THOSE JAERAH SLEEPERS

Evening Star, Issue 14036, 17 April 1909, Page 7

THOSE JAERAH SLEEPERS

WHO AUTHORISED THE PURCHASE? At Cr Walker’s meeting held at the bouth Dunedin Town Hall last evening, the :hairman (Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P.) read the allowing letter from His Worship the Mayor

Dunedin, April 16, 1909. Dear Mr Sidey,—lf the matter of sleepers is referred to to-night, would ' you do me the honor to explain the matter as far as lam concerned. On January 28 a letter was received from Albert E. Brown offering the whole of the sleepers (about 6,000) at 2s lid net at Kew, Invercargill. It was referred to the Tramways Committee on the 3rd February, and declined. We were under the impression that thev could be purchased cheaper. On February 8 a letter was received from Mr M'Leod offering about 5,800 sleepers at 2s 6d net at Kew, Invercargill, the Corporation to pay all charges, which would have cost about 6d to 7d per sleeper to land in Dunedin. Mr Richards and Cr Cole were instructed to proceed to Invercargill to inspect the sleepers. They returned on the 10th February, and reported that thev were very suitable sleepers for the construction of the tramway line in George street. They also recommended that an offer of 2s 6d per sleeper at Dunedin wharf be made. This was adopted by the Council. Immediately the report was adopted Cr Dowme Stewart rose in his seat and said: ‘-Your Worship, I hope, if these sleepers are as good as Cr Cole and the town clerk say they are, that you will not lose them for the sake of a few pence.” I replied: “Your wishes will be attended to.” and every councillor in the chamber, by his silence, acquiesced, the offer of 2s 6d was made and refused. Mr M'Leod wrote again on the 15th as lollows:

“Re condemned sleepers.—The lowest P r ‘ce we can accept is for the lot (about 5,800) 2s lid each net on the wharf, Dunedin, duty, wharfage, etc., paid, or for those marked No. 1 (about 4,000) 5s od each net on the wharf, Dunedin, duty and wharfage paid.—M'Lkod.” „ This letter was presented to me the same day (15th). The town clerk advised me that these sleepers should be purchased, so I turned over the corner of the letter and wrote on it “ Chairman of Tramways to act. —J. M‘D., This is the history of the matter so far as I am concerned, and why Cr Walker should misrepresent the position is something of a mystery to. me.—Thanking etc. j. M'Doxalb.

Cr Walker, referring to the matter, eaid : The mayor’s letter is not in accordance with the official documents I hold in my hand. (1) The report of the town clerk and Cr Cole did not recommend the ?’JSSr ase s^ee Pers, but only 4,°°°, marked No. 1., at 2s 6d, and that the offer to purchase others rated as indifferent and of no value be not entertained. (2) This was the resolution adopted by the Council. (3) In the face of this resolution and the report of Messrs Cole and Eichajds, the mayor issued instructo purchase the whole quantity, including these rated as indifferent and of ao value, for 2s lid each. The City is now saddled with a large amount of sleepers which our own experts condemn, md for which the citizens have to pay. The matter is in your hands, and vou can torm your own judgment on it, but it certainly appears to me that the mayor has committed the City to an expenditure which has not been authorised by the Council and is against the best interests of the City, and I have never made any mis-statements in connection with the matter.

The official documents (read by Cr Walker), contain a report by the town .lerk (Mr .Richards) and the chairman of tee Tramway Committee (Cr Cole). The report, subsequently adopted by the Council, contained these clauses :

We recommend that an offer be made j™* j Ceod to purchase these sleepers at to delivered at Dunedin, ali such sleepers to have the brand “ I ” and that not less than 2,000 and not more than 4,000 be delivered at Dunedin, and any sleeper that does not bear brand “I.” or is otherwise branded will be rejected ai* the discretion of the city engineer or his authorised officer. We further recommend that the proposal to purchase Classes 11. (rated as indifferent) _ and 111. (of no value) be not entertained. MAYOR DENIES RESPONSIBILITY, AND ISSUES A CHALLENGE. The Mayor (Mr J. M‘Donald) also referred to the jarrah sleepers affair in the course of his address in the Howe Street Hall. Having referred to the correspondence, j • ”5 )rsl > I P. m conclusion, absolutely denied having ever given Cr Cole or anybody else instructions to purchase the Bleepers, and challenged Cr Walker to prove that he did so.