A REQUEST FOR CLERICAL ASSISTANCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8154, 7 June 1906, Page 5

A REQUEST FOR CLERICAL ASSISTANCE.

THE BOROUGH ENGINEER'S

POSITION.

In a report submitted to the Masterton Burough Works Committee, on Tuesday evening, Engineer brought under the Committee's notice that, assistance was required at bis office, lie stated that for several years the Council had provided a youth to assist in his office, but for over a year In had not had such assistanoe. Part of his time he bad to undertake work which could have been done by a youth. As the Council had uow a large amount of work in hand, it would be in fchair interests to furnish assistance, so that inspection, surveys and contracts might be carried out promptly and efficiently. Considerable disoussion took place on the report. Or Pauling wished to know whether the Engineer was devoting the whole of nia time to the work of the Council. The Engineer: No, Sir.

Or Pauling added that his reason for asking was because he bad heard tnat the Engineer .was engaged in a contract for drainage work at Eketahuna. > The Engineer: That is true.

The Mayor said that If the Council were to have an Engineer he must devote the whole of his time to th« work of the Borough.

The Engineer remarked that he was under no contract with the Council whereby he must give the whole of his time to that body's work. The simple reason why he did outside work was because the salary the Council chose to pay was insufficient, and he had to make up his income somewhere. He asked the Council what 'was considered a day's work for an Engineer. The Mayor: Eight hours a day. The Engineer: Eight hours a day for an Engineer! Continuing, Mr Dobson said that he had often giveu as muoh as twelve hours a day to the Council's work. The Council expected him to attend at his office for a certain time in the day and do surveying and other work outside as well. He recommended the Council to obtain an outside supervisor at a salary of £3 per week. Personally, he was only sopervising at Eketahuna, and he had engaged a man to do all his surveying, although he occasionally visited that district.

The Mayor: What you mean to say is that you are not being paid sufficiently to give,your services entirely to the Council. The Engineer: Not to refuse other work.

Or Ewiogton suggested giving cue Engineer assistance in hia office. Or MoEwen: I'm not going to support suoh a proposal until some fresh, arrangements are made with the Engineer. Or Hoar: Nor me, either.

Or Ewington: Now that the ball has been set rolling wo ought to oome to some understanding with the Engineer, and see how we stand. Ors Pauling and Eton supported that suggestion. Cr Hoar remarked that this was the outoome or a "beautiful resolution" recently passed by the Council informing the Engineer that he was not to do outside work in the Borough. This gave him the opening to do all he ooiild outside the Borough. Or Feist thought that the matter ought to be settled there and then. He believed in the Council having the entire services of the Engineer.

The Mayor then asked the idngineer what he did want from the Oounoil.

The Engineer replied that he oould not sa7 at the present moment. He could not terminate hla present outsidej} engagements, which would occupy about twelve months. He would like to see the Council's mind easy on one point, and that was that he had only given about a day in two months to outside work. The Mayor: An unsatisfactory arrangement, anyhow. Cr Temple considered that before the Engiaeer had taken outside work 'be ought to have asked whether the Council had any objection. The Engineer further maintained that thero „waß no agreement in writing between him and the Council which prevented him from doing outside work. He added that he would be prepared to consider a fresh agreement with the Oounoil. Further, he would not object to working • on commission; then he would find his own assistance.

After further discussion, Cr Ewingtou moved that the matter be considered at a special meeting to bo called by the Mayor. Cr Elliott seconded the motion, wbioh was oarried.