THE HARBOUR BOARD AND THEIR ENGINEER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 737, 18 May 1887, Page 2

THE HARBOUR BOARD AND THEIR ENGINEER.

At the meeting of the. Harbour Board this morning, ' Mr. Mabchant moved his motion (notice of whioh had been given) as follows :— " That notice of the termination of his engagement be givea to the Engineer, but that he be offered ths poßt of supervisor of tbe wharf construction at a salary of £300 a year, such payment to cover any professional services in, connection with the breakwater or wharves. The new engagement to be terminable at one month's notice on either Bide." Mr. Shuttlewobth inquired whether the discussion should take place in committee or in open Board. Mr. Mabchant had no desire either way, as it was a matter which was pretty welt understood by all of them. His reasons were that the construction of the breakwater ■ was now completed, and he did not tbink the Board would be : justified, or that Mr. Bhind would expect them to conti; re him on pimply as a wharf supervisor at the salary he had . been receiving. He would be allowed to seek other employment, and in that matter, of course, Mr. Bhind hod ' ♦ please himself as to what he should decide upon.< • - ■ j The Chairman said that the whole of the works now in progress would be completed by November nest. Mr. Carrinoton could not see that they required to be in fluoh a hurry. There were divers to whom notice would require to be given. The Chairman : No ; they do not require notice. i Mr. Paul said the notice of the termination of the engagement comes in to force on July 1. The Chairman remarked that the only thing they required supervision over af lei that- would be tbe erection of the crane that' was coming out. No doubt Mr. Bhind could be employed upon that. At this stage the f allowing reasons were read from the Engineer for not accepting the reduotion of salary: — H Considering that for the first three years I was in -the Board's employ my salary was less than £400 a year, when my predecessor, whose muddle I had to clear up, received £1000 a year; and for tbe last three years my salary has been £600 a year, or at the rate of from £200 to £400 a year less than any engineer in the same responsible position in this colony. Considering also that I have carried out tbe work in a most substantial and creditable manner to a point 195 ft. beyond what Sir John Coode calculated could be done for a sum of £200)000. Considering that in addition to the 195 ft. of breakwater there is now in course of consume oa the still further accommodation for cattle and ourgo wharf, also a dredger complete, representing a value of £26,000 worth of work done in excess of Sir John Coodo's calculations; ond considering that the proposed reduction would only bii a prqbable saving to the Board of £150, from now until the wharves are completed, I rospeotf ully deoline to accept the salary and terms offered." Mr. Bayly said there is no question about it that the time had now come for thorn to go in for retrenchment. We are going to be rated, and then there is the County Council going to strike a rate of £d. We must, therefore, save every penny we can. It is a matter of business with us. If a man thinks ho is worth more he has only to Beck other fields where his professional skill will receive more, i don't think we oan accede to the itqueflt. There can be no question about •.i that lv haa irido a fairly good job of ;Lu matter. Ho far as my experience ,i\.s, I consider that the Harbour Board ...j given Mr. Khiad whut he wos worth, i. uudorsa what Mr. Merchant has said, and think tbe time has arrived for us to go in for retreaohment. If he (Mr, Bhind) can get £600 or £1000 a year oa tbe coast \%\

him do-so*. "It fsfhis piatte* to"encteavoar-to to get as much as he possibly can. {Left sitting.)