EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 5

EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS

| Review by Mayor About one hundred people attended at 1 the Town Hall at Eastbourne last night j when the Mayor, Mr. H. M. Jones, who || Is not seeking re-election, gave an account ;] of his stewardship. Mr. A. Walker prefl sided. . Mr. Jones, who spoke for nearly fl I two hours, was, at the conclusion of his J address, accorded a hearty vote of thanks 3 for his great services to the borough, fl After paying a tribute to the services I of Mr. Walker on the council for the last ' I four years, Mr. Jones said that during his a time as Mayor the borough had maintained a steady and sane progress. Stormwater, I which for years was a very serious thing '1 in the borough, particularly at the southfl I ern end, had been eliminated, at a cost j of over £l3OO. Last year £250 was spent on 1 I the extension of footpaths. Sea -wrall con- • 1 structlon and beach protection had been 1 carried out, the expenditure on the wall j being over £7OO. Groynes had also been 3 erected. He initiated the first fire brigade 1 In Eastbourne, and after its resignation I recently another brigade was formed with--1 out trouble and with greatly Improved fl equipment. He took some credit, too, for •I the changing of a rubbish dump near the a council chamber Into a fine croquet lawn. 1 The building of the gymnasium on the ] Recreation Ground, which conferred a .1 benefit on the youth of the borough, had 1 had his full support. Lighting and Roads. i] The electric lighting, initiated before his I term, was put into operation during it. 1 The cost for street lighting was £330 a I year, and Eastbourne, in the speaker's • 1 opinion, was one of the best lighted - I boroughs in New Zealand. In the borough were £14,000 worth of bitumen roads. He paid a tribute to the late Mayor, Mr. H. I W. Shortt, for the introduction of that I class of surfacing tn the borough. The I Interest sinking fund cost- the ratepayers only Jof one per cent. In heavy traffic I fees the borough received only £5l in 1926, but to-day the amount was nearly £5OO. The Water Problem. The City and Suburban Water Board, established about three years ago, was. In I Mr. Jones’s opinion, formed on a sound I basis, and was one of the finest schemes I possible. He hoped Eastbourne would I remain in the board as the cost to the I borough was nominal and the asset incalI culable. There should be, and the time he thought was coming, when there would be I one big combined water board. I If water could be found within the borI ough at least £15,000 would be saved, Mr. Jones said. For the last two years nuI merous schemes had been investigated. An I attempt had been made to find water in I the borough, and he stood four square I behind those who started the bores. According to experts there seemed to be an abundance of water where the boring was I being carried on at present. He favoured I a continuance of the boring. There was a I substantial force of water in the bore, I which was down 240 feet. Even if they I stopped boring now there was probably I enough water there to supply half Eastbourne. They should not stop until every avenue had been explored. I The unemployment problem, said the mayor, was a tragedy and the future was I very black. There was no doubt about that. I Eastbourne had spent £728, or, with subsidies, £1767, on unemployment relief last financial year. I The Pinonces. I The balance-sheet, the first balance-sheet I of any borough in New Zealand to be passled by the uovernmeut auditor, was exI pounded by Mr. Jones. The debit in the I district fund was £658. Against this was I to be placed outstanding rates amounting I to £lm>B, plus other sums which brought I the amount outstanding up to £2917. It I would be seen, therefore, that the borough I was really substantially in credit. I The terry account was possibly the liardI est account to have charge of. Economies bad been effected without sacrifice of efficiency. These economies were down to the irreducible minimum, having regard to the circumstances ot the day. He predicted that In the not distant future there would be only one boat running, and it would finish lor the day alter its 5 o’clock run. When the borough got to that stage then it would begin to save large sums ot money. The one boat would be to deal with peak traffic. Alter that the traffic would be handled by the buses. The Busoa. About four years ago, and with the support of one councillor, Mr. Jones said, ne nad recommended the purchase ot the buses. The recommendation was anything out favourably received. Now Ide buses were proved to be the uuest investment the I borough bad ever made. Mad they not been purcnased it would be difficult to !m--agiue what the position of the borough would now be. Me was very proud of tee bus department. There was transferred xrom me bus account to help the ferry service during the year the sum ot £lBlO. xhe bus account was in credit to the amount of £3o6f, £2oB*l of that being deposited in the bank, 'f’lie buses had helped me boats in very many ways. The ous service to the wharf uiu not pay by u long way, out the council gave mac service freely. Me strongly opposed any amalgamation of the bus and ferry services, luat step would be fatal, xt was absolutely necessary lor the safety of me ourouga that lor trading and accounting purposes they siiou.u keep the two services separate. Xue cost of the service bus nine would compare more man favourably with any oilier bus service in New Zealand. xxe urged that opposition be strenuously maintained against any attempts co shift me bus stanus in Uemugten. Me agreed mat me buses should come out of Featuerston Street, at least on the homeward journey. M was a very dangerous street, and drivers, as well as passengers, were being asked to take nsss uy running through it. Mr. Jones said he nau been for years an advocate of amalgamation of the email oorougus with big ones. There were far too many local bodies in New Zealand, in bis opinion mere siiuuid ue one district xrom uiusmourne to upper Hutt. There couid be no doubt auuut that. ft was startling me saving that could be etl'ecteu in administration auu general charges by amalgamation. He did not.advocate nirnil. gamauon in order to shelve responsibilities. Eastbourne was able to stand on its own feet with the best of the boroughs. What was stopping amalgamation was the self-aggrauuisement auu petty jealousies of some ox tue various local body men. A Personal Note. i Mr. Jones said he was not retiring ei his own free will. He was retiring because cir- ' cuiustauces compelled it. ue was vain euougn to belie ie mat had he beeii able 1 again to offer nis services he would have i been returned. Me departed from the borough Stall with real regret, its efficiency ! from the town cleiir downwards was of tue highest. 1