EASTBOURNE DRAINAGE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 141, 16 June 1924, Page 3

EASTBOURNE DRAINAGE

A PROPER SCHEME REQUIRED

RATEPAYERS SHOULD RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION.

"There seems to be a great deal of. misunderstanding amongst Eastbourne ratepayers in regard to the usual practice of carrying out constructive works," writes Mr. R. H. P. Ronayne, in a letter to the Editor of "The Post." . He outlines the correct method of starting am; local body^- work such as the proposed drainage of Eastbourne, by which the local body concerned engages an engineer to prepare the scheme which should afterwards be checked by an engineer of long experience, after which it should be explained to the ratepayers. If the ratepayers sanction the proposal, the engineer first engaged completes the detailed plans and specifications; which the local body can cany out by day labour, or by contract, or, it necessary, by :i combination-of these methods. If by contract, the tenders for which have been submitted to the council interested, the work is carried out under the supervision of the engineer who prepares the plans and specilications.

"In following this procedure,", says Mr. Ronayne, "the local body is assured that the best method of solving the problem has been put forward, and that the estimate is correct, and not, as is often done, estimated low to induce the ratepayers to go on with the scheme, and once started more money has to be found to complete the work. By selecting an engineer possessing the necessary qualifications, they are guarding against slipshod work, and that the details of construction are up to'standard. In other words, full value is obtained for the money expended.

"The point that is misunderstood is that many people think that the consulting engineer by submitting an. estimate is tendering to carry out the work. The estimate. supplied by him is only a guidance as to the probable cost of the work at that time. When the work is actually undertaken it may be found that the market price for materials and labour has varied, and the cost of the work will naturally vary also. Once a contract has been accepted and signed up fluctuations of prices do "nnfc affect the contract, as the /onlractor takes that risk. If full specifications are not prepared before the contract is Jet then tiie contractor has the council at his nir;vy in that he can do what he likes with the work, not fully described.

"In regard to the Eastbourne drain age scherhe the council has obtained a report on the subject from a firm of well-known engineers, and also an estimate of the probable post of the scheme". I understand that this scheme lias been approved by another engineer, who was engaged by the council to clieck over the proposals. The council went that far and then consulted ,-m Australian firm of • contractors, wlio recommended a gravitation scheme with four tanks on the foreshore. The ratepayers, and rightly so, do not favour this, scheme. Apart from sentimental reason-, it is an impossibility to install a satisfactory gravitation scheme for Eastbourne. The ! Australian firm were invited to explain their scheme to the ratepayers;, but having learned that the gravitation scheme was not acceptable, they submitted a second scheme, that is, for pumping, as originally proposed by local engineers. Their new estimate was prepared with lightning rapidity, and I believe they submitted .1 tender for the work. It is not considered good practice for a contractor to submit his own specifications and then" tender on these specifications. It appears as if the council now proposes to put this scheme before the ratepayers for their approval, but I would like to warn ratepayers that the cheapest scheme is not always the best. "Ratepayers, before casting their j votes,_ should insist on the .following j questions being answered, and condi- I tions complied with :—(1) Why have not the reports submitted by the local engineers been made more public? (2) Does the council intend, providing the poll is carried, to give the contract of carrying out the work to the Australian firm without calling for public tenders t (3) Has the pumping scheme, as suggested by the Australian firm, been submitted .to an independent engineer for his approval, and what guarantee do the members of the council give the ratepayers that the scheme will be satisfactory? (4) If our local engineers are capable why is the council going outside New Zealand, at some expense I should say, for advice? (5) What engineer is going to supervise the construe-* tion of the work on.behalf of the council so as to make certain that the work is not skimped? (6) That reports submitted by the local engineers and the Australian firm describing the scheme in detail should be submitted to the ratepayers at least ten days before the poll. These reports should be published either in pamphlet form or in a newspaper. (7) A plan showing the layout of the sewers and positions of the pumping stations should be exhibited in suitable places so that the ratepayers can see what they are voting for. (8) What provisions have been made for ensuring that there will be no stoppage of the pumps in the event of the failure of electric supply from the main source of supply, in other words, will stand-by plants be allowed for ? ' If a stand-by plant has not been provided for is it not absolute nonsense to ask ratepayers to vote for the scheme. Note : A few days ago at Christchurch the power was cut off for four hours. (9) Owners of low sections will have to bo assured that the scheme, as proposed by the Australian contractors will serve their sections.

_ The primary duty of a local authority is to maintain the public health, and the councillors will be failing in their duty unless the best scheme is placed before ratenayers," writes Mr. Ronavne, in conclusion. "At the last public meeting there was such a flow of oratory from the platform that the above questions, most of which I had intended to ask, were .smothered.- This method may be all right for political meetings, but when the expenditure of ratepayers' money is concerned, it is a method "that produces distrust, to say the least"