Noise control

Press, 25 May 1984, Page 12

Noise control

Sir,—l was surprised to read in “The Press” of May 1 that the Christchurch City Council has contracted out a large proportion of noise control officers’ jobs, appointing 28 employees of a private firm litter control officers, and designated noise control officers. Why does the council have a job promotion committee and at the same time contract work out to private firms whose reason for existence is to make a profit? Perhaps the job promotion committee is a public relations exercise to deflect attention from other activities of the council which make workers redundant and break down workers’ conditions. — Yours, etc., V. STEWART. May 3, 1984. [Mr J. H. Gray, general manager and Town Clerk, Christchurch City Council, replies: “Our employment promotion policy aims at job creation in both the private and public sectors, not the latter alone. Noise control is a new statutory requirement. In terms of job creation, the same result is achieved whether those engaged in this field are employed by the council or a contractor. Doing it by contract is the more cost-effective course and that is why that decision was taken.”]