"A LOT OF 'DUDS'"

Evening Star, Issue 19409, 18 November 1926, Page 13

"A LOT OF 'DUDS'"

GOUKGILLOR LARHACH'S CHARGES DISCUSSION OH COUNCIL’S WORKS PROBABLY MORE CONTRACTS A prophecy that more of the City Council’s work may have to be done by contract instead of by the council’s own staff was made last nigm by Cr J. Wilson, chairman of the Works Committee. _ His remarks arose out of a clause in the committee’s report pointing out that san award had been made by the Arbitration Court for local . bodies drivers, granting them an increase over those of private employers and involving an additional annual cost to the corporation of £620. Or Wilson said the increase had been brought about in Canterbury and Wellington, and was now in force here. The policy might have a very farreaching effect, because at present tne employees of local bodies were receiving consideration which they would not receive from private employers. It meant that the whole position would have to be reviewed. The making of the award would cause a tendency for more work to be done by contract. He gave that for what it was worth. Cr Clark asked if . the committee had considered the advisability of calling for tenders for the road construction on the Harbor Board’s southern reclamation. It would enable the committee to see what could be done by contract as compared with work done by its own staff. Work by contract would not mean the employment of fewer men. Cr Larnach said it was time more of the council’s work was done by contract. He referred to one of the council’s work as a “joke,” and said it was time the council realised the seriousness of the position.. He wa? going to make statements which would .probably be used against him, and might put him out of the council next election, but he did not care. , , “You have a lot of ‘duds as inspectors,” continued Cr Larnach, who said the work was not being earned out as it should bo. People were constantly holding him up in street and sneering at the way in which work was being done by the council. The way in which motor cycles and motor cars were allowed to go along the streets was a danger. The Mayor: What have motors to do with the Works Committee? Cr Larnach: I am working up to the crux.of the whole position. The Mayor: Go on. Cr Larnach; I don’t think I’ll spy any more. It seems useless. The Mayor: No, it isn't. Cr Larnach said the committees did not seem to try anything. This is the place to get publication, ■ Look at the congestion between the Bank of New Zealand and Water street.

The Mayor; What committee are you referring to? Cr Larnach: The General Committee. The Mayor; Yon are turning from the Works’to the Genera! Committee. Cr Larnach replied that he_ was confining himself to the one thing. The whole town was talking about how filings were conducted in the city. “Now, 1 think I’ll sit down,” concluded Cr Larnach. Cr Sincoek said he had a good deal of sympathy with contract work. If the work mentioned by Cr Clark were done by contract, it would be a good test to see if the council were getting its money’s worth from its own staff. Ho would move as an nm-ndment that tenders be called for the work. Cr Shaddock seconded the amendment. He said ho though’' more of the council’s works should be done;by contract. -

Cr Taverner said he thought the committee should have the privilege of selecting the particular work to be made a test with contract.

Or Play ward said he thought the committee itself should express an opinion on the question of contract work or work by the council itself. Cr Wilson stated that one-third of the work mentioned had been already done by the council. He was surprised at a member of the Works Committee moving an amendment to let the work by contract.

The amendment was lost, and the report of the committee adopted.