BIG ORDER PAPER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 135, 10 June 1938, Page 11

BIG ORDER PAPER.

AFFAIRS OF CITY. ZOO CONTROL ISSUE. TRAFFIC ANl> LIBRARY. The submission of a number of departmental reports made the ''order paper at last night's meeting of the Auckland City Council an unusually large one. The reports reviewed in detail the workings of the departments during the year ended March 31 last. When the parks department reports were before the council the Mayor," Sir Ernest Davis, mentioned that he intended to review the position of the Zoological Park with a view to determining finally whether the zoo should be continued as it was, or whether it should be vested in a different form of control. The desirability of Government assistance and encouragement was pointed out in the reports. Traffic Control.—Growing demand for extension of traffic control as a result of the increased density of traffic in the city was referred to by the traffic superintendent, Mr. C. Bland, in his annual report. He suggested that the council should bear in mind the question of whether vehicle-actuated signals should be installed, or whether more officers for point duty should be employed. Parking Offences. —To secure reasonable observance of the by-laws it had been necessary to take action in 1034 cases of parking breaches during the year, reported the traffic superintendent, Mr. C. Bland. Over 4000 warnings were issued in respect to minor breaches. Cramped Library.—"All departments need more space to carry on their work, and office accommodation, which at present really does not exist, is equally essential," stated the chief librarian, Mr. J. Barr, reporting on the central library. If the library was going to serve the citizens as they had a right to expect, something had to be done without delay. Manganese Deposit.—Permission to work a manganese deposit on an area of half an acre, part of council property on the Mangatangi Stream, was given to Mr. W. S. Miller. Royalty at 2/6 a ton is to be paid to the council. Enlarging School Grounds.—To allow an enlargement of the grounds of the Auckland Girls' Grammar School, it was agreed to close Smith Street and Park Street, except for a 10ft track giving access to Western Park from Howe Street, and to lease the land for 50 years at a peppercorn rental. Town Hall Fire Risk.—To guardagainst the risk of fire in the administrative portion of the Town Hall, it was decided that a fire alarm system, which will be connected with the fire station, should be installed at a cost of about £1000. Airport Site.—Recommendations of the special sub-committee whieh favoured the Manukau airport site were adopted. It was agreed to contribute £500 towards the cost of investigations and preparation of plans. Hospital Levy.—The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, announced that he would call at an early date a conference of representatives of the local bodies in the Auckland metropolitan area to hear their viewpoints on the increased hospital levy and to determine what line of policy, if any, should be adopted. Domain Grandstand. —Provision has been made in the estimates for repairing and renovating the Domain grandstand. The Mayor said he would recommend later that a loan should be raised for the building of a modern stand. Zoning Scheme. —On the recommendation of the town planning committee, it was decided to accelerate the city zoning scheme. A tentative plan has been prepared.