ST. KILDA COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 21662, 6 March 1934, Page 3

ST. KILDA COUNCIL

RELIEF WAGES DISPUTED CUTTING GRASS OH PARKS Directed by a general meeting of tho St. Kilda Unemployed Association, the secretary wrote to Inst night’s meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council requesting that those men employed to cut grass on the parks in the borough with lawn mowers be paid standard rates of wages, as the work was essential and there was an annual grant for the upkeep of the parks. Present at tho meeting were the de-puty-mayor (Or A. I). Edgar) and Crs H. H. Leary. ,1. Bobinson, J. A. Carman. CL Glue, W. G. Baird, R. .1. B. Griffiths, E. W. Hunter, S. Hartley, and N. 1). Anderson.

Cr Hunter moved that the council continue to have the parks mowed as necessary by relief workers, those men to be paid 'standard rates. —Cr Robinson seconded.

Cr Glue moved as an amendment that the parks be mowed when necessary by the council’s horse mower.—Cr Anderson seconded. Cr Glue said that the lawn mowers had been purchased so that the local unemployed cricket chib might prepare decent pitches. Some of the men were agreeable to do tho work, which they considered hotter than chipping grass off the streets.

Cr Baird said that the horse mower did not cut tho grass closely enough, and it had been for that reason that lawn mowers had been given to the unemployed, who desired to prepare wickets for their cricket club. Cr Leary asked if the council would be prepared to ask the ratepayers to pay more rates so that it could give the unemployed standard wages whilst mowing the grass. It was the old question of finance., and the council did not possess tho money. The' amendment was carried on the easting vote of. tho deputy-mayor. TRAMWAY SERVICES.

Reporting on having investigated the Order in Council regarding the Forbury Park and Tahuna tramway services, the Town Clerk stated that the position was as the tramways manager had advised at the last meeting of the council—briefly, that concession tickets were available on schedule trams on race and show days. Cr Carman said that the power of cancelling the ordinary time-tables of trams on any special occasion was in the hands of the Minister of Public Works. The council had done its share to probe the matter, and it now rested with the ratepayers to appeal to the Minister for more satisfying services on race and show days. COMPARISON OF RATES. Comparing this year’s rates with those of 1932-33, the Town Clerk reported (last year’s figures given in parentheses) : —llates struck, £23,666 6s 5d (£23,109 9s lOd) ; rates paid on penaltv date, February 28, £20,114 7s 2d (£19,445 15s 7d) ; rates outstanding on penalty date, £3,551 19s 3d (£3,603 14s 3d), or 15.009 per cent. (15.85 per cent.). Last year £SBB 4s 8d had been collected from February 23 to March 31. Of the total hospital lew of £2,515 8s lid, rates amounting to £2,126 14s 10d had been collected. The council had paid £3BB 14s Id in excess of the rates received. At April 1, 1933, the outstanding rates amounted to £3,717 14s lOd, of which £2,661 3s 7d (or 71.6 per cent.) had been collected. The amount unpaid was £1,056 11s 3d. The total amount of unpaid rates was £4,608 10s (id — £1,056 11s 3d (arrears from last year) and £3,551 19s 3d (arrears from this year). It was pleasing to note that the council was a little better off than-it had been last year, said the deputy mayor. i The figures were noted. GENERAL. It was advised that Mr J. H. Francis would interview the council on Wednesday regarding the scheme recently submitted to the Loans Board.— Received. WORKS. Reporting on works carried out in the borough during the past two weeks tho borough foreman stated that several streets and footpaths had been patched. Footpaths had been tar sealed for sixty-three chains in Richardson street. The road in Market street had been tar sealed for twelve and ahalf chains. Ninety relief workers had been engaged in the borough during the past fortnight, grassing streets, sweeping channels, and building a kerb and wall in Victoria road. For the ensuing fortnight it was recommended that, in addition to the patching of several streets, the following streets be tar scaled Jackson, Douglas, Council, and Bowen.—Approved. The report was adopted. LICENSES ISSUED. One motor drivers’ license and three heavy traffic licenses had been issued during the past two weeks, the borough traffic inspector reported. Two building permits had also been granted. —Adopted. WATER CONSUMPTION. During the fortnight ended that day the water consumption of the borough had been 4,211,000 gallons, at a cost of £lO5 5s 6d, as compared with 4,363,000 gallons at £lO9 Is 6d for the previous period. This was reported by the town clerk.—Noted. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £5.481 16s 9d were passed for payment.