CHAIRMAN AND ENGINEER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 15 May 1918, Page 6

CHAIRMAN AND ENGINEER.

A QUESTION OF CONTROL

AND SOMETHING ABOUT CEMENT

At yesterday's meeting, of the Egmont County Council there was a good deal of discussion arising out of some correspondence which had passed between the chairman (Mr Wright) and the. engineer (Mr Pease) with reference to the question of control of employees as. the outcome of an order given by the chairman as to some tools for the Garrat engine. The chairman wrote to the engineer, inter alia: "In connection with tools and work to be done ordered by me for this engine, I am given to understand that you have written the driver that he is to take no instructions except from you, but when an engine is allowed to go over twenty-two miles from her base in an unworkable state, without tools or belt paste, then I am going not only to protect the ratepayers' -pockets, but will prevent the Council being a public laughing stock. .:. . For an official of the Council to .'lead employees to suppose that the chairman's orders are not to be obeyed indicates that you do not realise your position. You will at once write withdrawing the letter referred to, as such a thing could not be tolerated, nor will it be by the chairman of the Council you are engineer for for one moment." The engineer submitted a lengthy reply to the chairman, including: "1 can only say that I do fully realise my position, gijd always endeavor to carry out my duties in an efficient manner with aae.i-egard to economy, but nothing can be:a success with divided control, which only leads to misunderstandings, friction, loss of time and inefficiency, and as the first clause in m- agreement -with the Council gives me full charge of all workmen, plaint, roads, bridges, and other work under the control of the Council, I feel that I am not called upon to comply with the chairman's request that I should withdraw my letter to the driver of the -Garrett roller. I am always perfectly willing to carry out any instructions I receive from the chairman, and always hope to retain the confidence of himself and the Council, but unless all the business belonging to my department passes through my hands, I shall not be able to retain that control of the men which is necessary for' the proper and efficient carrying out of the Council's work. The chairman must have misunderstood my intentions." The chairman, in referring to this matter, reiterated his remarks in his letter to the engineer. As the Coun- j cil was aware, he was not there to give i counter* orders, but while he was chairman he would insist on efficiency, and would see that the interests of the ratepayers were protected, and notwithstanding any official of the Council It was his duty to see that the ratepayers g°t'2os m the £; the moment he saw that the ratepayers were not getting it he was, going to leave the Council. He did not want friction, but he did want to see the affairs of. the Council go anead. It was his, duty, he repeated to see that the men had proper tools , tor the engine, and he contended he I was quite, justified in asking the engineer to withdraw his letter to the driver. There had been a great want ot efficiency m tlie Council, and he could point to quite a number of cases ot the most glaring instances of inefficiency One was at Oeo. where the crusher had been since October last practically doing very little. Mr Pease said he was responsible for the working of his department. He (the -ct-Svirman) was quite willing at all times to assist the engineer in his work, but fte was not going to stand inefficiency, lo be told that he was" not to give orders was intolerable, and one of the oldest of local bodies had informed him. that he would be unfitted tor the position if he could not give

The engineer, in reply, said he had a complete answer to every one of the cases of inefficiency referred to by the chairman, but it would take too' long to go through all his files. With reference to the letter to the chairman be might repeat that under the first clause of his agreement he had full charge of the men and all the work in his department. When he wrote to the driver of the engine.Jie had no intention of hitting at or ' 'stifling" the chairman. He had told the chairman this, and he could not conscientiously withdraw the letter to the driver, as he was under the speaker's charge. There could not be two bosses of any one man. He, too, was standing for efficiency, and he pointed out that from enquiries made he found that other engineers were working on the lines of iumselt m regard to county works Ihere had been no waste of time in Oeo riding, except what had been caused by nad weather.

The chairman: If the ridin« members iire satisfied that there has been no ■waste of time, then there i s no use discussing the matter any further. The engineer : lam satisfied that the contractors on the job would not permit of any waste of time.

Cr. O'Brien considered that this difference between the chairman and the engineer could be satisfactorily settled if some patience and forbearance on bo tn sides were exercised. The engineer had perhaps been a trifle "easy going." He would move: That the engineer's attention be drawn to this condition of affairs and that no further action be taken in this case. . Cr. McNeill, who seconded the motion, said he was quite sure that the chairman, the engineer, and every member of the Council were doing their level best to get the county work proceeded with. The engiueer had arrived at an unfortunate time —the county was low m plant and the roads wanted attention. It had also to be remembered that the engineer had a good deal of office work to do. The Council had also offered his services to the Government in connection with the Wiremu road.

The chairman: They have not accepted that.

Cr. McNeill: Be that as it may. Mr Pease ha s dropped into a vei*v hard time, and no doubt when he gets into "the way of things" everything will go along all right. I have no doubt that any friction between, the chairman and engineer was due .to the eagerness of the chairman to have the work done.

The chairman remarked that he could not agree to the motion until the engineer's letter was withdrawn Cr. O'Brien: Come on, be a littie generous.

The chairman: There is no friction between us. I only want to get the work done.

Cr O'Brien; Will the engineer withdraw the letter.

The engineer: I will withdraw any reflection upon the chairman. I never intended to have a slan at the chairman. Having given my explanation I Avill withdraw the letter.

Cr. O'Brien's motion was. after some •discussion of an irrelevant nature, carried unanimously. Previous to the forep-oine discussion the chairman referred to the action of the engineer in havino- accepted a contract for cement without first having consulted the Council. The-action of the engineer was entirely against local body law. The engineer explained that he held *ack as Jong, as he co*.:.d, but knowing

that there would sure, to be an advance in price, he decided to obtain quotations from several firms, and he accepted-, the lowest price. No contract had as yet been signed. He had merely asked for quotations in the ordinary business way.

The chairman said the point in this matter was that it. should have the sanction, of the Council or of a committee. There were always two or three councillors available. Although the matter may have been one of urgency the Council could not depart from the unwritten law. He would have endorsed the action of any three councillors, but he proposed to move that the Council refuse to confirm this contract.

• The engineer: It is not a contract; it is just an ordinary business quotation, as a contractor would do. He said that by accepting the lowest quotation he would save the Council a good deal on the purchase. The chairman said this matter must be settled, as he was sure there was going to be a great deal of friction if private! contracts were entered into.

Cr O'Brien believed that the engineer had acted in what he thought to be in the best interests of the Council.

The chairman said all contracts must come before the^ Council, and he would make no exception. Cr Cornish suggested that a special committee should be appointed to deal with matters of urgency. If such a committee had been, in existence this difficulty would not have cropped up. Cr McNeil moved that an emergency committee be set up, to consist of the chairman, Crs Cornish. Sinclair and O'Brien. He suggested, further, that the Council should endorse the action of the engineer in securing the cement, and to ask the firm to hold it for the Council.

Cr O'Brien seconded the motion, ■jvhich was agreed to.