GAS EQUIPMENT

Southland Times, Issue 19655, 4 October 1922, Page 6

GAS EQUIPMENT

A MATTER OF ACCOUNTS MATERIAL SUPPLIED TO BOROUGH OFFICERS ' DISCUSSION BY TOWN .COUNCIL The letter which was inquired after by Councillor Glass at the previous meeting was brought up before the Town Council last night through the reading of a report by the Gas Manager. The report gave details of records of transactions which were referred to in the was read in open council together with other correspondence concerning the matter and the situation disclosed was afterwards discussed at'some length, the matter being eventually held over till next meeting, when the whole Council as a committee of investigation will make a decision after hearing the report of a smaller special committee. The letter was from Mr Brooke, Government Audit Inspector, and was dated August 10. Mr Brooke stated that in making an investigation at the gasworks he had come across an approval sheet with names dating back to 3/12/1915, and as each transaction was finalised the names were scored out. There was one dated 26/11/20 in the name of H. B. Farnall, for a rapid heater and hire £l3 7s. Mr Rabbidge was manager at the time. Information was given that the heater u r as put in Mr Lithgow’s house but no further action was taken. In March, 1918, materials including a gas cooker and a gas boiler, the total cost being over £2O, were supplied to Mr F. Burwell, and entered in the stores issue book. The time sheets showed a total of 42 hours which were not included in the total cost. On the time sheets the goods were stated to be on “appro,” but they did not appear on the “approval sheet.” The goods were supplied in March, 1918, and did not appear upon the journal. On March 29, 1919, there w r as an entry, Kensington cooker, supplied to Mr Burwell and charged up at £4, but there was no corresponding entry in the stores issue book, whereas in the original entry of 8/3/1918 the charge appeared as £6 18s.

Air Farnall, in a written statement, explained that he interviewed Mr Rabbidge about a gas heater for his lodging and was quoted £l3 which he was not prepared to pay and refused to have one. Later the manager offered him secondhand one for £2, and advised him to wait, offering him the loan of an old one in the meantime, and stating the extra gas.used would pay for its hire. He had since left the lodging and the heater, he understood, was either taken back or waiting to be taken back by the Gas Department. He was surprised to hear an account had been found for £l3 7s, £7 10s for the heater and £5 17s for its installation.

Mr Burwell -wrote explaining that in January, 1918, alterations were made to his house and he inquired about gas burners under the copper washboiler. Mr Rabbidge visited the house and afterwards discussed the»installation as an experiment. Regarding the cooker, a second-hand one was offered for £5 installed. This was installed, the meter was enlarged and a larger service pipe laid to cope with the increased gas used. The appliances formerly in use was returned and an allowance made for it. On various occasions he asked for an account, but it' was not rendered till March, 1919, when an invoice was sent in for supplying and installing a Kensington cooker, £4. No mention was .made of the washboiler or the various returns which should have been credited. He remonstrated with Mr Rabbidge, who stated the boiler was an experiment and would not be charged for. He knew Mr Rabb;dge’s gas policy was the supply of fixtures below cost or free of charge, and he probably did not insist strongly enough on an account being rendered.

The, report of the Gas Manager detailed materials and labour used in the case of Mr Burwell’s house, the total cost being £26 7s Id, less returns £1 8s 4d ami £4 paid, leaving a balance of £2O 18s 9d. In the discussion that ensued Councillor Miller said the Committee had investigated nothing.

Councillor Glass moved “That the Town Clerk be asked to resign.” He said there were two points of view to be considered. On rhe Town Clerk’s point of view Mr Rabbidge had done things he had not been authorised to do. On the other point of view the Town Clerk, who was then chief accountant, must hsrfe been aware of the position.

Councillor Farrant seconded the motion. Councillor Miller said the matter was a serious one and he was very sorry, but it would have to be thrashed out thoroughly. Councillor Mackrell moved as an amendment “That the matter be held over for a fortnight.” He recognised its serious nature and for this reason he would like to have more information. It was too serious for him to decide without all the information it. was possible to get. He suggested that the Councillors should see for themselves the actual documents in the see by what system they had been filled. He would not pass judgment on any man in a matter of this kind until he was absolutely certain that that man was guilty. Councillor Mncaliste? seconded the amendment. He said it was an exceedingly serious matter, and the whole thing should be sifted right down to the bottom and every fact made manifest. A close investigation was necessary, and the Council should have the people concerned personally before them. It should be the policy of the committee to make a thorough investigation and make a complete report. . ■** Councillor Glass said he had aosolutely no objection to the amendment providing Councillor Mackrell could shov what further facts could be found. He said that the Mayor and Councillor Mackrell had known of the matter for about two months. He would have no objection to the amendment if the investigation also inquired into the system under which the matter had arisen. Councillor Miller suggested that a special committee be set up to investigate the matter.

Councillor Lennie emphasised the importance of the question. He considered that there was sufficient evidence before the Council to enable it to form a judgment. Councillor Gias- had been too previous and his motion was too harsh. He moved as an amendment that Mr Burwell be reduced An salary £5O, and that an account for the unpaid balance be sent to him. Councillor Freddy seconded. He said Mr Burwell quite evidently did not know what the cost of the installations would be. He blamed Mr Burwell, however, for not being more pressing in the matter of getting the full account. Councillor Glass said he would support Councillor Mackrell’s motion. Either the thing had happened or it bad not, and he would far prefer Councillor Mackrell’s honest desire to gain information instead of Councillor Lennie’s motion.

Councillor Meek said he would support Councillor Mackrell. It was a pity the discussion had occurred. The Committee should have investigated the affair and got at all the facts. The Mayor said he would support Councillor Mackrell’s motion. It x was fair to Mr Burwell to say that at the very most he had been guilty of an indiscretion in not pressing for a complete account. But to suggest that he made any attempt to cover the thing up; why, it was simply absurd.. Mr Burwell did not make up the accounts of the gas department, and all the officers in the gas 'and other departments -knew about- the transaction. He was sorry the discussion had taken the trend it had.

The amendment moved by Councillor Lennie was put, and lost, he a!hd Councillor Preddy being the only “ayes.” Councillor Mackrell’s motion was then put and carried, and it was also resolved to constitute the whole Council a committee of investigation, and Councillors Mackrell, Glass, Macalister, Miller and the Mayor were appointed as a sub-committee to investigate the circumstances and report on the whole matter.

MR RABBIDGE EXPLAINS. A DEPARTMENTAL POLICY. During the discussion by the Council it was stated that a copy of the correspondence had been sent to Mf E. Rabbidge, late gas manager, and the absence of a reply from him was remarked upon. Lute last night, however, the Mayor received a letter from Mr Rabbidge, / and handed it over for publication with the' correspondence. Mr Rabbidge wrote that Mr Burwell's explanation of the transaction was quite correct. In fact he remembered that he had some trouble to induce Mr Burwell to allow the Department to instal the apparatus, which he (Mr Rabbidge) offered to do free of charge, but Mr Burwell would not accept unless a charge was made for the cooker, which apparently was made. This and several other installations on the same terms were for advertising purposes, which policy had the approval of the Committee. He was pleased to say that in that case it had the desired effect, Mr and Mrs Burwell never refusing to show people through it on Request. With, regard to Air Farnall his statement was also correct in that the Department, could not supply him with what he required, and the old heater was offered on the terms stated. “In my opinion neither should be asked to make any payment,” the letter concluded, “as in each esse they were pressed to agree to the terms, and I trust that neither the Auditor or yourself will lay the blame on them.”