CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 21622, 18 January 1934, Page 14

CIVIC AFFAIRS

FORTNIGHTLY COUNCIL MEETING The City Council held its first meeting of the year last night; present; The mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox). Crs H. C. Campbell. J. B. Shaddock, W. A. Scott. J. W. Munro, M.P.. M. Silverstone, F. Jones, M.P.. W. H. Shepherd, W. Borne, J. J. Marlow. and W. Begg. - ' OF INTEREST TO MOTORISTS. ■The motion lor the adoption of the General Committee’s report was moved by Cr Borrie. Cr Campbell asked the chairman to consider the advisability of making Burlington street a one-way street for traffic going from High street into Moray place. It was a dangerous place, he said, and only the previous day there had been an accident there. - Cr Campbell also said that cars were still being parked opposite the tram, terminus at the foot of High street, the result being that until the train moved off up hi*! the traffic was held up. , He thought that cars should not be allowed, to pork below Bing, Harris’s warehouse. Cr Marlow said that some time ago no pai'king was allowed between Princes street and Manse street, but, in response’-to the representations of business houses, the strictures were dropped. It was now suggested .that there should be no parking between Jacobs’s Corner and the first telegraph pole up the hill. This should meet the case. Speaking of the flashing light signals at the corner of King street and Hanover street, Cr Begg said that very often the lights were not working, due to the attentions of larrikins.; As. things, were, the switch was attached to an adjacent pole, which was accessible to others besides the employee of the Hospital, who was in charge. He thought the lights should be controlled from the Hospital buildings. Cr Borrie, in reply, said that arrangements were being made for the lights to be controlled from the Hospital. To Cf Campbell the Chairman stated that they ■ were in touch with the Otago, Motor Club, in regard, to certain motor by-laws, and, but for the holidays, the decisions would have been before the council that night. Actually, it'was illegal now for cars to stop at the toot of the • hill;) and the pro T hibited area would be extended to the lower part of Bing. Harris’s. It must be at least to there or a shade higher. The report 'was adopted. STREET IMPROVEMENTS. In moving the adoption of The Works Committee’s report, Cr Marlow drew attention to the clause dealing with the I/eitb protection works, and stated that standard rates of wages would be paid to ’ the, men carrying out the remedial' operations. “Four-day” men would be employed. .They would be kept on for five days, and the City Council would pay the difference between the standard rates and the relief work pay. Standard rates would also be paid to the men who were to work On the Highcliff road, an exception being those who would be working on the walling ■at Duckworth street and the earthwork on the side margins. . Cr Jones asked whether it was intended to go on with the work in Surrey street just above and below Macaridrew road. He also asked if the council was going to improve Macandrew road from Surrey street to Forbury road,' which portiori, he stated, was a disgrace. There were many pools lying about, and grass and screenings were encroaching on the footpath. Residents had to walk on the tar-sealed road. Cr Munro asked why all the work on the Highcliff road was not to be paid for at standard .rates. Cr Marlow answered that the Macandrew road repairs were on the schedule of work to be carried out, and would be done, if possible, this financial year (before the end of. March). Ho thought; Surrey street was also on the list, but he was not certain. The chairman told Cr Munro that the work on Highcliff road that was not to.be paid - for at ordinary rates was not essential wonk, arid had been arranged for only, to make more work for unemployed men. The report was adopted. WATER DEPARTMENT. Moving the adoption of the Water Committee’s report, Gr Begg said that the majority of the objections to the Deep Creek water works were of a formal nature. On Monday next, fortyfive riien. would be started on the work, of laying of a portion of the mains required for the -improvement of the water supply to the high levels at Mornington, Caversham, and St. Clair. ’ , Referring to the report that authority had been granted for the calling .of tenders for the cartage of material for and the erection ol a telephone line to Deep Creek, Cr Shacklock said he understood that the line was to be erected, at a fixed sum, by the Post and Telegraph Department. Cr Begg replied that , the Telegraph Department had . supplied am estimate of the cost, but not . a quotation. The department was not likely to submit a tender.' He had never known of a Government department tendering for such work. The report was adopted. GAS CHARGES. The .adoption of the Gas Committee’s report was moved by Cr Scott, who,' in referring to the proposed . reductions in gas charges to big consumers, said that the matter was one of greater difficulty in Dunedin.than any other place in the dominion, because here they had lower charges, for the small consumer than any other , centre. In Dunedin they had been assisting the small consumer to the best of their ability, and the committee was now anxious to help the big

consumers and so retain their business and attract others to the scheme. - The report was adopted. FINANCE. In moving the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report Cr Shacklock said that the expenditure of £3,654 on work on the Leith would result in permanent improvements to and in the bed ■of the stream, and would be a charge against the unexpended'balance in the flood damage loan account.- As in the case of the water mains scheme, the unskilled labour to- be employed would be taken out of the No. 5 scheme and paid full time at standard rates of pay, on the understanding that the Unemployment Board provided a subsidy on . the basis of relief pay at 10s per day for four days per- week. It would be necessary for, the council io employ a few permanent skilled hands on the job, whose wages wbuld be paid direct by the council. The operations w'ould occupy about four months. Cr Begg referred to a clause in the report which stated that as the water department’s vote for main extensions had been exhausted some time ago the expenditure of £3 3s lid (excluding £9lB unemployment subsidy) on the reticulation of the high levels in the city would involve a reduction in the department’s credit balance of approximately that amount, and to that extent therefore the available resources of the department for expenditure on mains extensions and for . other capital works would be diminished for next year. Cr Begg said that he must protest against his department being sacrificed as far as maintenance and general work were concerned, unless the whole expenditure was spread over all departments in the same way. Cr Shacklock replied that it was admitted, that the municipal and other departments had drawn a fairly good subsidy from the water department. However, if the department had not the money to hand over, as in the past, then to that extent the burden would be spread over the other departments. The Mayor said they were first protecting themselves. If, one department overspent during one year it was expected to underspend the next year. The report was adopted. ' TENDERS. Tenders for the supply of 100 desapped hardwood poles were referred to the Electric Power and Lighting Committee with power to act. There were six tenders. The two tenders received for the supply of 1,000 Australian hardwood sleepers were referred to the Tramways Committee with, power to. act*