PETONE AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 144, 16 December 1919, Page 5

PETONE AFFAIRS

MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL

'The fortnightly meeting of the-Petone Borough Council was held last evening. Present: Mr. J. W. M'Ewan (Mayor), and Councillors C. _\ Brock .bank, J. L. -Churchouse, J. Kyle, Wm. Hay, A. Anderson, G. Cook, M. E. Tovey, and D. S. Bedingfield. The Health Inspector reported a case of phthisis in the borough. The District Engineer of Railways declined to waive its claim for the hire of the steam roller. On condition that no extra charge was made, the proprietor of the Grand and Empire Theatres was granted permission to show suitable pictures on Christmas Day. The request of the Lower Hutt Borough Council for an additional 4.10 to ensure as nearly as possible a uniform 4 inches during maximum hours of consumption, was agreed to. Tlie Wellington Mejit Export Company forwarded a cheque for £10 for the Petone Technical School funds. The Town Clerk reiwrted that the amount had been forwarded to the secretary of the Technical School. The Christmas holidays for the inside and outside staff were fixed for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Christmas week, and New Year's Day the followinj; week. The Library to, have the same days, except that it wili onen on Satur day evening in Christmas week. It was-decided to await further information before declaring hautana a noxious weed. The Engineer was asked to take steps, if possible, to abate the dust nuisance on the espanade in front of the bathing sheds. The following recommendations, regarding wages and holidays, the result of a conference between representatives of the Lower Hutt and Petone Councils, weer agreed to:—(1) That, after a period of 12 months any man employed in the usual works of tho borough, excluding drainage, water supply schemes, aaid the' /ike, shall be deemed to be on the permanent staff, but shall be subject to appointment and dismissal by the Borough Engineer or other officer in charge, provided, however, no man shall be engaged upon, or qualify for the permanent staff who* is over 40 years of age. (2) That ,the wa-ees of the permanent staff, including drivers., be £3 18s per week, for a uniform week of forty-seven hours, and that drivers be required to be on the job at the time the men are ready to start work. (3) That the permanent staff receive full pay for all statutory holidays, and, in addition, after one year's service, seven days' annual holiday, and after ten years' service, fourteen days' annual holiday on full pay. (4) That regarding sick pay, each case be considered on its merits by the Council concerned. (5) That the question of supplementing the amount of accident pay to which an employee is entitled under the various Workers' Compensation Acts be left to the discretion of the council, and that each case be considered on its' merits. (6) That in the event of the recommendations of the conference being approved by the councils, the councils be recommended to enter into an agreement with the labour unions concerned, that authority be given to the conference to meet representatives of the unions with a view to settling the details of such agreements, subject, however, to .final ratification by both councils, such agreements to come into force on Ist April, "1920. The executive officers ware instructed to report on the question of the revenun produced by the municipal ' buildings, with a view to increasing, if necessary, j the rental of the shops. The Mayor reported that the owner o" _ building who had erected a dwelling too close to the boundary was willing, when called upon, to erect the wall in brick. The dog tax was fixed at a similar amount to that of last year. It was decided to increase the rent on gas cookers, sold on time payment, from 3s to 4s per week. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr A. Cowie) reported that defective portions of the stormwater drain in Jackson-street were receiving attention /prior to tarring the street. The work of regrading a portion of the Hutt-road would be completed this week. The value of the buildings erectedl during the current year was £8843.