CITY COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 15540, 9 July 1914, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening, awl attended by the Mayor (Mr J. B. ShaeMo*!, Cra Myers, Clavl>, Hayward, Scott, Clark, Begg, Green, Small, Menzies, Black, Hancock, Wilson, Sinclairj Sullivan, and Marilow> . , o 1,—Tainui and Sunshine.— A deputation of about. 15 residents of Tainui and Sunshine waited on the council for the purpose-of submitting the question of having this area amalgamated with the City. ~ ~ , ~ , Mr \ H. Tonkinson said that the deputation* was one- of ratepayers of the area which adjoined the boundary oi Dunedm, md the residents sought to necome amalgamated with the City of Du-ie.lm. Ihe area was known as Sunshine and fa-oni •>rea Thev wero no doubt fj miliar with ih© area. 'The total area, was 159£ acres, or about one-third of the area of St. Kilda. \s they were aware, the- area had recently had groat tribulation, and it was still suffering from the torments of "no man's land " Unfortunately for them, the Commission did not rind in their favor on tho question of the payer of the petition, although 11 lev fouud\ that the allegations contained in the petition were all true and correct. Their object, therefore, in coming before tho council was to see if they might come within the City boundary. He might t-av that there weromany and valid reasons wh'v it should be done. In tho first place he'would point out that the area lay at the very doorstep of tho City; in fact, itwas much nearer the business centre of the I'ii.v than moro than-one-third of the City's own area. The water supply was obt'ained from the City, also the electric light. The main road ran right through to Anderson Bay and the Peninsula, and tho area was served by tho City's own trams. Then there- was the question of community of interest, about which a great deal "was said at the Commission, but thev submitted that community of interest «.:f all outside areas such as theirs was with the City. The wholo of the residents of tho area" had their businesses in the City, and paid their rates in_ respect of their business premise* in the- City. Then there was the question of tho suit-ability for municipal control. He pointed out that the roads wore full-chain roads, so that if tho area, were taken ov« by tho City there would be no expenditure for road-widening, as bad occurred in other areas which "had been take-n over. The area was entirely free from debt, with the exception of a eJiare. in a small loan for the reticulation of a part-. There was also the fact-of the unsatisfactory manner in which the area was governed. About 22 acres were governed by tho Portobello Road Board, 76 by the Bay Town Board, 29 bv the Peninsula Road "Board, and 31 bv the Tomahawk Road Board.

Mr J. B. Nichol also spoke. On the motion of Cr Clark, the queai:"n was referred to the Finance Committo confer with the Works Committee to to the council.

—The Library.— Cr Black, in moving the adoption of the Library Committee's report, said that it was recommended that the offer from tho Board of Management of the North-east Valley Public library to hand to tho council their library conditional on a branch library being_ established in the Yalley Ward be declined. There was nothing very valuable in the shape of the Valley books,, and the committee could not offer them a branch library.

The report was adopted. —The Baths.—

Cr Green moved the adoption,of the General Committee's report. Cr Clark said that in regard to tho last tournament held at the public baths ho did not know if the committee were aware of the fact that the tournament was held without the consent of tho Swimming Association. That was the position, and tho consequence was that those who took part in that 'tournament were barred from taking part in any other swimming contests. It eecmed a regrettable thirty that the body who controlled swimming (should have been slighted in this matter. Cr Black said that the baths were there for the ratepayers and that they should not hold a brief for any association or body.

Cr Green said that the whole matter was an oversight on the part of the caretaker. They were all anxious to work in harmony with the Swimming Association. The report was then adopted. —Leave for Mr Tannock.—

Cr Todd, in moving the adoption of the Reserves Committee's report, said that it was recommended that Mr Tannock (superintendent of reserves) be granted six months' leave of absence from about February, 1915, to enable him to visit Britain or Germany for the purpose ot studying the methods of management ct gardens, playgrounds, and (in particular) treo plantations in those countries. The speaker said that it was now over 11 years since Mr Tannock was appointed to the position of superintendent of reserves. Since then the tree-planting of the Corporation's reserves had came into existence and had been placed under the control ot the superintendent. This work, so far, had been earned out satisfactorily, and had been increasing of late years. There had been about 200,000 trees a year planted, covering an area of about 150 acres. There was still a considerable area of land available for tree-planting, and that would be carried on for some time yet. The planting of trees had been carried out successfully, but they had to look forward to the future iii this matter. He believed that if the council fell in with the committee's recommendation it would be money well spent. Cr Hayward seconded the motion, which was carried.

—Electric Power.— Cr Marlow, in moving the adoption of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee's report said that the engineer's report on the Waipori road was expected to be placed before the next meeting of the committee. In connection with the lighting at Roslyn additional men were being put on. The report was adopted. —Tramwavs.—

Cr Myers moved tho adoption of the Tramways Committee's report. Cr Sinclair asked whether, in view <>! the fact that the committee had decided upon what expenditure was necessary for carrying out extension works, the committee had now thoroughly considered the scale of charges and decided to alter them. Cr Myers said that the committee had gone into the matter very closely, and, in the meantime, did not see the occasion to alter the concessions, but there was no doubt that they would have to be altered in the near future. They hoped they would be able to continue with, at any rate, only a slight concession. The report was adopted. —The Tramways Loan. —

In accordance with notice of motion, Cr Hayward moved—"That, in the matter of the resolution to take a poll'of the ratepayers to borrow the sum of £30,000 for tramway purposes adopted at the last meeting of the council, the Town Cleri" be instructed to submit such proposals to the ratepayers in two issues, one to borrow £26,000 for new cars, alterations to existing cars and carshed, and the other to borrow £4,000 for the purchase of motor buses."

Cr Sinclair raised a point of order. At tho last meeting of the council, he said, it was carried that a poll of the ratepayers be taken as to whether they would sanction 4 loan of £30,000. Gr Hayvvard now proposed that it be divided into two issues. The speaker submitted that before Cr Hayward could move in the direction indicated he should first move that the previous resolution of the council be rescinded. The Mayor ruled that the motion was in order.

Cr Todd seconded Cr Hayward's motion. He agreed that the two issues should be Eut before the ratepayers. There'was a ig difference among many ratepayers in regard to motor buses. Cr Myers said that if the resolution were carried it meant throwing out motor buses altogether. He was satisfied that the poll of £30,000 would be carried if it were property put before the ratejpajai-s-

Cr Sinclair said that Opoho had had no chance. The people there ought to have a fair and square deal, and a vote in favor of buses would encourage settlement in that locality. Cr Marlow did not consider it wise to have a separate rote for the motor buses. The motion was lost, the voting being: For—Cis Sullivan, Hancock, Todd, Black, Menzies, Hayward, and Small. Against— Crs Sinclair, Marlow, Wilson, Green, Regg, Scott, Clark, and Myers.