REPLY TO CRITICISM

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4954, 11 February 1937, Page 5

REPLY TO CRITICISM

BOROUGH EFFICIENCY. A reply to the criticisms made at last week’s public meeting regarding the school footpath and the two men riding on the Borough lorry, was made by Cr. Mackersey at the Borough Council meeting on Monday evening. The footpath from the shopping area to the school had been the subject of advei-se comment, he said, but when this was done the Council, being short of funds, used some old tar which it had on hand. There was not sufficient available for a second coat, and it was intended to apply the second coat next year. For answer to the criticism that time and money were being wasted by two men riding round in the lorry, he pointed to a passage in the report on the efficiency of the Borough staff, wi-itten before last week’s public meeting, which read:

“From time to time there has been outside comment on the fact that two men are riding on this lorry. This reflects on the efficiency of the staff. It is obvious, of course, that in this case an extra man is required for loading and trimming the metal after it is placed on the road sui’face, and the two men can do twice as much as one. The extra man cannot be conveniently left at either end without detracting from efficient working. In all cases where a driver can be used by himself, full advantage is taken, but with no labour available at either end it is essential to cari-y labour on most occasions in order to expedite the work.”

Cr. Mackei-sey said this was surely obvious, and the Mayor added that two men had been employed on the lorry ever since he had been a member of the Council.