STATE OF RESERVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25175, 16 March 1943, Page 2

STATE OF RESERVES

ALLEGATION OF NEGLECT STRONG PROTEST BY COUNCIL Strong criticism was expressed at the meeting of the City Council last night of a statement reported to have been made by a former superintendent of reserves, Mr D. Tannock, at a meeting of the Dunedin Amenities Society that he was ashamed of Dunedin during the holidays, and that there was no excuse for the neglect of prominent reserves which he mentioned. Cr D. C. Jolly, moving the adoption of the report of the Reserves Committee, said that it would have been noticed that at a meeting of the Amenities Society some very strong statements had been made by a former employee of the council on the condition of the reserves. “I think they were uncalled for and very unfair indeed,” said Cr Jolly. “ Surely he and the society know the conditions under which we are working.” The man-power shortage had hit the Reserves Department harder than any other department of the Corporation. The council should consider whether it should continue to allow its present superintendent of reserves to attend meetings of the society, the activities of which had deteriorated into destructive criticism. It had outlived its usefulness so far as the council was concerned. Superintendent Defended Cr E. J. Smith said he could not agree with all that Cr Jolly had said. The society had been a wonderful asset to the city, but he did agree that if “a certain gentleman” was correctly reported, he should not have spoken as he did. If there was any blame, it should have been levelled at the council, and not at the superintendent, who was not in a position to defend himself. He had given excellent service, but if the society was going to place him in an embarrassing position, the council should seriously consider Whether he should continue to attend the society’s meetings. The Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) said that, while, doubtless, there was some truth in the criticism of the condition of reserves, it was easy to point out what had not been done and to overlook what had been done. At the outbreak of war the Reserves Department employed 66 males, five females, and 450 men engaged under the No. 13 scheme, which was not now available, as the Government had closed it over a year ago. Of the male employees 28 remained. Their average age was 56, and five were over 65. Compared with 521 at the outbreak of war, the staff now numbered only 67. Department’s Difficulties The Mayor added that the'reduction in the hours of work had created a need for more men. Another handicap was the rise in wages, which had steadily increased, and were 45 per cent, over what they were a few years ago. “ Yet the rates have remaind practically stationary,” he continued, “ and we are not getting the income to do the work as we would like. If citizens are willing to be rated higher, we can do more.”

In justice to the person who was said to have made the charge of neglect, the Mayor added, it should

be stated that the report was not a press reporter’s account of the meeting, but had been written by a member of the society. The person concerned might have passed a casual remark, not thinking that it would be reported in the newspapers. Cr D. C. Cameron: We should assure the superintendent that he has the full confidence council. The Mayor: I am sure we all feel that way, and the superintendent knows it.