CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 19006, 30 July 1925, Page 11

CIVIC AFFAIRS

FORTNIGHTLY COUNCIL MEETING The fortnightly meeting of the City Council, held last night, was attended by the mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley), Crs Scott, Larnach, Hayward, Hancock, Shacklock, Wilson, MacManus, Douglas, Taverner, Clark, and Sincock. ft was left with the mayor to arrange a suitable time for consideration of the town clerk’s annual report, published recently in the ‘Star.’ RESERVES COMMUTE 15.

Cr Hancock moved the adoption of the Reserves Committee’s report. It had boon found necessary to add a living room to the tea kiosk in the Botanic Gardens, the money having been found. Careful consideration had been given to the offer that was made of fand on the Kaikorai side of Bishopscourt, but tire committee was unable to recommend its purchase. Cr Taverner drew attention to tho children’s playground at _ Caversham, drawing particular attention to tho pathway. Cr MacManus asked if Cr Hancock had .seen the statement in the papers regarding the condition of the drain on the football ground at Mornington. Ho also asked whether anything was being done in connection with tho proposal to establish a rest-house in Dunedin as advocated by Hie Hon. Mark Cohen. He understood that tho rest-house at Hastings was self-supporting.

Cr Hancock said that ho could not say anything about tho rest-house in the meantime, as ho had no intormatiou about tho matter. The drain at Mornington would bo attended to. Tho report was adopted. GENERAL COMMITTEE.

Cr Sincock moved the adoption of tho General Committee’s report, stating that it had been decided to fix tho taxi car license foe at £l. as it was considered that the proposal to make it £7 or £8 would have been a little hard. Tho report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. The adoption of the Works Commit* tee’s report was moved by Cr Wilson. Cr Hayward asked whether tho Highway would be finished in time for tho .Exhibition, and there seemed to be some anxiety about the matter, particularly as far as the bridge was concerned. . Cr Larnnch said that Upper Pitt street was a disgrace. “It is really deplorable,” he added. Cr Bogg drew attention to the slate of Mill road leading down tho Kaikorai Valley. Tho pathway, ho said, was only ;!in or bin wide, and it would require'a Blondin to walk on it. Cr Scott said he would like to compliment the Works Committee on the way the work on Pitt street had been carried out. The section, referred to by Cr Larnach had probably never consolidated after the Public Works Department had put down the cables. Cr Wilson said that no definite promise could lie made regarding the Highway, though it was a question whether heavy Ira flic would bo allowed over tho bridge. He would sec the engineer regarding Pitt street.

The report was adopied. ELECTRIC FOWL I? AND LIGHT COMMITTEE.

Cr Shaddock moved the adoption of the Electric Power and Light Committee’s report. Ho referred to the new system to ho adopted in the matter of assessing and charging for the maximum demand. To obviate the cost of new indicators it was decided to adopt the procedure widely used in Canada and thb United States, and that was to obtain the floor area of a house by taking the outside dimensions. The area derived by these dimensions, multiplied by the number of floors and reduced by 10 per i;ont., and taken to tho nearest 100 square feet, gave tho area on which charges were based. Verandahs, basements, unfinished attics, and outbuildings were excluded, except where used for living or sleeping purposes, in which case tho net area so used was charged for. This would be of considerable advantage to small consumers using from seven to ten units per months, 'there was no suggestion of doing away with meters. Cr Taverner said that he approved of tho proposal, but ho did not think that it should apply only to those fortunate enough to bo living in new houses, and that residents in older houses should bo allowed to make tho change if they desired it. Cr Shaddock said that ho did not see any objection to the suggestion made by Cr Taverner, though if would ho found that consumers would probably have to pay about 7 per cent, more. Ho .saw no reason why old consumers should not make the change if_ they wanted to.

in reply to a query from Cr Begg, Cr Shacklock .said that since so much electric cooking was being done on Sunday mornings the power was now cut off in the afternoons.

Cr Shacklock was given permission to amend the report in the direction of providing that consumers could make the change “at their option.” The report was adopted. GAS COMMITTER.

The adoption of the Gas Committee's report was moved by Cr Scott.

Cr MacManus moved that the application of the Petrous Tile Company for a lease of a further piece of ground at the Caversham Gasworks bo referred back to the committee.

The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. Cr Scott said that the land was useless except for the company’s purposes. The report was adopted. TRAMWAY MATTERS.

Cr Dougins, in moving the adoption of the report of the Tramways Committee, said that the department had practically received permission from the Public Works Department to proceed Avith the construction of the Richardson street extension.

Cr Clark moved as an amendment that the words “on observation cars ” bo deleted from the following clause:“Authority has been granted the tramway manager to act in the matter of providing free tramway travel on observation cars for the crews of the American warships during their stay in the city.” Cr Clark said that if the visitors Avore not granted free rides on all the lines at all times Dunedin would bo under a' stigma, as it would be the only city that had not done so. Cr MacManus made some remarks about “ German bands ” that Avero allowed free access everywhere before the war, and referred to the fact that it Avas not in accordance with military tactics to alloAV the men of another country’s fleet to ho taken everyAvhere. Cr Begg questioned if the other centres avoid granting free rides at all times. Cr Clark: That is our information.

Cr Begg said the overloading of cars had been more acute than ever lately. Ho suggested that the visitors bo alloAved free rides except at “ peak load ” times. At last meeting the council granted “ a cool thousand ” for the entertainment of the visitors, and should they not expect some return for it. Quite a number of people who had given contributions would, he understood, expect something back. Voices: No.

Or Bogg: If that is so, I will withdraw ray remarks. Cr Bcgg went on to say that there were a number of people who had not given anything who would get,a lot back. The Mayor appealed to the council to support the amendment, and asked councillors not to spoil Dunedin’s welcome for a small thing. Cr Sincock asked that the same treatment be meted out to the visitors as were given to British Bluejackets, who wore only provided with observaiiou ea.ra» Be tbuuiksd the .chairman

for the report which was being obtained on the Roslyn cade lino it would “ pour oil on the troubled wafers.” The speaker asked if thp policy of the department to keep in a cable while tho repairs were not costing more than £lO a week was being departed from. The Roslyn lino was losing £.1,000 a year, and lie wished to know how tho loss was being brought about.

Tire Mayor advised Cr Sincock to ask the chairman of the committee to answer the question next council mooting. Cr Sincock: Is it a question you are trying io smother? The Mayor indignantly replied that he did not wish to smother anything. He was as keen as Cr Sincock to have tiio lino put in order, but ho did not think Cr Sincock was fair in asking the chairman to answer the question straight away. Cr Sincock: I will put it through tho papers. Cr Douglas, in reply, said tho trainway manager had a tree hand to cater for tho visitors at all times outside “ peak-load ” times. The number of cars was limited, and it was desirable for the manager to have certain times during which to supply cars for tho sailors. 'When our own Bluejackets and French sailors were hero, all that were provided were observation cars. The amendment was defeated. Cr Douglas said he would answer any questions on tramway matters if they wore submitted in time. Very shortly a full report would he submitted on the Roslyn line, which was being closely watched at tho present time. The report of tho committee was adopted. TENDERS.

Tho tender of the Star Foundry Company was accepted for the purchase of SOcwt of scrap copper at 7fd per lb. Tho tenders of Messrs G. Howes and Co. and Samuel Brown and Co. for Mio supply of electrical cable at schedule . rates were accepted. i