LEESTON TOWN BOARD.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20316, 15 August 1931, Page 10

LEESTON TOWN BOARD.

At. the monthly meeting of tlie Town Board there were present ' Commissioners J. C. Fr'ce (chairman), V. Renvoi!, A. S. Lyons, A. Johnston, L. C. Vicary, Iw J. ifaC'oimen.. and Wvi-JoUnsiorv.' - fc town clovlc reported upon eiHjuiries nmdo concerning tho insurance of fire brigade members .under.the Uiyted Brigades' Association's. scheme aud tho scheme.. "It. was prws iijforisiation lieffire tifeiii-'a 'covdg Volunteej%prigade. . '*£} fioplyfng to a letter asking whether ansS xould bo, made in the Board's contribute ii-% toward 3 the .health inspector's : services', -tho Director-General of , 'Health wrote that tho Board head of tho population, whereas the average payment of tho group with which it was associated was 5d per head. If anything, tho Department would be justified in asking for a' slight increase. , ' In soliciting a donation towards its freo ambulauco service, tlie St. John Ambulance Association wrote that unless it received tho support of local bodies, tho free service would wither and have to be discontinued, or canvassers would havo to bo cmployed to mako a direct appeal to tho public. The Board decided to mako further enquiries before passing a grant. The chairman of the Works Committee, G'mr. Rowsll, reported that three tenders had been received for tho laying of concrete ahannolling in. Darcy street, and recommended that the ono imbmitted by J. R. Jackson, at £B6 Bs' 6d, should be accepted. The Board accepted this tender. '.' The possibility of the amalgamation of supply authorities wqa referred to by the chairman, who said that, as an old member" of the Sprlngs-Ellesmero Power Board, ho thought it would be no gain to tho district to amalgamate with any other. In both tho Malvern and Peninsula power districts the revenue was dropping and tho ratepayers were complaining. To take in either of these areas would be unwise. Tlio idea of bringing tire City in with the try. and making one large, district, might Bo approved, but he did not think the • City would consent. Cmr. W.. Johnston: The Government is looking at the question from a national point of view. Wo might lose, but tho country might gain, if 'two Boards that are. not paying .are combined with ouo which is paying, the whole district combined might be made to pay. Speaking of local bjdy amalgamations generally, the chairman remarked that every district liked to run its own destinies, and so long as it was prepared to pay for it, the Government could not take away . that right. There' might be cases, wlicro the amalgamation of local bodies would bonefit a district, and in those instances lie would' not oppose it,, but this did'rot .apply to the Power Board. ....... _ . A suggestion by the chairman was that country Power Boards should purchase their current from the Government in . larger ..quantities, and. thereby effect a saving. Instead of each Board purchasing separately, thoy could combine for the purpose. • Cmr. Vicary did not think the idea would be feasible, for the reasoi: that one Board frould have to take responsibility for all, and if any should fail in its debt, the ono ordering tho cuifent would be hold responsible for tho whole debt.