MOSGIEL BOROUGH COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 21710, 3 May 1934, Page 4

MOSGIEL BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING There was a full attendance of councillors at last night’s meeting of the Mosgiel Borough Council, Mr F. Quelch (mayor) presiding. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from the Mosgiel Citizens’ Association re rates of pay to men resident outside the borough area, but working inside the borough boundaries. —Referred to the inspector for a report. FINANCE. The Finance Committee reported for the month as follows The committee has considered the statement of receipts totalling £135 8s 3d and expenditure totalling £97 17s 6d, for the period April 1 to 21, 1934. Refund of portion of rental of kerbside bowser has been authorised, the bowser concerned having been removed on to private property after payment of the rental. Accounts totalling £712 10s Id have been examined and passed for payment by the committee. The town clerk has been instructed again to communicate with the Local Government Loans Board stating that the council is anxious to obtain approval to its loans conversion scheme as early as possible. The committee has instructed that a letter be sent to the borough solicitor asking for a report on a number of cases of outstanding rates in his hands. Cr Hartstonge, moving the adoption of the report, said he would like to point out to ratepayers that the council had no authority to remit the 10 per cent, penalty on the present year’s rates. Such a course was permissible for the three previous years, but not last year. He also wanted it known that the delay in the loans conversion scheme was not the fault of the council. The delay was in Wellington, but he could not give a reason for it. Perhaps the department was overloaded with business, but the council was anxious to get the matter completed. The report was adopted. WORKS. The Works Committee reported as follow on the surfacing work of the month ; The forman had been instructed that all normal work within the borough should be carried out by the council’s own workmen, but if this was not always practicable labour should be employed at the standard rate of wages,

excepting in cases in which other'than small sums were involved, when the mail should be brought under the notice of the committee or council before the men are engaged. A report by an engineer as to the estimated cost of sealing portions of Factory and Gladstone roads had been referred for further consideration to the Finance Committee. The annual estimate of the cost of maintaining Gordon road, required by the Main Highways Board, had been prepared, Jie amount concerned being estimated at £l5O. Cr Frew, moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the council on the stand taken up on the qnest'on of unemployed labour. Mosgiel was practically the first council to adopt the practice of paying standard wages for necessary work. The yeport was adopted. OTHER COMMITTEES. The General Committee feported having received the ranger’s report stating that seven animals had been found wandering on roadsides during the month of April. The committee has authorised the purchase of an extension ladder primarily for use in the Coronation Hall.—Adopted. The Reserves Committee reported having granted the Taieri Football Club the use of the Recreation Ground for the current football season on the same conditions as obtained last year, the rental to be £ls. The report was adopted. GENERAL. The tender of Air F. Stevenson for the upkeep of the Gordon Road Park was accepted. Cr Hartstonge referred to a workman who had contracted for the upkeep of the park. This workman’s relief pay had been reduced because he earned 10s per week at the park. He moved that a protest be made to the Unemployment Board.—Cr Frew seconded the motion. —'Pile Mayor supported the motion, and referred to the case of workers who accepted a day’s wages from a farmer, say on a Monday, and then had to suffer the loss of a day’s work that week.—The motion was carried.