LOCAL BODIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 16

LOCAL BODIES.

PAPATOETOE TOWN BOARD. The Papatoetqe Town Board met last evening, the chairman, Mr. W. J. Nicholson, presiding. Wyllie Road.—The chairman of the works committee, Mr. E. H. Nolan, recommended that tb# work of reforming, widening, metalling and subsequent sealing of Wyllie Hoad at an approximate cost of £400, be put in hand without delay. Mr. Nicholson stated that Wyllie Road at present was in a very bad state of repair and that the work would iuclude extending the culvert to the full width of the road and removing two trees outside the Papatoetoe orphan home. Sufficient metal would be put on to form a sound base for a dressing of lighter metal and pennanent sealing next year. Mr. W. A. Cairns considered that sinking £400 in Wyllio Road was rather neglecting the other side of the district. Mr. Nicholson pointed out that it was the board's programme to put a permanent surface on three or four main roads in the district, rather than fritter away a little here and there in patching potholes. Mr. L. J. Kendall stated that Wyllie Road was considered the most important road to go ahead with. In view of the fact that the board intended to pay more attention to roads and that the introduction of the 40-hour week may mean an increase in the price of materials, it was essential that this work be authorised before the estimates for the current year were framed. The board decided to commence the work as soon as possible. Street Collections. —The application of the Community Sunshine Association for permission to hold a street collection on May 29 was declined and a donation of £2 was authorised.

NORTHCOTE BOROUGH COUNCIL. The Northcote Borough Council met last evening, the Mayor, Mr. R. Martin, presiding. Clerk of Works.—Mr. J. E. Mays wae appointed clerk of works for the Onewa Road contract. It was pointed out that no subsidy would be granted by the Main Highways Board towards the ealary.

Relief Work.—The Mayor outlined proposals made at a conference with Mr. Blomley, of the Unemployment Board, for increasing the earnings of relief workers, of whom there were about 50 at Northcote. When he had pointed out the difficulty of finding money for such a purpose he was told this could be done by increasing the rates or raising a loan. He replied there was no chance of either, and the council was desirous of reducing the rates, which had been increased since 1931 from 9d in the £ to 1/1. He was told that to reduce rates was "unheard of." Whether they could afford to do so or not, local bodies were expected to take on men, added the Mayor.

Water. —The waterworks engineer reported that the surface of Lake Pupuke had risen 3M inches to four feet below high tide level. The Mayor stated that the Water Board levy for the ensuing year would be £34. New Buildings.—The report of the building inspector stated that seven permits were issued during the past two months for work valued at £825.

Street Telephone.—Approval was given for a public call telephone office at the corner of Queen and King Streets. Kauri Glen Road. —The Waitemata County Council wrote agreeing to the offer of the Northcote Council to pay £25 towards the repair of Kauri Glen Road, at a cost of not less than £50, the work to be done by the County Council.

Auckland Museum. —Advice was received that an election would be held on June 12 for the election of three members of the council of the Auckland Institute and Mueeum, to represent the contributing local bodice, and that nominations would close on the 28th instant. MOUNT ROSKILL ROAD BOARD. A meeting of the Mount Roskill Road Board last night was presided over by Mr. C. M. McCullough. Lost Water Rates. —The finance committee reported a list of irrecoverable water charges amounting to £195 4/7, on properties deserted by mortgagors and reverted to the Crown. The sum is to be written off. The committee remarked that this concerned several years in most instances. Fortunately for the board the same position could not, under present control, again arise. The present scale of chargee for water to all consumers is to be adhered to for the 1930-37 financial period. Water Motors. —A draft agreement was adopted for payment by instalments for water meters provided by the board to consumers. Delegates.—The clinirinnn of the board and the chairman of the finance committee (Mr. A. T. O'.T)onnell) were appointed the board's delegates to the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association,

Review of Salaries.—ln conformity with the standing orders the finance committee will next week make it« annual review of etnfl salaries and wages paid, the clerk to submit a liet of employees with present rates of pay.

Refuse Bins.—Mr. S. Scarborough, chairman of the works committee, reported that there were 1500 services for the removal of refuse; of that number there had been found 488 unsuitable receptacles used by householders. More stringent conditions are to be made to enable the sanitation service to function in an improved manner, when the new contract is let next month.

Municipal Association of New Zealand. — The executive of the above association advised that the Mount Roskill Road Board would be admitted into membership of the association. Tramway Extension.—The Auckland Transport Board intimated that a single track extension of the tramway system is to be made for approximately three chains beyond the present Owairaka terminus.

Relief Work.—Tn regard to allocations for relief work, the Department of Labour indicated that until the revised proposals are to hand the work may be continued on the present scale from week to week.

I Loss of Rates. —Negotiations in connection with the Government's grant for the compensation of local bodies for losses of rates of Crown mortgaged properties, which were made in Wellington by Mr. A. T. O'Donnell, on behalf of the MounJ Roskill Road Board, were reported by him as chairman of the finance committee. The refusal of the board's application for a grant had caused great disappointment to the board, and his trip to Wellington, he said, had been made to present the case more fully. It was however, that the grant of £8000 hac. been already exhausted, and the claims of the board were pressed in the hope that further assistance would be made available to local bodies in the future. The board decided to write to this effect to the Minister of Finance.