"INSTRUCTIONS DISREGARDED."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20892, 5 December 1929, Page 17

"INSTRUCTIONS DISREGARDED."

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln your issue of this morning, under the above heading, appeared what looks to me like a case of “ getting evens ” on the part of a section of the council, led by Cr Smiley, at being told that it was not'competent to judge the correct way to put down roads. Mr Douglas might have been a little more .diplomatic in the telling of it, and thus not openly offended those five highly-strung, sensitive amateur road builders so mortally that they must needs deprive the borough of the services of a foreman, whpse competence seems to be acknowledged by the council, to soothe their wounded dignity. I must confess that the only facts known to me in connection with this affair are what have appeared in your columns, but the council’s method with this from the report leaves a lot to be desired. Mr Douglas pointed out in his letter his reasons for his actions, and Cr Leary evidently thinks these reasons are nothing beside the monstrous fact that the foreman dared to express what evidently is the correct procedure to follow, as was shown by the opinion of the engineer of the British Road Board, which, I think, cannot be regarded as an amateur opinion. I may say I do not know either the foreman or half the members of the council by sight, and my only interest in the affair is that of a ratepayer for several years in the borough. I think the council’s action high-handed, to say the least, in thus summarily dismissing a man for daring to call attention to mistakes. Cr Roy’s motion would have met the position -adequately. The concluding item of incident seems to be the" plum” of the piece—Cr Smiley’s curt remarks to the Mayor, which do not seem to have been resented, that the affair was settled, evidently to this councillor’s entire satisfaction. Surely, the Mayor does not need to be told his duties by individual of the council, and is allowed to have his own opinions on what are, after all, borough affairs. Councillots would be well advised to put the welfare of the borough one or two holes ahead of their wounded dignity.—l am, et ®-> _ Ratepayer. St. Kilda_, December 3.