on a report by the Engineer. If the Engineer had not been approached on that matter The Mayor interrupted Cr Moffatt and said that matters which were discussed in committee were not public. Cr Moffatt replied that the sooner they, dragged them out and made them public the better. They were asked to sanction a certain expenditure; and he presumed the money would be available. In face of that they were also committed to the establishment of a quarry at Welcome Bay. , The Mayor ruled that Cr Moffatt was' but of order. Cr Perriman .Stated' that two notices of ■ motion were in the books. Cr ; AllelyV: How 5 many; times can Councillors 'spea'K ? • The Mayor to* Cr Moffatt: Don’t you think it would be wise to confine yourself to the motion. It is not fair to drag in side issues. Cr Moffatt replied that he wished to give his reasons for opposing the motion. He referred to the metal which it was proposed to buy, and said one of the most important reasons why it’should not be bought was

that the Council was under Contract for a supply of metal from another firm, which he named. He would be guided in regard to metal by the report of the Engineer, and pointed out that soft metal was used underneath and hard metal for the top course. There was a chain of events leading up to the question. He would go back to the time when the Council called tenders for metal and had the price increased six-pence per yard while the man was supplying. He would also go back to the time when the Chairman of the Works Committee wanted to* procure metal and had resigned—— . The Mayor; You can’t stand up and give a reason why a Councillor resigned. You are out of order. Cr Moffatt, continuing, referred to the matter of calling tenders for spawls. Then, he said, the crusher went out, and now there was to be a quarry s,t Welcome Bay. |The Council was in a state of urgency in regard to metal. It the metal at Welcome Bay was of suitable quality « The Mayor interrupting: Are you prepared to withdraw your remark about a Councillor resigning? Gr Moffatt agreed to do so. Continuing, Cr Moffatt addressing the Mayor, said: I don’t think it was a fair remark when you said it was a propaganda meeting. I think the public of Tauranga should* know what we are doing. Cr Allely thought they would be foolish if they did not accept the 1 ■offer. He was with the Engineer when the stone was examined. He then referred tdi the qualities of certain metals. Cr Moffatt asked Cr Allely to quote what the Engineer had said. Cr Allely replied that he would not answer that question. , The Mayor said everything had been put before the Council. He thought it was a fair offer and it should be considered. He then asked Cr King: Are you prepared. to take the Chairmanship of the, Works Committee? „ Cr King: Yes. The Mayor said he would move that Cr King/be appointed Chairman. Cr Perriman stated that that could not he done at that meeting. The Mayor said that.what he had submitted was in the best interests of the Council. Certain work was being done in Christopher Street, but metal was not being supplied. The metal was offered at what he considered was a reasonable price and he said definitely .it was one of the best propositions that the Council had had placed before it; At the request of Cr Macmillan a short report was read from the Engineer’; which mentioned that metal could be obtained from two firms. Cr Macmillan: I think we should get the prices from the two quarries. The Mayor’s motion was then put to the meeting and defeated, the voting being: . Ayes—The Mayor and Crs Allely, Perriman and Matheson. Noes—Crs Daines, Every, King, Moffatt, Macmillan and Fleming. Cr Moffatt then moved—That two hundred yards of metal be ordered 'from the present contractor. The Mayor ruled the motion out of order, and said metal was on order but was not delivered. Cf Perriman referred to the bad state of Christopher Street. The Mayor intimated he was going to take things easier in the future. The meeting then concluded.-