SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17393, 2 October 1918, Page 6

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

A LIVELY DISCUSSION

THE COMMISSION "WASHED OUT'

A special meeting of the Council was held last night to consider the question of the ieTious breakdown in the piant at the power-house, which took place at 7.45 p.m .on Monday. Present: The Deputy Mayor (Cr. Spriggens), Crs. Aiderton, Sigley, Grower, Burnett, Liffiton, Thompson, Dustin and Harkness.

Tne Deputy Mayor fully reported en the Gerious nature of the breakdown ci the main engine, which had necessitated a curtailment of the tramway service. Cr. Spriggens read the communication sent to the Hon. Myers in connection with the matter.

At this point, at th e request of the Deputy Mayor, Mr Talboys made a full explanation to the Council of the eeriou s nature of the breakdown, and stated that every step was being taken to get the engine running again on the three good cylinders. Ho was doubtful if the repairs could be made to the affected portion of the engine for some considerable time. His staff, assisted by (Mr Murray, were making every effort to get the engine into commission again.

The Council then went into committee with a view to asking Mr Talboys questions on the general condition cf tne power plant and the nature of the breakdown. Later, the committee resumed in open Council. Cr. Burnett: I rise to take a very strong exception to the action of the [Deputy Mayor in appointing a commission before the matter of this breakdown had received the consideration of the Council.

The Deputy Mayor : I must ask Cr. Burnett to refrain from any critiicsin until later, as I have a motion to propose dealing with the question of the setting up of the commission. Cr. Burnett: But .the " Herald" says the Council ha 8 already set up the commission.

i Cr. Sigley: I rise to move the follow- ' ing motion: "Th«ife the Tramways Engineer be instructed to immediately call hi a fully qualified consulting engineer to give an expert opinion as to the beat way to deal .with the breakdown." Speaking to his motion, Cr. Sigley pointed out the desirability of getting the best possible advice in the matter as quickly as possible. Cr. Luxford seconded the motion, speaking strongly in support of this course of action.

The motion was supported by Crs. Burnett, Gower, Aiderton, Lifntou and Harkness, Crs. Dustin and Thompson dissenting. The motion was finally emended in the direction of consulting Niven and Co., of Wellington. Cr. Spriggens then moved that the action of hi s Worship the Mayor, Cr. Dustin and himself, in setting up the commission, as reported in the Press, be endorsed tancjf confirmed by the Council. Speaking to his motion, Cr. Spriggen s pointed out the necessity of the appointment of an independent tribunal to inquire fully into the reasons end the nature of the breakdown. He referred to the personnel of the com- , mission as being men eminently suitable for the work. Power was given the commission to call expert evidence, if necessary.

Cr. Dustin seconded the motion, dealing fully with the seriousness of the position of the town, and his desire, as chairman of the Tram ways Committee, to have a thorough inquiry by all outside tribunal.

Cr. Harkness opposed the motion. "If we have a commission,"' said lie, u]»t us hove practical men/

Councillors: Hear, hear

' Cr. Harkness: Th? commission only contains one practical man —the rest

don't know a piston rod from a flywheel.

Cr. Luxford opposed the motion. The commi-ioion had no ordei of reference, and seemed to have power to do what they liked. "If we set Tip a commission for every boli that come g off our engines, we shall never be done. The Council is quite capable of dealing with this matter. We now have all tne necessary information from the engineer betore us to allow us to proceed," said the councillor.

Cr. Liffiton opposed the motion, holding the view that Mr Talboys was quite capablo of advising the Council in the matter, and expressed his surprise at tile paragraph, m the " Herald" intimating tiiat the Council had set up a commission. Cr. Spriggens: I have explained that the matter was dealt with as a matter of great urgency. Cr. Liffiton: But the Council should have been consulted. Cr. Gower condemned the action of t-ho.se responsible for setting up the commission. "We have had. a full explanation from th c engineer," he said. •'lt is an utter waste of time appointing a commission outside this Council, unless it contains experts or practical men. Does Mr Talboys want this inquiry? Will it help him?" Cr. Alderton : You must not put those questions. Cr. Gower: My object is to assist the engineer, in whom 1 have every confidence. Cr. Burnett: I can only repeat what I said earlier. I take a very strong exception to the action of those gentlemen who are responsible for the appointment of this commission. Councillors: By whom ? Cr. Burnett: I presume by his Worship, through the Deputy Mayor. If a commission is going to be set up, the Council is the proper authority, and so long a.s I have a seat on this Council I shall continue to object to such procedure. I shall vote against the motion. Cr. Sigiey: I simply cannot understand the action of those responsible hi this matter. I opposed the purchase •of the new cars, winch would deplete our reserve fund. This breakdown must result in a serious charge against this limited fund. Cr. Gower: Cr. Sigiey should .set up as a fortune-teller Cr. Sigiey: As a business man, I always endeavour to exercise the usual foresight. lam in accord with the views of the Council, holding e s I do rhe view that the Council are quite I capable of dealing with this matter. ! What we want at th e earliest moment is the best advice we can get to help ais out of our trouble. I oppose this commission. Cr. Spriggens-: You .supported on 3 that is now costing us £21) per week. Cr. Sigiey: I am not in favour of setting up commissions for every little accident. Cr. Alderton: I cannot support this proposal. The position of the Fire Brigade was entirely different. In this instance we have a Tramways Committee. Wo can do the work. I am not shirking my portion of it. I have every respect for the gentlemen appointed, but I object to the principle, and shail oppose the motion on thi s and general grounds. Let us have more faith in ourselves. * Cr. Dustin, as chairman of the Tramways Committee, fully replied, justifying hi s action in the matter. On. being put to the meeting, the motion was lost, only Crs. Spriggens and Dustin voting in favour. Cr. Dustin moved that a committee of the whole Council attend at the power house at 10 o'clock this morning to confer with the engineer and inspect the broken engine. 'This tt'as seconded by Cr. Burnett, and carried. The Council then went into committee to transact the usual committee matters.