Waterworks Scheme’s “Slow Progress”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30316, 17 December 1963, Page 19

Waterworks Scheme’s “Slow Progress”

The Halswell County Council last evening discussed a motion by Cr. R. H. L. Hamilton that the council puts its staff off its waterworks construction project and call tenders for a private contractor to complete the project. The subject came up for discussion after concern had been expressed at the ‘•rather slow progress” on the job; and at difficulties over satisfactory holiday arrangements for staff that would allow

work to continue with the least interruption.

The chairman (Mr J. Y. Pethig), in asking for discussion on Cr. Hamilton’s motion, said the council had bought a digger to do the pipe-laying work to the reservoir with the council’s own staff.

Mr Petbig said the employees bad a right to say they would have a few days off over the holiday period without fear of losing their jobs. Cr. P. Wynn-Williams said he considered it a great pity that the council had tackled the waterworks job. He had had his doubts about it in the first place but had been persuaded that it should be done by the council and not by tender. On the other hand it would be drastic at his stage to stop the council’s work on it.

Cr. M. St. J. McKay said tie was confident the job would go on, but the council had probably tried to •‘pinch’’ with its staff by having to take men off the waterworks project on certain days to do rubbish collection and other tasks. - The county engineer (Mr M. J. Clark) said he failed to see that the job was going too slowly. The laying of water pipes was well advanced in readiness for completion of the reservoir near Kennedy’s Bush. He suggested a second digger would hasten the progress on pipe laying.

After further discussion Or. Hamilton withdrew his motion in favour of a motion by Cr. Wynn-Williams that the council’s consulting engineer be asked for a progress report on the pipe laying in relation to the whole scheme. It was also decided that the consulting engineer should make suggestions for improving the rate of progress.