XN000022-1978-10-09 — Page 8

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1978

THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. CANICE MAK, PRAISED THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE AND ABOÚT 20 AGENCIES IN THE DISTRICT WHICH HAVE ASSISTED IN ORGANISING THE CAMPAIGN.

HE SAID THE IR ENTHUSIASTIC EFFORT MIGHT SERVE AS AN INCENTIVE FOR A GREATER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT IN THE BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS.

PWD COMPLAINTS OFFICER ON THE MOVE

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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S COMPLAINTS OFFICER, MR. JOHN DODWELL, IS A MAN ON THE MOVE LITERALLY.

SINCE MARCH 1, THIS YEAR WHEN HE TOOK UP HIS POST HE HAS SPENT MOST OF THE TIME WORKING FROM HIS 20TH FLOOR OFFICE IN MURRAY BUILDING. BUT, NOT ALL OF IT.

+1 HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH AROUND 20 CALLS A WEEK, HE EXPLAINED +SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT SOME OF MY TIME IS SPENT OUT AND ABOUT.+

MOST OF THE CALLS CONCERN HOLES IN ROADS, BLOCKAGES OF DRAINS, PROBLEMS WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS, SUSPECTED ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ON BUILDINGS AND A HOST OF OTHER +ODDS AND ENDS THAT SEEM TO CONCERN RESIDENTS.

IN MANY CASES MR. DODWELL CAN LOOK INTO MATTERS QUICKLY AND EASILY.

+BUT,+ HE SAID, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE CALLER IS TALKING ABOUT. THAT IS WHEN I TAKE TO THE HIGHWAYS.+

THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WHEN MR. DODWELL IS OUT, THE PUBLIC IS OUT OF REACH OF HELP.

THE PUBLICITY UNIT OF THE P.W.D. IMMEDIATELY TAKES OVER THE JOB OF RECEIVING CALLS AND ENSURING THAT ACTION IS INITIATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND, SO FAR, INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT ON NO FEWER THAN 1,000 REQUESTS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE P.W.D.- RATHER, IT HAS BEEN A CASE OF CALLS FOR HELP AND GUIDANCE.

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