ST. KILDA COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 21934, 22 January 1935, Page 13

ST. KILDA COUNCIL

NEW SCALE OF RELIEF PAY PROTEST AGAINST BOARD’S SCHEDULE Strong protest was unanimously rostered by last night’s St. Kilda Connmeeting against the revised seale of ;ef to be paid under the No. 5 •erne from January 28, as advised by e local certifying officer of the Employment Bureau. Present at the meeting were the mayor (Mr A. I). Edgar), and Crs J. A. Carman, B. J. B. Griffiths, E. W. Hunter, N. D. Anderson, A. J. Morison, M. J. Kelly, W. 11. Sellar, If. Longworth, W. Lovell, and J. W. W. Dunam,

“ In considering this matter I have concluded that it is a continuation of the Unemployment Board's pin-prick-ing tactics,” said Cr Anderson. “ The new schedule offers no assistance to the unemployed. 1 do not know what exactly we can do except to receive the letter and at the same time lodge a strong protest against the inadequate scales of pay. Unity is strength, and it is to be hoped other public bodies will voice their protests. Cr Anderson then moved along these lines, A protest would not carry much weight, but it was all the council could do, said Cr Carman, who seconded the motion. The new rates of pay would increase the amount of work for the council’s clerical statf. while they would also ihflict further hardships on the unemployed, who would have to work longer hours, and, in some instances, for smaller wages. He thought that the hours should have been reduced, and that the unemployed should be given an opportunity to get back to their own trades. Their work was uninteresting and demoralising, he concluded.

Cr Longworth referred to the singling out of one or two classes of relief workers for reduced rates of pay. It was the council’s duty to ask for an explanation of that decision, he continued. Already the wages were a mere pittance, and why should the board, after advertising the amount of its surplus funds and reducing tho levy, penalise the poor relief worker P A protest would get them nowhere, but it was desirable to find an explanation as to what was at the back of tho board's mind when it had decided to reduce the wages of the classes to which ho had referred. He suggested that a request for such an explanation be added to the motion.

“ If we protest strongly enough and get enough backing from other council’s tlie Government will have to move and do something,” said Cr Morrison. If the council took those tilings “lying down,” people would say that it agreed with the board, that it was satisfied with its regulations, and that tho unemployed were satisfied, too. “ Thousands of men on relief works to-day will never be able to return to their proper trades, because this unemployed business has come to stay right throughout the world,” he added, “ and wo should do our best for those affected by it. It is to he hoped the other boroughs will move in the same direction as ourselves, and I should like to see copies of our motion sent to the other boroughs for their support.” Tho Mayor; Other boroughs have already protested. , The suggestion that an explanation be requested as to the reasons for reducing the wages of certain classes and that other boroughs bo circularised with copies of the motion, wore added to the motion, which was carried unanimously. SECTION FOR COUNCIL YARD. Au option on the purchase of his property situated at the corner of Quarry and Ferguson streets, Musselburgh, was given by Mr G. H. Murdoch, tho price being £475. Tho total area was approximately 2 roods 37 poles in the St. Kilda area, with an additional portion, at tlie rear in the Dunedin City Corporation area, conditional upon the council granting him a rebate of rates for the years ending March 31, 1934, and 1935, if tho option were exercised. Cr Kelly advised that ho was in full accord with a decision to purchase the property, which was to bo used as a council yard, the buildings to be erected subject to the approval of the Special Committee.

Cr Anderson (chairman of the Finance Committee) said that tho price did not appear to be excessive, when it was considered that the area was lour times the size of the present council yard in Scott street. That section would probably realise £SOO or more, which amount would cover the purchase of the new property. Contending that the proposition was a “ preposterous ” one, Cr Hunter opposed the purchase on the ground that if tlie council yard were opened on the property that was offered the values of adjacent properties would immediately be reduced.

Cr Sellar also opposed the purchase, which he considered was not a reasonable business proposition. He said that if the council made a profit on the selling of the Scott street yard, it should be made (or the ratepayers, and not spent on land from which tiio council could never hope to get bath what it paid. Various other opinions were expressed before tile motion was carried, Crs Hunter, Sellar, M orison, and Liman voting against it. REVALUATION. Relative (o expediting a revision of values of the borough, the town clerk reported as follows on bis recent interview with the Valuation Department. Wellington ; “The officer in charge gave me a very attentive hearing, and we discussed tiic situation at some length, with the result that I am convinced the department is particularly sympathetic towards having tlie revision undertaken, and recognises that wc are suffering an undue hardship on account of our h igh capital value. The department has committed itself to a revaluation of Mosgiel, and a report from the chief valuer of the Otago district is being awaited at headquarters concerning its requirements; but, after I bad pressed for the revision of the borough values to be'undertaken for the ensuing rating year, it was made clear to me that this is not possible. f feel assured that our request will materialise dining 1935.” The Mayor reported that lie had interviowed the officials of the local valuation office, and that they had agreed when officially advised to proceed at once with tfie borough’s revaluation, although they had also assured him that the work could not he completed before 1930, NO GRANT TO TECHNICAL COLLEGE. The secretary of the King Edward Technical College wrote requesting that the council make a donation to the college funds for the purpose of providing free hooks and other school necessities lor children in poor circumstances. The Finance Committee recommended Hint .€lO, the same amount as donated last year, he granted. Several councillors objected (o making any donation unless to local schools,

irlnVli, it was staled, had never ye ■■• ailed upon the council for financi:’ assistance. ITs Anderson, Griffiths, ami Longvorlii were the only councillors to volt for the motion, which was lost, m donation being sanctioned. UNITED FIRE DISTRICT. Regarding the proposed united fin district, which would include the St Kilda Borough, the Minister of Internal Affairs advised that the joint application for the new district had been approved, and that if the council now desired to take steps to be included in the metropolitan area it would first bo necessary for a poll of flic ratepayers to be taken and carried in accordance with the provisions of the Local Elections and Rolls Act, 1925. The .town clerk reported that the Dunedin Fire Board’s animal charge had been £550, and that a similar amount would probably have to be paid to the metropolitan board. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee for a report. GENERAL. The unhealthy state of the tip on the Ocean Beach Domain was the subject of considerable, dismission, councillors agreeing that its condition, in view o) its proximity to the beach promenade and the children's playground, was a menace to the healtii of visitors to the beach.—it was decided to notify the Domain Board of the complaint, requesting that that portion .of the tip adjoining the new public tennis courts be closed and satisfactorily concealed. Acknowledgment of receipt of the council’s half-yearly grant of £25 was received from the St. Kilda Municipal Band.—The letter was received, and it was decided to wisii the band success in the forthcoming contest at Timaru. A report detailing the most important recommendations discussed by the recent conference of traffic inspectors at Wellington was submitted by the borough traffic inspector.—Approved. Acceding to the request of the St. Kilda Ladies’ Cricket Club, it was decided to mow the grass on De Carle Park. FOREMAN S REPORT. Reporting on works carried out in the borough during the past live weeks, the borough foreman stated that footpaths in the following streets had been tar-scaled; Trafalgar street (8 chains), De Carle street (25 chains), Hardy street (7} chains), Cutten street (31 chains), and Bay View road (70 chains). Victoria road had been .tarseaied over an additional eight chains. Toppings had been spread on the following streets ;—Council, New, Miller, Islington, Eskvale, Ferguson, Prince Albert, and Bay View roads, and Royal and Forbnry crescents. About seventy relief workers bad been engaged in the borough during the period, cleaning and grassing streets, and from those works spoil had been carted. All plant was in good order. For the ensuing fortnight the foreman recommended that further tar-sealing be carried out in Victoria road, and that general maintenance work be continued.— Adopted. Cr Morison referred to the deterioration of the tar-sealing in Prince Albert road, and suggested that that section of road be given attention to as soon as possible.— It was reported that there was already an allocation of £IOO to be expended on the tar-sealing of Prince Albert road, which work would soon be put in hand. LICENSES ISSUED. Twenty-four motor drivers’ licenses and three building permits had been issued during the' past three weeks, stated the boropgh .traffic inspector’s report.—Adopted. WATER CONSUMPTION. During the five weeks ended that day the water consumption of the borough was 11,280,D1M gallons, at a cost of £282 (an average weekly amount of £SO 8s), as compared with 4,630,000 gallops at £lls 15s (£57 a week) for the previous three weeks.—Noted.

FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £1,007 14s Sd were passed for payment.