GASWORKS AND POWER STATION

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 8

GASWORKS AND POWER STATION

Separation of Control

TWO POSITIONS CREATED

"That one month's notice of termination of employment be served on Mr. W. L. Cutten and that applications be called for the positions of first engineer at the power station at a salary of £425 per annum and foreman at the gasworks at a salary of £420 per annum* the conditions of appointment for each position to be drawn up by Messrs. Muir and Learmonth respectively." This clause in the report of the lighting committee to last night's meeting of the City Council provoked a discussion that led to a division of the council.

Replying to several questions by Cr. J. Hodgens, ALP., the gas manager (Mr. J. Learmonth) said he had found Mr. Cutten a conscientious and capable worker, and the plant had been in satisfactory condition when he (Air. Learmonth) had come here. Cr. Hodgens said it seemed, when the new manager spoke as he did, that there was something else behind the idea of ‘sacking*' Mr. Cutten. Apart from about three witnesses, all the other witnesses at the gasworks inquiry had held him in tne highest regard. Mr. Cutten had served tne council well, and was a tried, experienced and conscientious officer of the council. If the clause were adopted, the council would bo doing a grave injustice, and it was because of the clause that the speaker had remained in Palmerston North to be present at the meeting. He understood that Mr. Learmonth, in his application to the council, had stated that he had not handled a vertical retort before.

Cr. Hodgens then moved that the clause be referred back to the committee.

Seconding this, Cr. J. T. J. Heatley said he had never agreed with the council in the change-over at the works and he believed that a grave injustice would be done to Air. Cutten if the clause were carried.

The Mayor (Mr. A. E. Alansford) said the committee had considered the position, and the speaker had approached Mr. Cutten to see whether he would go back to the powerhouse. Mr. Cutten had said that he preferred to stay where he was, but if it were orders, he would comply with them. Giving him notice had been brougnt about more or less by the legislation carried a year or two ago whereby a man performing a certain work was to receive not less than he had received in a certain year. Air. Cutten had a contract with the council whereby he had to perform a certain work for a certain saiary. The conditions under which tne work was now performed were different, due to the council taking the whole of its power supply from the Power Board. Therefore it was necessary to terminate the old agreement, and fresh applications were being called. There was nothing to prevent Air. Cutten from applying for either of the two jobs, and nothing to prevent his application being considered by the council. Crs. W. B. Cameron and W. B. Tennent, members of the lighting committee, endorsed the remarks of the Mayor. Referring to Cr. Hodgens' remarks regarding the new manager and vertical retorts, Cr. Tennent said the make of gas per ton of coal had shown increases since Mr. Learmonth had taken over, and the new manager was confident of a further increase.

On being put to the meeting, Cr. Hodgens' proposal was defeated, only the mover and seconder and Cr. J. J. Stevenson voting for it. The clause was then adopted. Making a personal explanation, Mr. Learmonth said he had erected vertical retorts and had worked them for years.