CITY AFFAIRS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24, 28 July 1911, Page 11

CITY AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. Last night's- meeting of th(> City Council was attended by Councillor J. Smith (Deputy -Mayor), and Councillors F. Cohen, G. Frost . J. Godbe M W. H. P, Barber, A. H. Hindmarsh, J. E. Fitzgerald, A. R. Atkinson, .T. Fuller, jun., R. Fletcher, G. W. Shirtcliffe, J. Trevor, Lon. M'Kenzie, D. M'Laren, M.P., and Dr. Cameron. FINANCE AND PROPERTY. The Finance and Property Committee recommended —"-That, an mcreasß of (id per day be granted to the engine drivers at the drainage pumping station. (At present they receive 10s per day.) ; That the question of setting back of premipes at Willis-street, owned by Mr. Coverdalp, he r:feired to the Compensation Court ; That the question of whether the Ohiro Home is exempt from paying rates be referred to the court ior settlement ; That the question of tho erection of the bath house at Lyall Bay be postponed for a future date. The report) was adopted. COMMITTEE SYSTEM. The business undertaken by the City Council ha? increased y^>ar afler j-ea'r with the growth of the city and tho ex^ t^npion of municipal enterprise. The rmitine and detail work is prepared at present by the staff for a laige number of committees—-actually eight standing and one special committee, which meet fortnightly at various hours of the day and pass certain recommendations and reports for presentation to the council at each fortnightly meeting. This has been felt to be a severe tax on the time of the business men who are' members of the City Council. Councillor Hindmarsh pointed this out at the last meeting of the council and it was* resolved there and then to put the whole question of committee work in the hands of a Ppecial committee to prepare a report for the- council. Councillor Hindmarsh'e suggestion was to combine the committees into three committees, each of five members, and to hold all committee meetings at- night. The Special Committee reported to the City Council last evening | as follows !— The committees, at constituted at present, numbef eight standing and one special, viz.. Finance Committee, 7 members ; Power Stations and Tramways, 7 members ; Abattoirs, Milk Supply, and Public Health, 7 members} Baths and City Eeserves, 7 members j Bylaws, Fire Brigade, and Street Lighting, 7 members ; Legislation and Leaseholds, 7 members- ; Libraries, 7 members; Outlying Districts, 7 members; Markets (special), 7 members. Your committee have to recommend— l. That three committees bes«t\xp.tobe called the Finance Committee, Tramways Committee, and Health Committee. (1) The Finance Committee to include those committees at present known as Legislation, Leaseholds, and Outlying Districts Committee; (2) The Tramways Committee to include all lighting and fire brigade work ; (3) The Health Committee to in? elude bylaws, baths, and city reserves. 2. That the personnel of the above "committees be as follows :-*-The Mayor to f he ex-officio, a member of all committees. (1) Finance Committee— Councillors Atkinson, Godber, M'Kenzie, M'Laten, and Trevor. Tramways Committee— Councillors Fletcher, Frost, Hindmarsh, Fitzgerald, and Smith. Health Committee — Councillors Cameron, Cohen, Barber, Fuller, and Shirtcliffe. 3. That the above committees meet on alternate Mondays (council week) at the Fame hour, viz.. 4 o'clock. 4. That the personnel of the libraries Committee and Markets Committee Temain as at present, meet•ings to be arranged as required. The Acting-Mayor did nob think the scheme recommended by the committee was workable. Councillor Hindmarsh strongly urged the adoption of the Scheme as at least worth a trial. Councillor Trevor was opposed to the report as not suiting the majority of the members of the council. Other members expressed objections and the report was rejected by a larg(j majority.