“TOO GREAT A SUM”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 16, 13 October 1927, Page 6

“TOO GREAT A SUM”

ENGINEERS’ SALARIES POWER BOARD DIVISION Carterton, October 12. Complaining that the board was at present paying £7OO in salaries to their engineers—£600 to the resident engineer and £lOO to the consulting engineer— Mr. T. V. Moore moved at the monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Power Board that the engagement of the consulting engineer (Mr. 11. R. Climie) be terminated immediately. The speaker said that £7OO was too great a sum for a small' board to be paying, and he was confident that the resident engineer could do all that was required of him —if not, he was not worth the salary the board was paying him. The discussion arose over an intimation by the chairman (Mr. J. W. Kershaw) that Mr. Climie’s engagement had terminated last March, but had been allowed to continue as certain works were anticipated, and the board preferred to consult him on them. Mr. Climie had visited the Wairarapa three times at no cost to the board, and the chairman considered that his sendees should be retained. In seconding the motion of Mr. Moore, Mr. H. P. Hugo stated that, as all the construction work of the board was now completed, it was expected that Mr. Keenan, the board’s engineer, should carry his portion of the responsibility. Messrs R. J. King and W. A. Tate expressed themselves in accord wi.th the views of the previous speakers. The chairman said he thought a mistake was being made, as there were times when the board required to confer with other experts. He moved as an amendment that Mr- Climie’s engagement continue until March, when the matter could be again reviewed. Mr. Moore: The inference to be drawn is that Mr. Keenan is not worth his job. The chairman: You may draw wbat inference you like, but such is not intended on my part. The amendment was carried on the casting vote of the chairman, Messrs. McLachlan, Booth, and Benton being the other members who voted in favour.