ONEHUNGA COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 302, 21 December 1937, Page 3

ONEHUNGA COUNCIL.

The Onehunga Borough Council met last night, the Mayor, Mr. J. Parks, presiding.

Ultra Vires. —The action of the council in entering into an agreement with the Auckland Klectric Power Board for community lighting has been declared to be ultra vires by the Auditor-General. This also applies to the other local authorities in the Auckland district, stated the same authority. In view of this position the Auditor-General suggested that in order to validate these activities and to provide for future agreements validating and empowering legislation should be sought.

The Mayor said this was the tirst instance in Xew Zealand where the necessity for such agreements had arisen. Therefore, there had been no necessity for legislation. Fortunately, he said, the Onehunga council had not signed the agreement, although many other local bodies had done so. On his motion it was agreed to postpone signing the agreement until after the passage of empowering legislation. The Power Board reported that six community lights .in Queen Street had been disconnected and four lights had been placed outside the Onehunga Post Office.

Relief Society.—The members of the Sickness Relief Society employed by the council sought permission to alter the rule that the treasurer should be the Town Clerk for the time being. They asked for power to appoint one of themselves to the position. The request is to be further considered by the council.

Relief Workers.—The Labour Department has agreed that all fit married men who have not already received a period of the special employment, with a maximum cf 88 nien, n" iv be engaged tor four months from January 10. and an additional commitment of £643*2 has accordingly been allotted to Authoiity Xo. 1937. ISO 51. The council may select sis men from those at engaged for key positions and may continue their employment after the holidays with the batch of new men. Water Supply..—The Health Department is to hare a special analysis made of the water supplied to Mount Roskill from the Onehunga springs. This is to be made in reply to a complaint of grit in the water by the Mount Roskill Road Board. Mr. F. Gilchrist said that two years ago a similar trouble had been traced to concrete pipes in Mount Roskill. Auckland Centenary.—The council agreed to pay the sum of £09 15/ as its proportion of the £2500 to be obtained from contributing local authorities to provide for the 12 months' operations of the Auckland Provincial Centennial Council as from January 1. 1938. This sum is based on the population and valuation of the borough of Onehunga as at 1931, and is to be called upon as required.