A “Convenient Office.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 53, 13 October 1887, Page 3

A “Convenient Office.”

STRONG COMMENTS. At the Harbor Board meeting on Tuesday evening, on the accounts coming up for payment, Mr Townley said he thought w'hen they gave £4 5s a week to their overseer he should be called on to devote all his time, if necessary, to the work—£9 6s was a big sum to pay for a fortnight’s work. They had three virtual overseers on the works, drawing £24 a week. He certainly thought that if they engaged a foreman of works that he should not charge overtime: it would be to his interest to keep two or three men “ tinkering ” about there and claim overtime for it. He considered it was rather having the Board —the Engineer might as well make a charge for overtime. This matter, he thought, would stand looking into. Mr Matthewson: I think the whole thing will stand looking into. Mr Townley: Looking at this we have had extravagance that must be checked.

The Engineer, in reply to a question, said Mr Bicheno was the best man for the place that he had come across. Mr Gannon : There is no check to his charging overtime. The Engineer said Bicheno kept his own time, and Mr Henderson checked it.

Mr Townley i It is a very convenient office, 1 think the attention of the Vigilance Committee requires to be directed to this.

Mr Matthewson agreed that the Vigilance Committee should be put in motion.

The motion was then dropped,