EXPLANATION DEMANDED

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12298, 18 November 1925, Page 4

EXPLANATION DEMANDED

DISMISSAL OF ENGINEER LOWER HUTT RATEPAYERS SPEAK MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS INDICTED Widespread dissatisfaction with the conduct of municipal affairs was evi- j deuced at a meeting of ratepayers held in the Lyceum Theatre, Lower Hutt, ; last evening, to discuss the Borough Council’s alleged intention to dismiss its engineer, Mr IS. J. Barnes, and j other matters connected witli borough administration. The building was crowded to the doors, some 500 people being present, anß the almost unanimous attitude of those present was one of condemnation of the policy of secrecy adopted in regard to the council’s employment and dismissal of ; its employees. . The meeting adopt■ed the unusual' course of passing a resolution, calling on the Mayor and Councillors to come before a further public meeting to explain their conduct. Mr C. A. Strong, president of the Lower Hutt Civic League, was in the chair, and explained the object of the meeting. The proceedings were enlivened by several snappy _ interludes, those attending being in lively though determined trood. FOREMAN DISMISSED Mr Strong, in opening the meeting, said that he wished to begin' with the case of the late borough foreman. On I two occasions the association had applied to the Mayor to receive a depuI tation on this matter, and been _ re- : fused admittance. On both occasions the Mayor h»<l refused on his own ’ initiative, and then had _ asked the | council to approve his action, i To go into the case of Mr Collins. ] Hie borough foreman, on August 3rd, I an application had been-made for an increase in this official’s wages. On | the day following the meeting the ; foreman had met the Mayor and asked | him if the increase had been granted. "He was told that ’t had not, and on asking why, was told that a councillor had seen- him working three men where one was only necessary. An argument took place between the two from the place where they met practically into Wellington where they were going by train. This was a j private conversation, the foreman _be- ' ing off duty, hut : t was held against him in council. The foreman was suspended as -the result of the Mayor reporting alleged statement's made bv the foreman regarding the action of the council in refusing the increase. The speaker held that there was a Coubt as to the statement made. It was only the word of the Mayor , against .'that of Collins. Tho Mayor ; was chief magistrate, f*id in the interests of justice, Mr Collins should have received the benefit of the doubt. : “SACK BILLY!” Voices: Quite right, and “Sack Billy!” (Laughter.) . Mr Strong, read .a testimonial given -m December 9th last year eulogistically speaking of the foreman's excellent services to the borough. Mr J. Brassel: There ire a lot of those out with the borough seal on •them, when there is no justification for Mr Strong: You’re saying something now, aren’t you? Mr Brassel: I voted against them. On Mr Strong’s inquiring - if anyone wished to ask questions several speakers protested against only one side of the question being placed before the meeting, and accused the speaker of not having taken the opportunity of perusing the borough records which would explain the position. The chairman stated that it was up to the council to explain their side. Invitations had been sent to the Mayor and councillors to be present. Tho Mayor was not there, but there were councillors in the hall. ; Councillor Meldrum stated that it ' would take seven hours to place the ■ council’s position fully before the meet--1 ing. Proceeding, the speaker stated ! that although Mr Collins’s behaviour ■ was good up to the time he got the 1 testimonial, sinoe that time there had been four charges against him, culminating in his dismissal. A voice: I would like to move that Mr Collins be reinstated, and that the Mayor and councillors he kicked out An amendment expressing confidence in the council was lost, and the motion ! carried; only a small section of the ! meeting voting. | THE ENGINEER’S POSITION. ! The question of the borough engineer was next dealt with, Mr Strong stating that Mr E. J. Barnes yvas in the invidious position of being neither engineer 'nor dismissed. Applications had been called for his position, and yet his services had not been dispensed with. Only as late as the preceding Tuesday the engineer had been inI structed to proceed with some work. Despite a long list of successes in other parts, outside engineers were being brought in to do parts of the work, which Mr Barnes naturally felt aggrieved about. Why was this? A voice: We have a more efficient council here. (Laughter.) Another voice: Have you proof that Mr Barnes is going to be discharged? Mr Strong: No. The voice: Then why go on talking ? . / Another voice: Applications have been called for an engineer. They may get a better'man if they pay a bigger salary. The speaker proceeded to say something about £B3O per annum, amidst great uproar, and attempts by the chairman to call the speaker to order. Proceeding, Mr Strong stated that the council had called for applications for an engineer, and had not appointed Mr Barnes. Mr B. Dyke protested against the cost of administration of tho borough. Two years ago the borough was paying £4OO per year to its engineer. Now it was suggested that an engineer should be paid £BSO, and yet a great deal of the work was being taken off the shoulders of the engineer by the Main Highways Board. / Mr Strong proceeded to criticise the construction of the Riddiford Park baths, stating that the engineer had stated that he could have saved £2OOO on tho job had his plans been adopted. A voice: Riddiford is paying for it. What docs it matter? Mr Strong :’Even if it is gift money, there is no reason for wasting it. (Applause.) I NECK AND CROP | Mr T>. Pritchard protected against | tho council being blamed as a coldblooded organisation without due proof. Pnless documentary proof I I'-ould he brought against the council, , ho could not see that they could pns9

any strictures on the Mayor and councillors. He suggested that the organisers of the meeting go to the council records, and) if they found that Mr Barnes was Without fault, then those present would be prepared to put the Mayor and councillors out neck-and-crop. (Applause.) Mr Strong said he was quite prepared to call another public meeting in a fortnight’s time. They would invite the Mayor and the councillors to come along—as they 1 had in this case —to put the council’s side of the question.

Mr Willis moved that the Mayor and councillors be Asked to suspend action in regard to Mr Barnes until a public meeting was held, at which tho whole matter would he placed beforo the ratepayers, the dictum of the meeting to decide the question. (Applause.) Mr Smith, in seconding the motion, stated that Mr Barn.es, as far as the ratepayers knew, was a thoroughly competent man. Ho was pleased to support a motion that until the ratepayers were shown anything to the contrary, action he suspended. Councillor Meldrum suggested that a deputation wait on the council at its next meeting, which would tako place on Thursday evening, and ask that a clear-cut statement ho made regarding the position. Any resolution passed at> this meeting, he stated, would only roach the dust-box. j.nis brought a storm of protest from speakers, who objected to the statement tha.x the meeting would not he taken seriously. # On the potion hoTfig put it was carried unanimmislv.