THE AVENUE DRAIN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12581, 30 September 1908, Page 6

THE AVENUE DRAIN.

Is the Work being done Fast Enough ?

A Borough Council Discussion

When the item "Other Business' w;s reached on the ' Borough Council's order paper last night, Ci>. Harris rose from his scat, and again brought forward the question of work on the Avenue ■drain. He said he was not satisfied with the leaaoiia given by the foreman for the slowness of the work, and he moved "That the foreman be instructed to administer a more vigorous policy of control in prosecuting the completion of the work." He would leave the -foreman a free hand in the methods he would adopt towards such an end, but wanted- to see double the progress made, and thought two shifts should be put on. He wanted a straight out vote on the question. •

Cr. BATTLE 'seconded the motion, which it was soon apparent, Councillors were not altogether in sympathy with.

Cr. MUIR pointed out that. the matter had already been referred to the Works Committee, and the onus was on them, not on the foreman.

The MAYOR said .that the committee had gone thoroughly into the matter with the foreman, and lie had satisfied them that the work could not g-o on any faster. To open up a longer space meant buying more timber, while to put on two shifts* nieaont that one of them woijld have to work part of the time in the dark/ As -the soil was sandy and liable to slip, the foreman considered this dangerous to the men. The work would be finished very shortly. Cr. PURSER thought fair .progress was being made, and the work was going on. much faster than when it was first started. Cr. SPRIGGENS defended the foreman and pointed out that the Works Committee had accepted the foreman's explanation. Cr. Harris was >an the, Works Committee, and when, the Committee met lie could have moved in the matter. It was not right that he should, sit. dumb, in Committee, and then bringLth&jnatter up in open Council so as to. get .kudos, and set people writing to the papers. ■ Cr. HAKElS. indignantly denied that he had accepted the foreman's explanation in Committee without protest, and called on the Mayor to witness, this. The MAYOR.— "that is so." Cr. LIFFITON said that when a Councillor was in a minority on a committee all he could do was to bring the matter up in- open council. If not, what was lie to do? He himself had been twitted before with doing the same thing, but it was a waste of time talking when all the committee vi.as against him. Cr. HARRIS again called on the Mayor to witness that he had. protested in committee, but his laughingly declined to divulge what had occurred in committee. Cr. BATTLE pointed out the inconvenience to the public, and thought they should push on as fast as possible. The work had got to be faced, even if it went as far as the bridge, and as the trams would be running. soon, there was every reason for netting it done quickly. He did not think it a slur on the foreman to ask that. Cr. CARSON.— "That is. not what the motion, says." Cr. BATTLE.— "WeII, alter the motioii." Cr. C4RSON said if they passed the motion, it would be telling the foreman that they knew how to make a drain better than he did. He himself knew, nothing about making a drain, but wou^d.pin his faith to the foreman before Cr. Harris. Cr. Harris ought to have toid the foreman of his intention to move his motion, so that the Latter could have been pr^spnt. Cr. "MUIR agreed' with Sor.,S or., Carson, and thought the foreman's' experience entitled ; hi? opinion to some consideration. Cr. PURSER asked why Cr. Harris could not say definitely what he wanted. It was no good telling the foreman to proceed more expeditiously. Why not tell him definitely to put more men on ? Cr. SPEIGGENS.— "He has already told us they wowld only, be in one another's road. ' j Cr. POYNTER moved an amendment, j "That the matter be again referred to tlu Works Committee, with an instruction j that the Council desirfed it pushed on as cxpeditiously as possible.. Cr. MUIR seconded. Cr. HARRIS. — "There were only three present at the last meeting of the Works Committee." The MAYOR.— "Four." Cr. HARRIS, in reuly, said he was prepared to leave the foreman a free hand i n the methods he employed, but thought "t was in the interests of. the community that the work .should go.oii faster. The MA,YOR. — "None of ns on .the Council know how a drain should be repaired." dr. SPRlGGENS.— '('Neither does Cr. Harris." The MAYOR.— "We are in the hands of the foreman, and must be guided b- him." Cr. SPRIGGENS.— "Many people have told me that the work is now going on much better." Cr. HARRIS then said he would withdraw his mofion'iu favour of the amendment. Cr. POYNTER'S amendment then becoming the motion, Cr. Liffiton moved a further amendment, "That the explanation of the Works Committee, • that the work is going on as fast as possible, be considered satisfactory." • . . . .

A COUNCILLOR.— "The Works Committee hasn't mentioned this matter in its report. Cr. LIFFIT.QN.— ''WeII then, 'as orally conveyed to the Council by the Mayor.' Perhaps that will satisfy you." Cr. SPEIGGENS . seconded the amendment, which vac lost.

Cr. POINTER'S motion was then put and carried.

The MAYOR.— "The Committee will go into the matter again, but in justice to them I must cay they have already considered it very fully."