CITY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 290, 8 December 1933, Page 11

CITY COUNCIL.

TRANSPORT LICENSING

CORNWALLIS BEACH ROAD. OPEN-AIR MEETINGS. There was -a, full attendance of the Auckland City Council last evening, when the final meeting before the holidays was held. The Mayor, Mr. Geo. Hutchison, presided. Accounts. —The treasurer, at a special meeting held before the commencement of the ordinary meeting, submitted the statutory accounts ana statements for the year ended March ill, which had been returned alter examination by the Audit Office, and were certified by the Controller and Auditor-General to be correct, it was decided to place on record an opinion that the fact that the accounts had again been returned without a "tag" reflected great credit on the treasurer and his stall".

Holidays.—lt was decided that the council oliices should be closed from Saturday, December 23, to Tuesday, January 2, both days inclusive. At the request of the secretary of the Auckland Municipal Officers' Social Club, it was agreed to close the offices on Saturday, I'ebruary 10, for the annual picnic at Motuihi.

Street Meetings.—After some argument the council agreed to allow the Auckland Labour Kepresentation Committee, New Zealand Laoour Party, to hole three consecutive Sunday meetings on tne southern corner of Civic Square, for the purpose of discussing the Waikato Water Supply Bill and the Milk Bill. It was also decided that temporary permission to hold gospel meetings evory Sunday night, and on other public holidays, at the corner of Victoria and Queen Streets, be granted to a number of open-air gospel preachers. The legal and by-laws committee was asked to draw up a report suggesting a permanent method of handling such applications.

No. 5 Scheme. —A circular letter from the Commissioner of Unemployment concerning the supervision of all classes of work undertaken under No. 5 Scheme, was referred to the works committee without comment. A New Award?— With regard to the request of the Auckland and Suburban Local Bodies' Labourers' Union for the restoration of the 10 per cent cut, the secretary of the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association advised that he had been requested to convene a conference of local body representatives to consider the advisability of filing an application for a new local bodies' labourers award, the old one having expired on May 3, 1929. The chairman of the works committee, Mr. H. P. Burton, was appointed to represent the council at the proposed conference, which will be held on February 7.

Workers' Picnic. — Permission was granted the Auckland and Suburban Local Bodies' Labourers' Union to hold their annual picnic at Motuihi Island on Saturday, January 20.

Small Sailing Boats.—An application on behalf of boat owners on the Orakei Basin for permission to form a "small boats" sailing club, was referred to the parks committee. The Mayor mentioned that he understood that there was already one sailing club and one model boat club in existence at Orakei.

Western Springs.—A recommendation that the engineer should be asked to submit a scheme plan for the ultimate development of the whole of the Western Springs area on the northern side of the road, including the area reserved as a sanctuary for water fowl, was adopted without discussion.

Transport Licensing.—The Commissioner of Transport asked if the council would give consideration to the question of cooperating with his Department in the enforcement of the Transport Licensing Act, 1931, and stated that any fines received as the result of prosecution by the council's inspectors would be paid to the council. Reporting on the proposal the chief traffic inspector, Mr. G. Hogan, said that it was important that the council should exercise control in the matter of passenger and goods services, and the adoption of the suggestion would strengthen the council's authority. The Wellington and Christchurch City Councils had undertaken the duties with satisfactory results. The work entailed could be attended to by officers engaged in traffic duties generally, and he recommended that the department inspectorial staff should be appointed enforcement officers. It was decided that the traffic inspector's report should be adopted.

No Power to Lease. —A request was received from a local firm of estate agents asking whether the council would lease for a period of three years a section of land with a frontage to Beaumont Street, adjoining the Victoria Park tennis courts, for the purposes of a back entrance to business premises. An alternative request was that, if the council did not wish to lease the land, it should allow it to be used for the purpose stated. The engineer reported that the area in question was a part of the original portion of Victoria Park, together with two lots, leased to the council by the Auckland Harbour Board in 1908. It appeared to him that the council could not lease the area as the terms of the deed of lease stated that no part of the area should be sub-let, and that the land should be kept open for the purposes of a recreation ground for the general public, and for no other purpose. It was decided to reply that the council was unable to grant the lease. It was also decided that the parks committee should bring down a report concerning a suggested "cleaning up" of the old buildings bordering Victoria Park. "They are an eyesore," declared Mr. E. J. Phelan.

Cornwallis Beach. — The Waitemata Council asked'whether the council would be prepared to contribute half the cost of metalling the road giving access to Cornwallis Beach. The road, it was stated, was at present being widened. The engineer reported that the existing road was an exceedingly narrow and somewhat dangerous one, which was only negotiable in fine weather. The estimated cost of preparing and metalling the road was £200, and the work would effect a muchdesired improvement. It was decided, on the recommendation of the parks committee, that the work should be authorised, provided that the council's contribution did not exceed £100, and that the money was available. Christmas Dance.—An application by the Civic Theatre for permission to hold a dance in the winter garden on Christmas night was declined. Reed Collection.—The council recorded its appreciation of the action of Mr. F. W. Reed, of Whangarei, in adding the late Mr. R. S. Garnett's collection of works on Dumas to the Reed Dumas collection, which is to come to the Auckland Public Library, under a deed executed by Mr. Reed.