BIRKENHEAD BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 72, 25 March 1915, Page 3

BIRKENHEAD BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary .-meeting- of -the. Birkenhead Borough Council was held last night. There were present: The Mayor (Mr. Wm." Wallace), Councillors Colin Macon, Robt. Webb; C. E. Campbell, F. M. King, Jas. P. McPhail, Thoe. Church, and F. Finch. - Metal.—The Metal Committee was enir powered to obtain the metal requisite-for Immediate use, and investigate the various supplies' offered. Pound.-rCouncillors' Masoh; "Webb, • and Finch were appointed to make recommendations to the next meeting, regarding . a pound for the borough. Septic Tank.—A communication "from the District Health Officer pointed out that some alterations were, desirable in the .plan of the septic tank submitted, but approving of the Takapuna Borough pattern. On the motion of the Mayor, it was resolved that in every building permit. the drainage system employed must meet wita the approval of the Health Department. New Road.—Mr. -F. E. Powell reported that the tnattere referred'to in'his previous report had been carried out in the new road in connection with the sub-division, of. Mrs. Lusher's property on "the eastern side of the main road. The Council decided to "accept the"'deed of-dedication subject approval of the Borough solicitor. , .. ..... , Advancing Cost of Living.—On the "motioh of Councillors Campbell ' and "Mc•PhaU,- the Council endorsed the-protest "of the, Runanga Borough Council ..at the .way, in which the foodstuffs of the people of this Dominion are being, .advanced, and at-tributed-to the war in ■Europe,- and thus increasing the cost; of living, to. those least I able to hear It. ... . War Tax.—On:the motion of Councillors King and Webb, the Council recorded its disapproval of the' method of. raising the' war tax-proposed by-Mr. Beanchamp, chairman .of. directors ot .the Bank of N'«r Zealand, as a tax on exports and imports would have to be borne'by the producer on ■the one hand. and. on the other by the-con-sumer. Councillor Campbell thought.an export duty would have a tendency to keep prices down; and wonld reach' the' people who were-exporting, though an import duty would, of conrse. be passed on to the people. This, was a most cumbersome, troulilesome. and expensive ..way of collecting the tax. and he considered a graduated income tax would prove the best method Zion Hill.—A petition asldng for better access to Zion Hill was referred to the engineer to furnish estimates of the cost of erecting a flight of concrete steps from I the water-trough, near the . wharf. for. a | height of about fifty feet, and then grading towards the Scouts' shed on the top' of the cliff. This will afford an outlet to the western portion of the district and Palmerston Road.