All this came about when Ald. Adams took exception to a staff appointment made by the engineer.

Ald. Adams said his objection was "to the way it was done."

The engineer had approached the mayor in regard to the appointment of Mr. R. Quinn as a junior engineering assistant at a salary of 75 per cent of the basic wage, and the mayor had concurred.

Ald. Adams maintained the matter should have come before the council before the appointment was made; the explanation was that the need was a pressing one if things were to be done as the aldermen wanted them done. When the engineer sought endorsement of his action, Ald. Fred Beavis questioned his authority.

Ald. Beavis also asked what qualifications Mr. Quinn had, and couldn't the appointment have waited for council approval.

Mr. John Clark, engineer, said he had authority to make the appointment. Mr. Quinn was on the outdoor staff for a while before being transferred to his office. He would be more of a survey assistant than anything else, and there was no classification to properly give him. He was classified as he is to save council money; his pay was ?11/5/- per week.

The mayor said he did agree to the appointment, as a temporary one.

Ald. Adams said the appointment was wrong and asked what would happen if the health inspector took it upon himself to do the same thing?

It was usual routine for such matters to come before council; applications should be called, and he would challenge the authority of the engineer to make an appointment to the indoor staff.

Ald. Kenny, MLC, asked "have you compared the overhead here with other councils?"

He said he would move for the appointment to be not acceded to. The mayor then read the authority delegated to the engineer, and Ald. Finlay said it only applied to "outside staff."

Ald. Kenny: Authority has nothing to do with it; overhead is at breaking strain.

Ald. Finlay seconded Ad. Kenny's motion "for the purpose of discussion" when the mayor called for a seconder the third time.

Ald. Finlay said he wanted to know more about it, how necessary it was, and how far council could go.

Ald. Adams then moved an amendment, "that council give consideration to the question of appointing a junior assistant to the engineering department."

Ald. Midson said that would provide an excellent opportunity for young men. There could be a lot in the town with the necessary qualifications. It was wasteful having the engineer do menial jobs that could be done by an assistant. With the work council had going on there were lots of things a junior could do.

The town clerk, Mr. Alcock, said he had asked the engineer for two copies of the baths plans for endorsement with the contract, and that had added to the need to get someone to do the work quickly.

Ald. Adams asked how long had Mr. Quinn been on the payroll, and Mr. Kelly said he'd noticed his name a few weeks ago. The indoor staff was only paid once a month.

Ald. Adams said the method of the appointment was wrong, and the mayor said he was prepared to accept some of the blame.

Ald. Kennedy went on, to Ald. Adams: You are pushing for the baths like everyone else; in fact you are one of the greatest pushers. Everyone is on my back to get the baths started. If you want things done let us get them done, but let us be prepared to pay for them. Everyone is chipping me; council sent the engineer out to the aerodrome last year and you know what that has meant. You and your grandiose schemes; wait till you're pushing some more of them and I'll flatten them for you.

Ald. Finlay: We want to know what the appointment is all about, Mr. Mayor.

Mr. Clark said plan printing would be involved, and work as survey assistant. There was a lot of "setting out" to do with the baths, reservoir, Gordon Street, sewerage, and kerb and guttering. Ald. Adams' amendment was then carried 4-3, Ald. Cooper having left the council table during the discussion.

Several aldermen asked what the position was; did it mean Mr. Quinn was to stay or be put off?

Ald. Adams moved and Ald. Kenny seconded, that the matter be dealt with at next works committee meeting.

Ald. Crisp and Midson moved an amendment, to adopt the engineer's report, and when put to the vote the amendment was lost.

The aldermen were still in a quandary about the meantime, and Mr. Engineer Clark said he would put Mr. Quinn on the outdoor staff, pay him the ruling rate of 19/10/- and employ him to do the work he was now doing at the lower wage.

Ald. Adams said he would challenge the engineer if he acted in defiance of the aldermen and the mayor was still talking of Ald. Adams' "grandiose schemes" when "the next business" was called for.