MAORI IMPRISONED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 203, 29 August 1939, Page 13

MAORI IMPRISONED.

INTOXICATED IN CAB,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

HUNTLY, Monday

In the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. W. H. Freeman, S.M., to-day, a Maori, John Tupuki, of Te Kauwhata, was charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor vehicle in Raynor's Road, Huntly, on Saturday last. He was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour,

LOCAL BODIES.

OTAHUHU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of tiie Otahuhu Borough Council took -place last evening the Mayor, Mr. C. R. Petfrie, M.P, presiding. _ Metropolitan Air Port.—A conrmunication was received from the Auckland Town Clerk in regard to -the Auckland Metropolitan Air Port. The council agreed to the sum of £19 14/ as being Otahuihu's quota for preliminary costs. House-Co-house Collection. — Confnsionoaused as the result of a house-to-house canvass under the alleged authority of the St. John Ambulance Association, followed closely on an appeal made by the local branch, resulted in the council intaiking investigations. A reply from the association does not satisfy the council and the Town Clerk was instructed to replv accordingly. Hospital Finance.—A letter was received from, the laikapuna Borough Council appealing tor support for a more equitable incidence of hospital finance. The Mayor stated that the Municipal Association was definitely dealing with .the matter, and was hopeful of a report being adopted which would have the Government's backing. Permit For Posters.—Drawing attention to the litter caused by tailing posters placed on private buildings during a. recent visit of a circus to the district, a member of the council asked if a permit was required for this practice, which he considered was necessary. The Mayor said it was raising a. hig question. During election times difficulties would arise. Portage Road. —Portage Road, wthich divides the borough from Mount Wellington Road Board, is to be repaired by arrangement between tlie two bodies concerned on the fol owing terms: (a) The scoria to he supplied free of charge by the Mount Wellington Road Board, the cartage to be carried out by the two bodies, fb) All labour required for filling lorries to be supplied by the Otahu.hu Council, (c) Otaliuhu Council to supply road roller free of charge. Street Name Plates.—Prices were received for the repainting of 80 street* name which would involve an expenditure of approximately £13. The cost was considered too high to be undertaken at present, but authority was granted to any resident of a street to erect a sign if he so wished, to an approved design. Noisy Brakes.—Owing to non-compliance with a previous complaint made by the council in regard to squealing brakes on buses controlled by a local firm, a motion was carried reaffirming the council's decision to have the nuisance rectified. Pound Paddock.—The engineer reported that the playing area being formed in die pound paddock is making good progress, and that the foundations for the glasshouses are neariug completion.

NEW LYNN COUNCIL.

The Mayor, Mr. A. T. Reiman, presided over a meeting of the New Lynn Borough Council last evening.

Bus Fares.—The secretary of No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority advised that the report that the Auckland Bufc Company's application for an increase in fares had been adjourned was incorrect, the position being that before the increased petrol tax was announced the company made application to reduce certain fares, and after the announcement of the additional tax, applied for permissiltfn to withdraw the application. The district officer of the Transport Department reported on traffic control in the borough, stating that improved parking facilities and rearrangement of pedestrian crossings had been arranged, and that the testing of applicants for drivers' licenses would in future be carried out by departmental inspectors. The district railways engineer advised that in response to a request from the council he had- arranged for the formation and surfacing of a footway clear of the sealed highway for most of its length, at the Titirangi railway crossing, during the construction of the overhead bridge.

Hospital Taxation. —In response to a request from the Takapuna Borough Council tlie council resolved to support an appeal to the Municipal Association to review the whole question of hospital taxation with the aim of formulating a more just and equitable system.

Finances. —The town clerk submitted a report on finances covering rate collections by discount date and comparison of receipts- and payments with the estimates. The Mayor stated it was pleasing to note that the rate payments by discount date were £1047 in excess of last year, but allowance had to be made for State payments totalling £944, which in previous years had not been paid until the end of the financial year. Satisfaction was also expressed in the fact that the council had a credit balance of £2760 at August 24, the first credit since 1929, when there was a credit balance of £29. After paying interest and sinking fund, monthly accounts, and allowing for sundry creditors, the debit balance would be £3183. Rate arrears collected were £638 less than last year, but in taking current rates and arrears together there was an improvement of £409. Water by meter payments were £200 less than last year. The staff was complimented on the good results shown.

Meeting Nights.—The Mayor commented that come ratepayers seemed to be under the impression that since the council had arranged to meet monthly less time would be devoted to council • affairs. This was not the case, because the works committee would meet on the second Monday, the finance committee on the third, and the council on the fourth, making three meetings per month in place of two, and providing for a regular monthly inspection of the borough by the works committee, which had not always been the case in the past.

ONEHUNGA BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Onehunga Borough Council met last night, the Mayor, Mr. A. Garside, presiding.

Finance. —The district fund overdraft was reported to be £707 5/6 on August 25. The current rates collected to that date amounted to £13.087 9/9, and the rate arrears to £3991 14/3. The expenditure to August 25 'was reported to have been £6133.

Waterworks Extension. —Tlie Cornwall Park trustees, having declined to allow a further area of park land to be used for reservoir purpose for the extension of the Onehunga waterworks plant, the council appointed a deputation to interview the chairman of the Trust Board. Tlie engineer, Mr. R. D. Baker, repoi-ted that the average cost to the council for each of 13 %in water connections made this period was £3 0/6, and the amount recovered in each case was £2 2/. It was decided that %in connections be fixed at £3 15/, and %in be charged £4 15/ each.

Mount Smart.—The council is to be allowed to take a further 8000 cubic yards of scoria from the Mount Smart Domain quarries, in excess of the 10,000 yards covered by the council's license, subject to the consent of the Minister of Lands.

Home's Lane.—The borough solicitors advised that the portion running from east to west in Home's Lane appeared to be a public road. The other portion running north and south was privately owned property. The council had no jurisdiction over this, nor any liability, and had no right to expend any money upon information or maintenance of it, said the solicitors.

Violation of Traffic By-laws.—The engineer reported that 66 motorists had been found breaking the parking regulations. A later 'report is to be presented to the finance committee with special reference to any who may' be caught a second time.

Recreation . Week.—The Minister of Internal Affairs has intimated to the council that he would like a recreation week to be held towards the end of the winter sports season. The programme should comprise outdoor and indoor sports, music, dramatic and hohby shows. The proposed date is from September 29 to

October 7. This suggestion was intended to stress the cultural forces in the community. The funds raised by such community effort might be considerable. The suggestion was referred to the committee of physical welfare for a report.

National Emergency. — Advice was received from the Municipal Association of New Zealand that some organisations had been circulating plans for action in the event of a national emergency. Any plans other than those issued by the Department of Internal Affaire must be regarded as unauthorised, and local bodies desiring to take immediate action in connection with the national emergency precautions were advised to communicate with the Department of Internal Affairs.

Traffic Licenses. —The council adopted the present basis of distribution of the heavy traffic license fees as determined by the Minister for the year just closed. The present system of distribution shows a slight gain for Onehunga.

Proposed Site for Centennial Memorial. — In reply to a request by the local Centennial Memorial Committee concerning a site for the proposed kindergarten and Plunket rooms, the Mayor stated that a site had been approved on the Halstead block in Queen Street. A request by the committee for financial assistance was referred to the finance committee.

Petition Deferred.—Tlie council deferred for consideration at the next meeting a petition bearing 140 signatures asking that a meeting of ratepayers only be convened to discuss the three loan proposals amounting to £43,000, and what increase in the rates would be necessary if the loans were raised.