THE MUNICIPAL ENGINEERS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14668, 23 March 1918, Page 4

THE MUNICIPAL ENGINEERS.

POSITIONS TO, BE COMBINED.

APPLICATIONS TO BE INVITED.

The City Council last night carried' the position which has arisen in connection with the positions of the .City and* Gas Engineers a stage further. Cr. Hampson said he had favoured the appointment of a gas engineer in. the first place, and he did not regret. it, for the engineers they had had certainly put the works on a better footing. HeUt ought now, however, that they could consolidate the expert positions under a City Engineer, with the expert advice of a consulting engineer for the gasworks. He doubted whether an engineer possessing the dual qualifications could be secured at any salary \ the Council could afford to pay. H,i would be prepared to move that th,> combined position be offered to MlLittlejolrn under the conditions he ha-i mentioned. He regretted very much tne circu.-nstances under which Mi* Littlejohn had tendered his resignation. Cr. Hampsuii refunod to°the Council's previous .experience in these appointments. 'He dm not, thmk they could get a better man ttan .w Littlejohn.

Cr. Rout seconded the resolution. He regretted as much as anyone the position that had aiiotii, hut it was obvious that tie business of the Council could not be carried on efficiently under the conditions which had obtained in the past. He supported Mr Littlejohn's appointment on the understanding that the Council would give him considerable assistance in connection with the gasworks. Mr Littlejolin was a good level-headed man, and he was confident he would do well in gasworks management with the assistance of expert advice. As Oftv TCntnneer Mr Littlejqhn had been a rattling good, man for the city, and probably they would get. no one comparable to him by advertising at the salary offered. If tley made no effort to retain him they would incur the displeasure of tha ratepayers, who had confidence in Mr Little John.

Cr. Stringer moved, and Cr. Harris seconded, that one engineer only be appointed, Cr. H&mpson consenting to defer his motion.

Cr. Pettit said the engineer should have special knowledge of gas manufacture. Ttey must not relegate the gasworks to a secondary position. It was a very important undertaking. With that proviso he would support O. Stringer' 8 resolution.

• Cr. Gibbons said they:tiad called for the resignation of two-of the most efficient officers Nelson had ever had. This position had arisen because tte Council were incompetent meddlers. They had ft staff to be proud of, and it was time the Council did something to assist them to sec-nre efficient management. He was certainly going to oppose calling for applications while they Lad the staff trey had now. He regretted very much that they were losing these officers, and. be. was prepared, to reappoint them both.

Cr.'Watson said that wren the two officers were called upon to resign it was not British, fair play to let one gw and reinstate the other. If applications were invited the two engineers cotld apply. He would not support the proposal that the City Engineer only shoi;ld be re-appointed.

Cr. Baigent agreed with Cr. Watson. He moved as an amendment that tr» two engineers be reinstated.

The amendment was not seconded

The Mayor said he had been strongly in favour of the appointment of a gas engineer. They had highly qualified men, but he was not now entlusiastic 1. about separate management of the gasworks.

Cr. Gibbons moved that no action be taken, and that matters go on as they were for the present. It would take a new man twelve months to pick up the running of things. The amendment was not seconded.

The resolution ttat one engineer be appointed vsas then put and carried, Crs. Gibbons and Baigent dissenting.

Cr. Baigent moved and Cr. Hampson, seconded pro forma "that the salary be £600 per annum.

The motion was lost. Cr. Rout moved that the salary be £450.

The Mayor seconded the motion, which was carried by 5 votes to 4.

, Tie Mayor and Crs. Hampson, Pettit and Stringer were appointed a subcommittee to prepare a schedule of duties'.

Cr. Rout warned the Council of the dangers it would incur by delay. They were all agreed that they were not likely to get a new man such as they wanted by advertising at the salary they had fixed, bu.t tfcey believed the present City Engineer would accept it. It would be more than a month' before they could V advertise for applications, and by the time they could make an, appointment Mr Littlejohn's term of notice would have almost expired. He might not be available then, and tie Council might find itself in a very unfortunate position. He moved that the position be offered to Mr Littlejohn in. accordance with the schedule of duties to be drawn up. Cr. Hampson seconded the motion, saying that it was the only common sense course to adopt. The Mayor said he was strongly in favour of the motion. They knew Mr Littleiohn's capabilities, and they were not likely to secure as efficient an officer. The motion was lost, those supporting it being the Mayor and Crs. Rout and Hampson.