BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 84, 21 January 1936, Page 3

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

REQUIREMENTS AT HAMPSTEAD.

DRAINAGE AND PLAYGROUND.

DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL,

The Ashburton Borough Council met last evening, when there were present the Mayor (Mr W. H. Woods), Messrs J. Shaw, R. Kerr, W. H. Robinson, E. H. Orr, J. Thompson, F. J. E. Smallbone, E. Buchanan, S. Mitchell, J. T. Prat-ley, H. R. C. McElrea and Dr. J. Connor. The financial statement showed that receipts since the previous meeting had totalled £6982 2s Bd, the chief items being rates £6480 15s lid (current) and £B4 16s lOd (arrears), rents £192 3s Id, water supply £3O 19s, abattoir fees £lO6 4s 6d, licenses £29 9s 6cL A large number of seasonal greetings were received from Government Departments and officials and local bodies. The Treasury wrote that it had received a report from the Public Works Department in connection with the Hampstead drainage scheme and it would appear that finality had not yet been reached, ancl that tenders were to be .submitted including the cost of supplying automatic flushing tanks. If the tenders, on the new basis, exceeded the loan authorised, the whole matter might require further consideration.

A telegram was received from Mr H. E. Herring, M.P., stating that he had seen the Minister, who would take up the drainage scheme with the Department and later visit the site if an agreement -was not reached. A telegram from the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) stated that he would make a visit very shortly and would he pleased to look into the question.

The Mayor said the engineer (Mr Stevens) had informed him that everything was in readiness for the calling of tenders. The engineer was in touch with the Minister, through Mr Herring, and was in hopes of finality being reached without extra expenditure being involved. Dr. Connor moved that alternative tenders, with and without the flushing tanks, should he called. The Council, he said, would then know where it stood. .This was seconded by Mr Pratley. Mr Thompson said! he was not sure that it would be wise to call for alternative tenders, as it cost money to tender, and the thing was purely exploratory. It appeared to him that the Council’s move was to approach the Minister. Mr Shaw tliought the motion was a step in the right direction. Mr McElrea differed from this view. The original plans weie for a suitable scheme, and the Council should have a showdown with the Minister. Mr Kerr said the Council should be careful that the scheme was not put out because of the excess of the tendei prices over the loan authority. The Mayor said he would not like it to go out that the Council was only fishing for information in calling alternative tenders. The Council was very anxious that the work should proceed. Mr Mitchell thought the Council should not do anything till it had been in touch with the Minister. He moved an amendment in this direction. The amendment was seconded by Mr Thompson. Messrs Shaw and Oit held that to interview the Minister would only entail more delay. The motion was carried, and it was agreed that tenders should be in by February 10. The Hampstead Memorial Society wrote that a public meeting of rntepay* ers had resolved to approach the Borough Council regarding the setting aside of a recreation ground tor that district. The Mayor said this was a haidy annual, but this time nothing had been suggested regarding any particular piece of ground. . . The Town Clerk said that m LL4 a poll on the question was taken, and a proposal to raise £2OOO for the pmIchase of 10 acres was rejected by 304 votes to 213. The Mayor said the Council could ask the Society for its proposals. At the moment the Council had nothing to go on. ~ ! Mr Thompson said it was up to the Council to find a solution to the problem. It was a very desirable thing t a a playing area should be provided in that portion of the Borough. It was demonstrated in many other towns that there should be more than one park in a town. Ashburton would grow in the next 100 years and now was the time to look out for a piece o land, though with the works in hand al the moment, a new park could not be purchased right away. The Mayor said that everyone wit.i a civic pride would take an interest in the project, but if those particularly interested could not present a proposal, they could not expect others to do it. Mr Kerr moved that the letter be referred to the Reserves Committee for consideration. The Domain was tul now, and it was essential that a resene should be created in Hampstead.

This was seconded by Mr Orr. The Mayor said this was not a question for the Committee. It was shelving it and taking the ' burden off the Council, whose job it was to send a concrete proposal to the Committee. Mi* Orr said he agreed up to a point, hut it was for the Council to say what the reserve should be, and not ior one section of the community. The Council should find the necessary area first. Mr Thompson: You arc* quite right. The Mayor: These people must have something in their minds they should give us the full facts. No one is antagonistic to the idea; at least, I am not.

| Mr Buchanan moved an amendment [that the Society ,should ho asked to Iplaced a more concrete proposal before jthe Council for consideration.

This was seconded by Dr. Connor. Mr Thompson said there were four areas that could be utilised. The Reserves Committee could get in touch with the Society in regard to the question and go into it. Mr Shaw moved a further amendment that a committee, comprising the Mayor and Messrs Kerr, Orr and Buchanan, should be set up to go into ihc matter. This was seconded by Mr Smallbone. The Mayor: That is hardly a fair thing. If it is going to a committee it should go to.the Reserves Committee. ■* Mr Shaw: But I thought you held that it was not a matter for the Reserves Committee. Mr McElrea: You are all in a tangle. 1 will move that the Society be asked to appoint a deputation to wait on the Council. The Mayor: Will someone second that P Mr McElrea: There’s no one left, is there ? The Mayor: All right, I might second it. After the other amendments and the motion had been withdrawn, this uas accepted, was seconded by Dr. Connor and was carried. Domain Board. Sitting as a Domain Board, the Council received the report of the Curator on work carried out by bis staff in the last four weeks. Cemetery Board. / Sitting as a Cemetery Board, the Council received the financial statement, which showed that there was a credit balance of £lO 3s Bd. Receipts since the previous meeting bad totalled £22 10s.