CITY CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 192, 9 May 1924, Page 6

CITY CONTROL

INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE'S REPORT

There was a little fric'ion at the meeting of. the City Council last evening regarding the clashing of the interests of the Finance Committee and the Investigation Committee. The Finance Committee recommended that Mr. Brighton should be appointed to the position of assistant city engineer and Mr. K. E. Luke to the position of inspecting engineer. Councillors G. Mitchell and Mr. F. Luckie thought the recommendation should be held over until the report of the Investigation Committee had been dealt with.

The Alayor (Air. R. A. Wright) explained that the appointments had been made before the Investigation Committee had reported.upon the matter. If the Investigation. Committee was going to make appointments, it would be just as well for the council to hand over all its business to them. Councillor J. Burns said it did not matter very much which committee recommended appointments, but as the Investigation Committee was dealing with the matter it would be just as well to leave it to them. • On a vote being taken, it was decided to hold the recommendation °'Tlie Finance Committee recommended: “That notwithstanding the provision of clause 4 of the Investigation committee’s report adopted by the council, the position of Mr. AToriec, as waterworks and drainage engineer remain as at •present, separate from the city engineer’s control.” On the motion of Councillor AV. J. Thompson, it was decided to refer the recommendation back to the Finance Committee, • ■ ' The Departmental Investigation Committee submitted the following reP °“The committee have to report that, in view of the appointment of a city engineer, they have considered the filling of the positions of assistant city engineer and street works engineer necessary to put the organisation adopted by the council into force; and therefore 'recommend : — “(1) That the salary of city engineer he increased to £IIXI6 per year, rising by two annual increments of £lOO to £l2OO per year. “(2) That Air. Brigham be appointed assistant city engineer at a salary of £6OO per year. ‘“"(3) That Air. K. E. Luke be appointed inspecting engineer and have control over street works and general construction, at a salary of £6OO per year. . , , “(4) That the organisation as .adopted by the council be put into immediate operation and the officers instructed accordingly.” It was decided to take discussion of tho report in committee.