PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 18668, 24 June 1924, Page 7

PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH COUNCIL.

TO Tire EDITOR Sir, —The time has arrived when vws must defend ourselves regarding tho procedure of the council and the actions used to Bring about an intolerable 'position, which must financially affect the borough jn tho near future. It has been stated that several of us councillors left the council table without occasion, and through your columns we desire to place our position clearly before the public.

You will doubtless remember that a notice of motion was brought down for tho purpose of bettering the financial aspect of the borough by having a competent man to take charge of affairs —that, is. a combined town dork and borough inspector, same to possess the necessary drainage and sanitary certificates. We (were defeated by an amendment by tho mayor to appoint tho present town clerk as town manager, with no duties. On Monday tho mayor brought down tho duties as he thought they should be, and no councillor was supplied with a copy of such for perusal, but, as a council, wa wore asked to support the mayor blindly, and simply agree to what he placed before us. After we had been defeated the mayor brought down a motion to inersaao the town manager’s salary to £3OO per annum without due notice, and in face of the fact tliat tho estimates had been passed and salaries agreed upon, and, as a protest, wo left the council table. When it- suits him, tho mayor adheres to the standing orders, but when it does not, he defies all conditions appertaining to decorum and order.

For the joint position, as wo suggested, tho borough would have been called upon to have paid an inspector £350, assistant £l5O per annum, as against what if) paid to-day—town manager £3OO, assistant £l5O, foreman £216, Health Department £6O, making a total of £726 per annum, as against our scheme (£500), moaning a saving of £226 under our proposal. Tiiis is not aIL With our scheme wo would have had an np-to-date man who could have carried out the work in. an efficient manner, which would have shown a return for the expenditure being ruthlessly wasted at the present time. (Jo-day, with the large expenditure" wo have, land tho present constituted sta)fT, we have not one who can supervise drains, make a correct estimate, control the workmen, or run things upon business lines. Hu truth, the jot) has become “muddle through as best you can.” Wo have a magnificent little borough' which has suffered financially through mismanagement. There is tho tunnel which is supposed to have cost very little, but which would astound you if the truth wore laid bare. Recently a large drain was pul, in from Flagstaff to the road, and cost twice as much as was estimated, and people’s property was entered upon without duo notice or permission. When an urgent job is scheduled the excuse that wo have no mone~ is pleaded, yet wo have a town manager, assistant in the office, a foreman, ami only throe working men on tho streets scratching here and there, doing nothing permanent, whoroas if wo had up-to-date management tho borough could bo brought up to date in every respect. Look at our roads; they are a disgrace. When they wejp last metalled I do not remember. Tho crowns have gone, and it will cost hundreds of pounds to bring them to form. Where is there sufficient work in the office for two, taking into consideration tho revenue collected and tho little business transacted? Ontsido is where tho work is to be done, and wlicro tho competent man is really needed, as it is impossible for one to sit in tho office and direct operations outside. Well, that is tho position that .is no v developing in our borough, and how long is it going to last before the people d be asked to add a little more to their general rates to make up for the wastage? The sanitary rate was raised to 30s per annum, and what assistance has been given to people who desire to put in washdowns? Such a high rate comes very bal'd upon people where there is only one inhabitant in tho house. Much could be said, but your space is limited, and it is our intention in the near latuna to place the whole position of the borough before a public meeting of tho citizens.—• 1 am, etc., H. Andeeson, Councillor, and on behalf of colleagues. June 24.