CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 21100, 12 May 1932, Page 3

CIVIC AFFAIRS

FORTNIGHTLY COUNCIL MEETING The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night, those present being the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black), Crs Wilson, Wilkinson, M'lndoo, Marlow, Allen, Begg, Clark, Shacklock, Scott, and Mitchell. SUNDAY CONCERT. An application was received from the manager of the Regent Theatre Co. Ltd., asking for permission, on behalf of the Orphans’ Club, to hold a Sunday concert at the Regent Theatre on June o and to make a charge for admission, the proceeds to bo devoted to the relief of distress. The application was granted, subject to the proceeds being devoted to the mayor’s relief fund. RESERVES COMMITTEE. When the report of the Reserves Committee was considered, Cr Wilson, referring to the proposal to apply to the Mammoth art union fund trustees for a grant to cover the cost of improving the entrance to Logan Park, said it had been suggested to him that, li the committee asked, it could obtain a grant for an ornate seat and a shelter shed for tram passengers. Cr Wilkinson said there were many complaints from residents in the south end and from sports bodies regarding the condition of Bathgate _ Park. He knew it was impossible to give them all that was required, as he the ground could not be completely drained until the whole of the drainage system of the flat had been finished. He thought, however, that some improvement could bo effected b.y enabling a ditch on the northern side _of the ground to empty its water into the sump which was operated by an electric pump. It was a matter of lowering the drain to take the water from the ditch, and perhaps of putting pipes across the ground. This remedy should not be an expensive one. Cr Clark (chairman of the committee), in reply, said the matter mentioned by Cr Wilson would be brought to the notice of the committee. In respect to Bathgate Park, the report of the engineer showed that it would be a much more difficult and complicated one than might be imagined. It was admitted that the ground was not suitable, but it could not bo made as it should be until_ the Drainage Board was able to put in a system to take the water away. The position at present was that the water pumped out simply came back from the sewers, which were not able to carry all the water in heavy weather. However, there was a proposal before tho Finance Committee which the Reserves Committee hoped would adequately meet the needs of . all the sporting bodied in tho south end. If_ they could not make Bathgate Park suitable, they hoped to give something a great deal better. The report was adopted. UNEMPLOYMENT WORKS. The adoption of the Works Committee’s report was moved by Cr Mitchell, who referred to the difficulty that was now being experienced in finding suitable work for the unemployed. Cr Allen said that there was work to be done at the city’s aerodrome at North Taien which would occupy the unemployed men for two or three days. If something could be done it would not only bo giving work to the unemployed, but would be assisting the corporation’s own property. Cr Shaddock said he had outlined a scheme for spending £IOO,OOO on the city of Dunedin without costing the city anything. He had sent a copy of the proposals to tho chairman of the Unemployment Committee and to Mr Coates. The only reply he had had was- from Mr Coates thanking him for the interest he had taken in the matter. The Mayor said that he would be pleased to hear Cr Shacklock’s plan. The trouble with relief works was that the more valuable the work was to the city the more costly it was to the ratepayers. The employment of the unemployed was ■ not so simple as many .thought. The. council had spent only £21,000 or £22,000 on unemployed relief last year, but if it had to put on one-third as many men again, providing the stand-down week was eliminated, they would have to add another one-third to the cost. Cr Mitchell said that Cr Shacklock’s programme was an excellent one in theory. The proposal was* to employ local" unemployed tradesmen on private work. It was submitted to the board, which pointed out that improvement to private property by unemployed labour was not what was contemplated. Cr Mitchell said the Local Unemployment Committee had not lost sight of the matter, but nothing could be <done under scheme ÜBS or any other of the schemes. With reference to the aerodrome, the Unemployment Committee would go into the matter. Speaking to the Works Committee’s report, Cr Scott’said that bis attention had been drawn to the state of the street footpath in Sidey street, Cavcrsbam, to see it relief could be given. It was a well-populated street. Cr Mitchell promised that the matter would be attended to. The report was adopted.