SUMNER BOROUGH COUNCIL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21729, 11 March 1936, Page 6

SUMNER BOROUGH COUNCIL

TRAMWAY BOARD'S REPLY CONSIDERED

A meeting of the Sumner Borough Council was held last evening, when there were present the Mayor (Mr T. Newburgh), Crs. J. E. Tait, C. Hart, H. Y. Widdowson, F. T. Eldridge, E. T. Chitty, C. E. Claydon, F. J. Barlow, and G. F. Allen. .

The Mayor submitted a report on the Municipal Conference at Napier which he and the town clerk had attended.

The town clerk said the Mayor was to be congratulated on his election to the executive of the Municipal Association. One of the most important questions concerned the amalgamation of local bodies, and they had been interested to hear that in Australia amalgamation had been a failure in Sydney, and even more so in Brisbane. The question of the Saturday half-holiday, which affecteu local people, was keenly debated. and largely because of the fighting speeches by the Mayors of New Brighton and Sumner the present half-holiday was retained.. Building permits for the month ot February were as -follows:—Two buildings, value £1560, two alterations and addition, value £95. The Christchurch Tramway Board advised that while the board's works committee appreciated the points raised by the recent deputation from the council, the board's finances did not permit any large expenditure such as would be necessary to meet the suggested improvements. However, it was proposed to place a warning notice at the cutting at the loop which would be visible both day and night. About the track at the Masonic Hall corner, the committee has been adviseu that the cost of temporary alterations would be £325, and it is considered inadvisable to spend this money until the whole track from Clifton bridge to Wakefield avenue was renewed This would cost £1750. The various points brought forward will be further considered when the . estimates for the board's next financial year were under consideration. The Mayor said that the reply was very disappointing, and it looked as if the matters would be shelved for two years. Cr. Widdowson moved that the letter be received and that disappointment be expressed at the board's decision, and that the alternative suggestion regarding the loop be placed before the board for further consideration. / The secretary of the National Un- | employed "Workers' Movement "wrote i applying for permission to hold meet'ings at the beginning and the end of the week in order to get all the men employed on the job at starting time in the morning. Cr. Tait moved that the letter be received and that no action be taken. Under present conditions there was plenty of time to have a meeting. The desirability of continuing the work of filling in the pool was raised by Cr. Barlow. Cr. Tait said that at present the sand was just being kept above the water level so as to provide a base for the rubbish tipped there. Personally, he. was absolutely disgusted with the progress of the work. The Canterbury Progress League wrote thanking the council for its programme of road work for a period of five years. They also thanked .the council ion its donation of £5,