CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 20592, 18 September 1930, Page 15

CIVIC AFFAIRS

FORTNIGHTLY COUNCIL MEETING The fortiglitly meeting of the City Council held last night, was attended by the mayor (Mr R. S. Black), Crs Hogg, Wilkinson, Marlow, Wilson, Campbell, Taplcy, Mitchell, Scott, Lawrence, Shackiock, and Clark. EDUCATING MOTORISTS. Cr Mitchell, in moving the adoption of the report of the General Committee, said that the chief traffic inspector had reported that for the past month proceedings had been taken in the Police Court in twenty-fivo cases, and a large number of warnings was issued in other cases. The council’s inspectors, he would like to point out, were not kept merely for the purpose of obtaining revenue through court proceedings, but mainly for the purpose of teaching people to observe tho by-laws. The committee thought it wise, in the light of experience, to x-efuse an application for permission to sell art union tickets in Dowling street, also to refuse cm application to sell fruit from a motor truck. Tho report was adopted, GLENLEITH RETICULATION. In moving tho adoption of the Water Committee’s report Cr Begg stated that thirty-five houses would be supplied by the proposed Glenleitb reticulation, and if drainage went on there would shortly be another thirty-fivo houses. In the Woodend area there would bo about twenty-six houses. Cr Wilkinson seconder! the motion. He said it seemed to him that the clause regarding this reticulation was tho only ono in tho report that was likely to cause controversy. The amount of £5,523 seemed a large sum to spend on so small a district, but ho thought that the council would remember that a distinct promise had been made. Moreover, he thought that in tho course of time the expenditure would be justified. Cr Clark considered that the Water Committee was not only doing tho best thing, but also it was doing the only thing it was possible to do. However, he would move as an amendment that tenders be called for tho construction of the service reservoir. Tho council had time after time favoured work by contract, and their experience had been quite satisfactory. Cr Mitchell seconded the amendment. Cr Wilson said that in concrete work tho system of having the work done by contract had not always been satisfactory. Cr Shackiock thought that it would bo a progressive step if they had more of their work done by contract than had been the case in tho past. Ho doubted whether the popularity of that particular area should be encouraged. In view of what had been said, stated Cr Scott, it might bo a wise step to have the matter held over until they got a report from the engineer. The district might not be recommended as a good one in which to reside. Cr Lawrence supported Cr Clark’s amendment. Cr Begg said he left the matter open to the council, but in reference to this typo of work ho agreed with Cr Wilson’s remarks. When the time came to vote Cr Begg called for a division, and tho amendment was carried, Crs Wilson, Wilkinson, and Begg voting against it. DUST IN VALLEY ROAD. Cr Wilson moved tiie adoption of the report of the Works Committee. Cr Wilkinson asked when something was to be done to mitigate the dust nuisance in Valley road, Caversham. This was becoming intolerable in lino weather, and had been particularly bad during the past few days. Three of the residents had told him they would bo compelled to shift if the position were not remedied. The road was a confined one, thus preventing the fine material on tho road being blown away. The dust was also a serious menace to health. Ho would probably be told that a tramline was to be laid, but it would bo better if tho people were given a tar-sealed road than to wait for a tram. Cr Mitchell referred to a clause in tho report in which it was stated that authority had been given to call quotations for a largo quantity of penetrative bitumen. Ho wanted to know if it meant that tho council was slackening off in the use of tar. Cr Clark asked for tho sympathetic consideration by the committee to the request of north end residents for bridges across the Leith to replace those carried away by the last flood. The people there had been long suffering. A temporary bridge at Leith street and a footbridge at Forth street would help considerably. Cr Wilson, in reply, said the Works Committee wanted to know what the Tramway Committee intended to do in Valley road. _ A tramway extension had been authorised by the public and authority given to apply for an Order in Council, if Valley road were tarsealed it would have to be dealt with out of tho petrol tax money. If they know that tho tramway was not going to bo put down they might in reasonable time use a certain amount of money in tar-sealing, which was what ho would like to see done. In reply to Cr Mitchell ho quoted figures to show that more tar from tho gasworks was being used on tho roads than ever before. In regard to the Leith bridges, the committee was still awaiting the j report of the engineer on flood protecI tion. Tire people in the locality had been long suffering, and he would say that tho representations to come before tho Works Committee would receive the fullest consideration. The report was adopted. GAS COMMITTEE. Cr Marlow, who moved the adoption of tho Gas Committee’s report, referred to the agreement between the council and the Minister of Railways covering the terms and conditions for a supply of gas from the city gasworks for the lighting of railway carriages for a period of five years. Ho stated than it would bd well for councillors to note that, while the price was considerably below tho ordinary charges, bo wanted them to bear in mind that it was only because gas was supplied during certain hours—from 8.50 p.m. till morning. A Councillor: Is the sale profitable at all? Cr Marlow: The price charged will not bring us a fortune, but it certainly is profitable. Tho report was adopted, TRAMWAY MATTERS. Cr Scott, in moving the adoption of tho report of the Tramways Committee, said it was recommended that tho tenders of Messrs W. B. Quennell and Sons in the sum of £l2B for the removal and erection at new site of a shelter shed at the Anderson’s Bay tram terminus be accepted. The tender was tho lowest of five received. Arrangements had been made for all “ in ” cars to stop at tho shelter shed at Ross’s corner. Tho returns from the cars were again down slightly, this being tho present experience of all tram systems in Australia and New Zealand. Cr Wilson referred to a “ monstrosity ” of an advertising sign, on ono of the trains preceding along tbo_ main streets. > Ho wanted to know if it was the policy of tho department to put on advertisement of such shape on the cars.

Cr Mitchell expressed appreciation of tho report of tho manager on his trip to Brisbane to the tramway conference. Ho thought so mo improvement could be effected to tho service hero. For instance, lie had seen three cars pull up at St. David street, the first one being full, tho second being half full, and the last about empty. There was something wrong with a system that allowed a car to stop, whether there was room in it or not, with empty ones behind. Cr Begg, who also protested against the disfigurement of the cars by advertising, referred to tho particular advertisement as hideous. While the General Committee was endeavouring to clean up tho city of objectionable hoardings tho Tramway Department was allowing such an unsightly advertisement to he placed on a car. If this was an idea brought back by Mr Mackenzie from tbo conference, then they should send someone else next time. Cr Clark, who also protested against the advertisement, said it was an outrage on tho amenities of the city. Cr Shackiock said lie had been out of town, and on his return wondered what sort of abomination bad been foisted on them during his absnece. Cr Scott: Don’t go away. Cr Shackiock; I need to stay to look after tho Tramway Committee, Tho Mayor said he had not seen the sign referred to, but from tho remarks of councillors it seemed that what tho Tramway Department was doing was absolutely opposed to tbo voice of the council. Cr Scott, in reply, said that what had been done was done with the agreement cl the council. It was the policy of the council to advertise on the cars, and the manager was simp!;, carrying out the policy of tho council. Voices: No. Cr Sc.»tt: Do net blame the manager or the department for carrying out the instructions of the council. In reply to Cr Mitchell ho would like to say that Mr Mackenzie was ono of the best tramway managers in Australia and New Zealand, and ran a film sendee. Though the council was dpwn in its revenue it wanted to retain tho penny faio, and it was out to make every post a winning post. Cr Tapley: Every poster. Cr Scott said tho appearance of the advertisement to which objection had been taken was not tbo result of tho manager’s trip to Australia. Cr Clark, referring to Cr Scott’s remarks that tho advertisement was being carried in accordance with the council’s instructions, pointed out that on a previous occasion objection was taken to an advertisement, and the Tramway Department promised there would not bo a repetition. Tho present case was simply an evasion. Cr Scott said tbo reason a previous advertisement was stopped was because it was against tbo by-laws. This time they were within the by-laws. The report of the committee was adopted.