MR HALLETT REPLIES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 131, 19 May 1911, Page 3

MR HALLETT REPLIES

:TO THE HASTINGS BOROUGH COUNCIL. At last night's meeting of the Hastings Borough. Council, the following letter was received from the J late Borough Engineer (Mr. Enoch ' Hallet) iTo His Worship The Mayor.— ' Sii-,—-I beg to submit herewith my replies to and explanation of questions asked me in the Town : Clerk's memo of 3rd (1) In reading over the specifications with Mr. McGaflin, prior to his signing, my attention was called to the harshness of clause 16 (attached), which meant retaining 25 per cent, of total value of pipes for a period ext ('tiding over two years. This clause was altered to read (see attached slip), and did not in any other way. than as regards payments, affect the contract. In your address to the burgesses you are reported to have said that an alteration in the contract increased the Council s liability by £3(Xh). If on that occasion you referred to the above alteration, your statement, like many others, needs a little explanation. (2) After the resolution mentioned in this question had been passed by the Council, I had an interview with the Mayor in which I pointed out to him the absurdity of such an arrangement and the impracticability of working under it. At this interview I produced letters from several town clerks giving the modus operand! in other towns (copies attached). The Town Clerk then arranged with the Mayor that he (the Town Clerk) would give Mr. Simmons and myself authority to order. This mode of procedure was carried with thc| knowledge of the 1- inance € oni-1 mittee, consisting of the whole: Council, from March 1910 to April 1911, and no exception was, to my knowledge, taken to it. The communication sent to Messrs. Yates and Campbell was sent not as an order but as an instruction. The extra 8000 lin. ft. of slabs which I instructed contractors to make were required to complete the work which the Coun-i cil had authorised me to carry out. The 2000 lin. ft. had been bought and used by private individuals. This being so, I maintain my action was justifiable. The latter, part of this question I do not consider a fair proposition, because with the innumerable demands upon my time and att cut ion it was unreasonable and unfair to expect me to carry all operations that took place in my head. 1 admit the mistake, and claim privilege. (3) I absolutely and unhesitatingIv deny haring done so. The

pipes in question had been made under the supervision of Mr. Sollit. and submitted by Mr. Scott to all the tests that were considered necessary ; they were not condemned, but put aside as weepers, not as road pipes. My instruction to Mr. Scott was to re-examine these, pipes, rejecting all pipes that squirted, and cause repairs to be effected to all those that were otherwise defective. Under the terms of specification the; Council were bound to take these pipes. And I hold and maintain, on the opinion of authorities ami tests [made by myself, that these pipes are in every way suitable for sewerage work. I. as the arbiter named in the specification, was acting fairly and honestly towards the Council and contractor, and ; strictly in accordance with terms of specifications. (4) Mr. McGaffin, under instructions from his solicitor, refused G sign the new specifications ai d agreement until he had some guarantee that these pipes would be dealt with as provided in Hie original specification. This I. as Engineer named in the specification, agreed to do. The 1500 tons of cement for which tenders were called was not alone for channels, but for sewerage and other works. My estimate of quantity required for channelling as scheduled by me was 1370 tons ; for sewerage "works 100 tons ; for other works 70 tons-; total 1540 tons. (5) The question as to whether il was acting under instrm.'-rons or being influenced by anyone was unworthy of being put. It con- , tains an insinuation that I could ! be bought by someone. .Such an ■ insinuation I fling back in the I teeth of whoever vras responsible • for the question. I have lived in New Zealand all my life, and my record is as clean as any ■-•nmLer of the Council. No ma* been able to accuse me of shady prm ■ tices, and until your Council put the question none have ; srcd to i hint at it. i Comments. —In reference to |these answers I beg" to draw the ; Council’s attention to the short jtime allowed me to prepare them. I was given from 3 p.m. on Thurs- ; day to 10 a.m. on Friday, otheri wise I was to be summarily dismissed. With the time at my disposal, and considering the many

duties I had to perform, it was , palpably unfair and unjust. Er en I admitting that in my zeal for the discharge of my responsible duties 1 and the pushing forward of the ; works I somewhat exceeded my powers. I had a right to fair play. ; This was denied me, and a slur was cast upon my reputation. i During my service under your : Council I have endeavoured to do hnv dutv in an honest and femless i way. The old British idea of jusj tice has not been meted out to ; me. It was patent to many that I i was to be got rid of. and the un- ! English method of pre-judging was i resorted to. For a public body the ; method was discreditable. In self- ! defence I forward these notes and | reserve to myself the right to pubj lish them as I think fit. I have I a keen sense of the innate sense of justice of the ratepayers when i they know the facts. I am there- ! fore content to leave the matter jin their hands.- —I am, etc., ; ENOO HALLETT. ' Late Engineer, Hastings Borough Council. SCHEDULE.

Re Requisitions or Orders : From Town Clerk, New Plymouth : —“1 beg to inform you that the Electrical and Borough Engineers order their own requisites.” From Town Clerk, Palmerston North :—“I beg to state that the Engineer signs all orders in connection with his department.” From Town Clerk, Auckland : — “I have the honour to inform you that all orders for tools and goods are signed by the head of each department.” From Town Clerk. Wellington : — “I have to inform you that the city Electrical and Waterworks Engineers and Superintendent of Fire Brigade order their own requisites and supplies.” Clause 16: —Payments will be made by the Hastings Borough Council on. each parcel at the rate of 75 per cent, of the contract rates within 7 days of the engineer certifying to delivery and acceptance. The balance will be retained and paid immediately 7 after the completion of the contract.

Clause 16 (as altered): —Payments will be made by the Hastings Borough Council on each parcel at the rate of 75 per cent, of the contract rates within 7 days of the engineer certifying to delivery and acceptance. The balance of 25 per cent, will be paid the following month. 31 days after delivery. Hastings, May Bth, 1911. Cr. Holderness moved that the letter be received. Cr. George said that a set was being made against Mr. Hallett which was not justified. Mr. Hallettt was a respectable man and lie deserved every consideration. The letter should be read. A motion to read the replies was carried, and the Mayor said he would do so, although the matter had been finally’ settled. Referring to Clause 16. the Mayor explained that Mr. Hallett should have been aware of the law regarding contracts. The contract with Mr. Gaffin involved £12,000, and under the law’, if the contractor for one reason or another, did not pay his men their wages, the Council would be liable up to about £3OOO, and would have to meet it. The letter was received.