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of merging the various departments into one. But there is a moral issue involved regarding the merging of departments because we have seen a statement made by an individual who stated that probably the department of water supply and public works could be merged into one, thereby, lessening cost to government. In talking to some members of our sister union , the HGEA, there appeared that certain positions might be eliminated by the merging of the two departments. We see a possibility that that could be averted by a grandfathering clause in the positions within the departments and eventually we may come to a point where this position may not be available but we have not really decidedthecomposition of the depart- ments into one or two or whatever. MR. SENSANO: The reason why I am asking you this question is we are talking about your mentioning that perhaps maybe some of these jobs like repairing vehicles could be done more efficiently and at less cost. I don ' t know whether you and I are talking the same language but we are interested in seeing that government cost is contained. In private business sometimes cost containment can be achieved by mergers. I recognize the problem that your organization has but there are ways that this can be done. It can be accomplished. If it is a long range plan none of the present employees would be laid off and sometimes in bargaining unitsmerger_s may reduce the work force but they put in a clause whereby none of the present employees will be laid off. For example, in changes in the hospital , they have never laid off any employees. What, I think , we are interested in is the containment of government costand if it can be done by merger's, I as a member of this commission would be open to some ideas from organizations and individuals as to how this can be done. By merging some departments that seem to have the same function. MR. KONNO: Our further position is that we hope that this commission really can bring the water department back into the county. T.o_-have the department on its own within _the county and not to really merge it with some other department. Our primary concern is to see the department of water supply on its own within the county. CHAIRMAN SAKATA: On the district representation you make the statement that to campaign island wide is going to cost a lot of money and would be very difficult for good candi- dates to run for office now. Is your body in any way advocating the fact that we should have a campaign spending law for running at-large or district? MR. KONNO: We have not discussed that, no. CHAIRMAN SAKATA: You haven ' t discussed anything of that sort?; If you have a spending law here you would be able to get more qualified candidates to run because you set a limit to their campaign spending. You people have never looked into that? Also on this idea of abolishing commissions , you stated that the department of water supply under the control of a commission you would like to have this commission abolished. You say that "in this situation we would prefer to see this commission abolished because it is our understanding that the commission - 10 -