THE GAS WORKS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 196, 20 July 1937, Page 14

THE GAS WORKS

POSITION OF MANAGER. APPLICATIONS TO BE CALLED. The following recommendation by tho lighting committee was adopted at a meeting of the Palmerston North City Council last evening: “That applications he called tor the position of gas manager with gas engineering qualifications on conditions to be drawn up. and that particulars of salaries and allowances (if any) paid by other supply authorities bo obtained.” Ci- J. Hodgens, M.P., said lie felt disposed to move an amendment which would bo ruled a direct negative. He thought the lighting committee was acting hastily in making the recommendation. Ho thought that it had been made in tlie heat of the effect of the Jong drawn-out inquiry and that the recommendation had not been arrived at calmly after deliberate thought and discussion. The recommendation did not take into consideration the present administration and the present records. There was abundant evidence on the files of the council that under the present method of control tho gasworks had done, and were doing better than was expected of them. The present administration and control, on comparison with previous management, had shown itself to bear an advantage. The speaker knew full well that the one-man control had been introduced by Mr F. J. Nathan in his term as Mayor. At that time tho speaker had opposed the proposal oil the principle of “one mail, one job.” Mr Nathan had insisted, and the proposal had been adopted. Taking into consideration the results, one had to admit that Mr Nathan had been right. No man on tho council had done so well as Mr Nathan lmd in his heyday. The council had had an inquiry running for 12 months in which there had been much evidence taken, hut not one tittle of that evidence on the administration of tlie works to-day showed it to be detrimental to the ratepayers. It was the ratepayers’ interests tho council had to consider. The council had to realise that the gasworks were being run more economically than ever before. The present management had done something that tho agents for the retorts themselves and Mr C. R. Luke, an engineer with a high standing in tho city, said was extremely commendable and most unusual —changing from tho old to new retorts with the works’ own staff. In addition, the ratepayers had thereby been saved from £ISOO to £IBOO. That, surely, was worth some consideration. The machinery and gear were also in good working order. The speaker continued to say that the lighting committee were but laymen and apparently they had closed their eyes to the results of the administration. They should ask Mr Luke his opinion of the condition and administration of the plant itself to-dav. The ratepayers might be pardoned for thinking that there was some spleen behind the recommendation in order to justify the inquiry. The speaker moved that Mr Luke, or some other person, or some competent person with Mr Luke, be asked to report on the present condition and administration of the gasworks. Mr J. T. J. Heatley seconded the motion, adding that he had not approved of the proposed change in the method of administration, and he consjdered that it would be wise to secure an outside opinion. The Mayor (Mr A. F;. Mansford) said he believed that the change had been made to tho singlo control _ of both departments (gas and electricity) either in Mr A. J. Graham’s term of office, or possibly in his own. It might be that the same “business ability and acumen” which had brought that change was now seeing another chango made. The amendment was lost by 7 votes to 3, Crs Hodgens, Heatley, and Stevenson being in tlie minority.