ST. KILDA COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 21994, 2 April 1935, Page 14

ST. KILDA COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING The fortnightly meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council was held last night, those present being the Mayor (Mr A. D. Edgar), Crs M. D. Anderson J. A. Carman, A. J. Morison, E. Longworth, W. S. Lovell, J. W. Lunam, R. J. B. Griffiths, E. W. Hunter, and M. J. Kelly. CORRESPONDENCE. The secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldjers’ Association wrote regarding the Anzac Day service, asking if the council was desirous of placing a wreath on the Cenotaph.—lt was decided to make a donation in lieu of a wreath. Mr F. Jones, M.P., wrote stating that in reply to representations made on behqlf of tho council regarding the position of local bodies in connection with the Mortgage Corporation Bill the Minister of Finance was prepared to consider the position of local bodies and see whether he could grant them any relief when the Budget was being considered.—Received.

The secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association wrote asking for a donation towards the work of the ambulance and district nursing service.— It was decided to make a donation -of £5 5s towards the association’s funds. The clerk of the Musselburgh Presbyterian Church Deacons’ Court wrote asking if it would be_ possible to shift one of the electric lights in Queen’s drive to the north corner of Queen’s drive and Begg street, as the frontage of the church was very dark in winter time.—The matter was referred to the Works Committee to report to the next meeting. A letter was received from tho Tramways Department stating that the matter of stopping trams back from the St. Kilda terminus to eliminate the danger from passing motorists had been investigated, and it had been decided to give the scheme a trial. —Received. The Prime Minister (Mr G. W, Forbes) forwarded a proposed programme for the celebration of the King’s silver jubilee, and asked the council’s co-operation for the proper recognition of the event.—-It was decided to co-operate with the city in any celebration that might be arranged. The certifying officer of the Unemployment Bureau wrote stating that in accordance with instructions from the Commission, of Unemployment, the relief workers at present employed by the council would be placed on sustenance as from April I.—The mayor stated that the decision had come as a great shock, and he thought the step was a drastic one. He moved — u That the Unemployment Board should be requested to increase tho relief rate of pay, and also sustenance, by 10s per week until such time as the unemployed are absorbed in reproductive work.”—Cr Carman said that there was no doubt that the whole idea at the back of the board’s decision was eventually to draft the men into camps.—Cr Anderson stated that the chairman of the Unemployment Board had visited the camps in Central Otago during tho summer, and had said that the men were quite happy. He would like Mr Bromley to visit the camps during the winter months. —The motion was carried unanimously. USE OF HALLS. The president of the St. Kilda Unemployed Assocition (Mr T. J. Traill) waited on the council in connection with a letter to the council asking for the free use of the halls for dances on alternate Saturdays for four weeks. Mr Traill said his association did not have any money to nay for the hire of the halls, although he would remind the council that since September, 1932, £137 had been paid in rent for the halls. Should the dances be a success at the end of tho four weeks it' was the intention of the committee to reimburse the council for the use of the buildings. Without.the council’s help it would ■ be impossible to commence operations, but it was the desire of the association to help the plight of those put on sustenance. He would like to state ori behalf of his association, he added, that they felt considerable alarm at the decision of the Unemployment Board to place the men in the district on sustenance. The outlook for them was very bad, and he could not see how they were going to live on the reduced pay. The major said he thought it would be more in the interests of the unemployed, if the mayor’s relief depot and the association linked up to hold combined dances. Mr Tranl said he did not think it possible for the two bodies to amalgamate. Each- had different ideas and neither would wish to sink its identity. The St. Kilda Unemployed Association had been a quiet body in the past, but there was no saying what might happen after tho past four years of strain. _ The association might have to do things that at present it would not think of doing. The mayor, in reply, said that they should all get together as regards tho relief of distress. The council, however, would try to help to its utmost to relieve tho position of the unemployed. After further discussion Mr Traill consented to a suggestion that three members of his committee should meet three members of the mayor’s relief depot in order to go into the matter fully. FOREMAN’S REPORT. Hie borough foreman reported on the work carried out for the fortnight ended March 23. For the ensuing fortnight ho recommended preparing the Quarry street yard for housing the plant, and general maintenance. Regarding fho Victoria road penetration, he reported that, owing to weather conditions, the road would not be fit to penetrate during the next two weeks. Unless there" was a change in the weather lie thought that sealing operations should be closed down for the season. The plant was in good order. About fifty unemployed men bad been working sweeping channels and grassing streets, etc. The report was approved. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £1,137 4s lid were passed for payment. GENERAL. Applications for the subdivision of allotment 11, plan 4,420, Education Board’s section in Moreau street and for a building permit for a single brick building in Plunket street, were granted subject to minor alterations. The mayor and Crs Anderson and Longworth were appointed to sign the Supplementary District Electoral Roll.