CITY ENGINEERSHIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14457, 25 February 1909, Page 5

CITY ENGINEERSHIP

MAYOR'S MINUTE REGARDING DUTfES. At last, night's meeting of the City Council the following minute, from the Mayor (Mr J. M'Donald) was read by Mr Jacobs, deputy town clerk:— The council will re-member that for some, time past, 1 have referred to the dual position hold by Mi- H. W. Hichards—i.e., that of town clerk and city engineer. When we consider the. enormous and widespread responsibilities attached to the duties of each of these offices, we can at once recognise th-.it the whole and undivided attention of one thoroughly competent man is required; for each. We are now on the eve of a period ill which it is absolutely necessary to have a fully qualified consulting engineer, who can he called upon by the council at any time to report or carry out auy work that may be- thought necessary, over and abuve any engineer in chwge ot any of the departments. In a short space of time the city will he faced with the problem of ttie work of supplementing our water supply by means of the Leo Stream—a ta.sk which will involve considerable care and energy,—and there is also impending the supervision of the Waipori tunnel, together with other engineering enterprises of no small .magnitude; so that it requires little discernment to see that the prompt consideration of this matter is exceedingly necessary. I therefore venture to suggest that the council forthwith set up a special committee, consisting of the chairmen oi our various committees, to examine this matter tully, and report to the council any change they may consider advisable on the following line;:—That Mr Richards retain as at present the duties of town clerk, and aJso be appointed consulting engineer at his present salary (£IOOO per annum); that Mr M'Curdie- be appointed city engineer, at a salary at the rate of £400 per annum. I should like to add that no reflection whatever is cast upon Mr Richards, of whose valuable services we are all convinced; but in tlu highest interests oi the city I am assured that the proposed change would be wisely beneficial to all concerned.

i'he Mayor, in support of the minute, said that on diiFerout committees ho bad pointed out that in the interests of tho city there should not bo a dual position in the onginccrsbip. It was his own opinion that Mr Richards should be town clerk and consulting engineer, and that Mr M'Curdie should bo city engineer. The matter had given him considerable- thought, and what be now proposed was proposed in the hope that, if agreed to, it would assist, the administration of tho various works now in hand, lie looked on Mr Richards a.s a most, capable officer. Tho time had now arrived, he thought, when the two gentlemen should have absolute control of their respective departments, and if at anytime the council required a report over and above that of (be managers of the different departments it would have Mr Richards to fall back on for advice.

Or Smith moved that the minute bo received and the suggestion to appoint a committee be approved. He was somewhat against the spirit of the report, because lie could plainly see it meant extra expenditure in the management of the council. Mr Ridbards had had his salary increased on the distinct understanding that ho undertook llio duties of city engineer, and he did not know that anything hud happened to aller the state of affairs then existing. Mr Richards was a capable man, ami Mr JVl'Ourdie was a thoroughly good officer, anil at present, he had every reason to behove, the department was in a fairly satisfactory condition. In the future, no doubt, additional work would have to ho undertaken. In connection with that work, if they required the advice of an additional engineer it would be much cheaper to engage a temporary' engineer rather than run the risk of creating a permanent increased expenditure. He was jnst afraid that this was getting in the thin end of the wedge of increased expenditure, which one councillor had lately remarked was already excessive. Cr Cole seconded the motion. Cr Fiddis said some time ago he went into the office, where he found three inspectors waiting to present reports to (he city engineer.

Cr Shaddock rose to a point of order. Was Cr Fiddis in order in referring to this matter?

Cr Fiddis continued that, all be desired lo say was that £800 was sufficient for a town clerk. The Mayor said he had not brought tip the minute to raise (he question as to whether the town clerk was _ getting too much salary or not. His object in submitting his proposal was to save expenditure. 'They could not expect Mr Richards to carry out the duties of town clerk and city engineer as well as the other work? placed uiion him, All the contracts that had boeii going through had had to be attended to by Mr Richards, and in addition he had reported on the gasholder— a matter quite outside his duties—and other works. Cr Walker suggested that the council should go into the'matter at a special meeting. All councillors would Ihen be in touch with what, was going on. Cr J. E. White was not in sympathy with the motion, nor with (he minute. He was afraid, like Or Smith, thai the thin end of the wedge was Iping introduced that would lead to expenditure being increased. Cr Scott, favoured the motion. At the same lime he was not, prepared to relieve Mr Richards of any responsibility. Mr flickrds was the man they must look lo and hold responsible for the carrying out of their works, and if they wore going to hold him responsible bo must be city engineer, and not consulting engineer. Then voted for (he motion (8): firs Rarr, Gilliison. Wilson. Cole, Smith. Shaddock. Fiddis, Scott. Airainst the motion (7): Ore Keast, Sullivan, Walker. J. E. White, IT. IT. S. White, Burnett. Tapley. The motion was carried.