HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 283, 27 August 1935, Page 6

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Or. G. Loudon was appointed by the Petone Borough Council last night to be its representative on the Wellington Beautifying Society.

On the motion of the Mayor, Mr. A. Scholefield, the Petone Borough Council decided last night to send a letter to the Petone Rugby Football Club congratulating it on winning the senior championship.

The Petone Borough Council decided at its meeting laat night to obtain various reports before giving further consideration to the beach plan. The reports required concern sand movement on the beach, the Harbour Board's view on reclamation and the pier, beach pollution, and foundations for bathing pavilions. It was stressed that the council should not commence the work without eoiisideiffig the various details thorougmy.

BOROUGH DEFENDED

Mayor Replies to Remarks

of Residents

A reply to statements made by. icbidents and published in -The Dominion last week'concerning ■ road surfaces and street signs in the borough was given by the Mayor, Mr. A. Scholefield, at the meeting of the Petone Borough Council last night. . “I am surprised at the recent statement criticising the road surfaces and street signs in this borough, and I emphatically deny that the councils attention has been frequently drawn to the condition of some of its streets, -ai inspection is made by the •works committee prior to. the framing of the estimates, and. provision is made where necessary for the resealing of the Avenue has been specially mentioned, but this street is one of the first jobs to be doae as soon as the tarsealing season starts. The extensive building operations that have taken place in this street within the last few weeks have to a great extent been responsible for its present state. “It was stated by our critic that .no time should be lost in effecting repairs.

If the council complied with such advice and immediately patched or carried out tar sealing (during the wet season) it would be a sheer waste of money. At present the engineering staff is engaged upon the necessary preparative street work, such as kerbing. channelling, and formation, which it is essential and economical to do prior to the tar-sealing seaSo “one of the persons interviewed picked upon the wrong borough for his criticism, as Petone compares more than favourably with any borough of its size as far as streets and footpaths are concerned. This has been verified by visitors to the borough on many occasions. “Street signs are just as numerous as elsewhere, and perhaps ‘the person whose business takes him through Petone will be helped when he knows that the street signs are placed on the diagonal corners so that the name is visible when approaching from opposite directions. . “I would be pleased to know what jobs have been tackled half-heartedly, and would point out that a joint committee has been set up to co-operate with the neighbouring borough on questions of mutual interest. - n “The co-operative plant idea is an right in theory, but as for as reading work is concerned the nature of the road surface to be laid’ down, together with the mobiliy of the.'riint, determines the plant required and its economical usefulUe “As far as amalgamation at the preenet time is concerned, it is not a question either of civic pride or small-mindedness, but purely of common sense. A close study of finances -of the respective boroughs is very' illuminating, and I venture to state that under the circumstances no Government would be prepared to take action to force the issue.”

»A WORTHY CAUSE”

Collection For Health Stamp Campaign

“I think the cause is a very worthy one, and that the council should grant permission for a street day,” said. Cr. V. A. Noble at the meeting of the Petone Borough Council last night when a letter was received from the organiser of the health stamp campaign asking permission to hold a street day collection on October 4 as part of the Dominion-wide campaign for raising at least £lO,OOO for health camps. Whether the council .was in a position to augment the funds itself was a matter for the council to consider, said Cr. Noble, who moved that the request be granted. Cr. E. T. E. Hogg seconded the motion, which was carried.

GUARANTEED PRICES

Debate by Hutt Society

“That the Labour Party policy ot guaranteed prices would not be to New Zealand’s advantage,’ was the subject debated by the Hutt Debating society at its last meeting. The movers of the motion were Messrs. Gamble, bcott, anJ D. Benton, and the opposers Messrs. Collius Hepnlestoiie and Phillips. The movers contended that although the farmer was entitled to a fair price return for the fruits of his labours, guaranteed prices would not help, him eventually, particularly because ot the reaction when the market price exceeded the guaranteed price. The amount over and above the market price would have to come from the pockets of the people, who already had sufficient burdens on their shoulders. ~ , ~ . It was also pointed out that the farmer was now receiving the benefit of the exchange rate which helped to keep farm values stable. If the Government had to find further money to fulfil guarantees, it could only be done by an imposition on imports, by more burrowing, or by another increase in the exchange rate. None of those was desirable, f urthermore, the price fixed might not be suit-

able to the consumer. Against this it was argued that yeais ago butter sold at approximately . 2/- a lb., which provided the farmer with .an adequate return with cost of production about 1/-, but now with butter at Jd., and the cost also about Oil., something in the form of a subsidy became necessary. As the dairying industry was one of the mainstays of the Dominion, it was essential that the farmer should lx? able to earn at least, working expenses. Any benefit he might get would be passed on in increased purchasing power. It was pointed out. however, that a guaranteed price must be based on reciprocal agreements with other countries. Instances were given of the value, of price regulation of different commodities in other countries in helping the producer to be sure of an adequate return.

HOSPITAL FOR VALLEY

Petone to be Represented at

Conference

The Mayor, Mr. A. Scholefield, and Or. 13. T. E. Hogg, were last night appointed to represent Hie Petoue Borough Council at a conference of local bodies to discuss the question of a hospital for the Hutt Valley. The suggestion for the, holding of i the conference was contained in a letter from the Lower Hutt Borough Council. The Mayor said the time had come when serious consideration should be given to the whole of the hospital services as they affected the valley. A question to consider was whether to centralise everything in the presejit hospital grounds, or as an alternative limit the present hospital group and establish a second hospital in the valley. The present population of the valley was approximately 32,000, and was continuously increasing; therefore tn the opinion of many eventually there would be a hospital. If that was the considered opinion, then the question arose:. What type of hospital should be selected and when should the first portion be erected? There were several factors, said the Mayor, which could be discussed with profit at the conference. Cr. J. Huggan said he did not think there was a place in the valley suitable for a hospital. The only suitable places were Belmont or Normandale. Cr. Hogg seconded the Mayor’s motion to attend the conference, and suggested that a responsible officer of the Wellington Hospital should be invited to attend also, so that he could explain the difficulties and the advantages of the proposal. It was decided that the Lower Hutt council should be advised of Cr. Hogg's suggestion.

MANCHESTER UNITY

LODGE

The quarterly summoned meeting of the Loyal Rose of Sharon Lodge, M.U.1.0.Q.F., was held at Upper Hutt recently, Bro, N. J. Kitchen presiding. One candidate was admitted a member of the order, and two friends proposed for membership. Sick pay amounting tq £l6 was authorised for payment. The Upper Hutt Bowling Club were given permission to use the lodge’s set of indoor bowls for a tournament in connection with their queen carnival, and it was resolved that the ’lodge enter two rinks. A donation to assist the committee set up to provide a district nurse for Upper Hutt was. passed for payment. The lodge then adjourned for harmony, playing indoor bowls.