GREY POWER BOARD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19112, 22 September 1927, Page 13

GREY POWER BOARD.

DISPUTE OVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. (SPECIAL 10 THB PRESS.) GREYMOUTH, September 21. The question of administrative costs in connexion with the Grey Power Board's operations came in for some criticism at tho Hoard's meeting this evening. Tho matter cropped up when a clauso in the Engineer's report camo up for discussion. The clause v.-as as follows:—"Dtiriug the preceding month the major portiou of the low tension reticulation work in hand was completed, and in consequence the number o£ jnen employed on line work has been reduced." Mr J. Mulcare asked why tho Board's administrative staff had not been reduced. Ho criticised tho action of the Engineer in still keeping the same staff of officers engaged when tho Board was employing only three linesmon. Mr J. B. Kent: All officers and no crew. The Engineer: Mr Trotter, of tho drafting staff, has tendered his resignation. He realised that the outside staff was getting too small.

Mr Kent moved that a special committee go into the matter of the general reconstruction of the staff.

Mr Mulcare held that the Board employed a managing engineer, who had a right to see that the Board's interests were protected. Ho (Mr Alulcare) was getting tired of the old practice of asking the Engineer to submit reports to the Board. ' The chairman, Mr J. W. Greenslade: The Engineer should have power to dispense with any employee he does not require.

Messrs \V. Clayton find A. Robinson objected to_ nny resolution setting up a committee without including the Engineer. After considerable discussion it was decided that a special committee of three members and the Engineer go into the matter of administrative costs and report to the next meeting of the Board. ■