Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

“MONSTROUS! SCANDALOUS!”

ALL ABOUT AN ENGINE. ALLEGED EXCESSIVE CHARGES. “ Why the dickens were we farmers?” said Cr Thoms at the meeting of the Awakino County Council yesterday, when a bill for £699 was presented from a wellknown engineering firm for the overhaul of a traction engine. Of this amount about £3O was the cost of overhauling a crusher, leaving roughly about £660 for the engine. The council paid £320 for the engine second-hand, and got a certificate from the Government inspector in January, certifying that the engine was in good order. Before bringing the engine out to Pio Pio, the council authorised the engineers to examine it and effect any repairs that .were needed, thinking that perhaps an expenditure of about £SO would cover the cost. All the councillors spoke heatedly about the charge, and various exclamations such as “monstrous!” “profiteering!” and “scandalous!” were"' heard. The labour account was appended as follows: Fitters 1356 hours, boilermakers 276, patternmakers 91, coppersmith 1it—1734 hours at 3/6, £303 9/-. Blacksmith and helper, 43 hours at 9/-, £l9 7/-; mechanic * and machine, 330 hours at 4/6, £74 5/-; acetone welder, 3 hours at 5/-, 15/-; assistants, 898 hours at 2/9, £123 9/6; dirt money, £ls. The engineer (Mr Fennell) said that at this rate no county council could possibly afford to run machinery. In the present case, to give an idea of how badly the work was done, one of the stop-cocks, which was obviously a second-hand one, blew out when the engine was being driven over the hill from Tc Kuiti. Cr Thoms: Well, Pm very glad that my riding is out of all this. Cr Olds: I suppose the only thing to do is to refer the account to the councillors of the two ridings that the engine was bought for. Cr Leech: Yes, and they have my deepest sympathy. (Laughter.)

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19210526.2.21

Bibliographic details

King Country Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue 1525, 26 May 1921, Page 5

Word Count
309

“MONSTROUS! SCANDALOUS!” King Country Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue 1525, 26 May 1921, Page 5

“MONSTROUS! SCANDALOUS!” King Country Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue 1525, 26 May 1921, Page 5

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert