CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 23025, 2 August 1938, Page 1

CIVIC AFFAIRS

MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening, and attended by the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), and Crs D. C. Cameron, J. Wilson, M. C. Henderson, R. Walls, J. W. Munro, J. M‘Crae, H. L. Gibson. W. R. Taverner, W. H. Shepherd, D. G. M'Millan, E. J, Smith, and W. H. Bbrric. BAGPIPES AND ELECTION SIGNS. Ct Henderson moved the adoption of the General Committee’s report. Cr Gibson asked the committee to endeavour to take steps to eliminate the nuisance created by the sweeping of footpaths in front of certain business premises between the hours ,of . 8 and 9 o’clock a.m. Cr M.'Crae moved that the clause in the report granting permission to the Caledonian Society to conduct a pipe band display on Sunday, September 11, and to charge for admission, be referred back for further consideration. “ I like the bagpipes,” said the mover, “ but I also like Sunday to be kept as quiet as possible.” He knew of the effect the display and excitement had had upon the young people of the city on a previous occasion. There were other ways in which the Pipe Band could be helped. _ There was no seconder to the motion, which therefore lapsed. Cr M'Millan moved as an amendment that the paragraph in clause 3 referring to the refusal of an application for permission to erect an advertising sign be referred back. This refusal, he understood, referred to a sign which his Dunedin West Campaign Committee desired to place outside its rooms, and it was deplorable that political partisanship should be displayed in such a matter. The Campaign Committee were willing to meet any reasonable requirements in the matter. The Mayor .pointed out that the application mentioned by Cr _ M'Millan was not referred' to at all in the report. Cr M'Millan : The' fact remains that the Dunedin West Committee has been refused permission on the grounds that the sign would be unsightly. The Mayor repeated that the matter was not referred to in the report, therefore Cr M'Millan’s amendment could not be accepted. The report was adopted. CEMETERY PLOTS. Cr Munro moved the adoption of the Reserves Committee’s report, which contained the following clause :—The committee recommends that, after the completion of the existing blocks iu the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery,.,no walling be permitted . around plots in the newH portion of thV- Cemetery This step is ! considered--necessary in view of the present position in respect of neglected graves in the various cemeteries under the control of the council.. At present the department has to mow the rough grass and weeds on all the neglected sections twice a year, at considerable expense to the council. If the decision above .is given effect to, the new portion of the cemetery would compare with the existing soldiers’ plots in the same cemetery, where it is quite a simple matter to mow the grass in the absence of walls. Purchasers would bo permitted to erect headstones and form flower plots and borders on the graves, but they would be notified before purchase of the restriction in respect of walling around plots. The existing blocks will be completed in approximately six months’ time. The Mayor said that the principles set out in the clause were in the right direction. He had seen cemeteries in the Old Country laid out in the way proposed, which was preferable to the masses of concrete one sees here. But he could not agree with that portion of the clause which referred to the plots in the. Northern Cemetery. These plots , had been sold unconditionally, and it was not right that the purchasers should be denied the privilege of walling them if they so desired. The conditions should have been made known to them at the time of sale. Cr M'Millan said he would like to contradict the mayor’s statement. So far as the late council was concerned, the purchasers of the plots were acquainted with the restrictions named. The Mayor: If Cr M'Millan takes the trouble to look into the matter he will find he is quite wrong. Cr Munro pointed out that the council always had the right to impose conditions. and there was nothing to prevent the present council rescinding any existing conditions. The report was adopted. TENDERS. The following tenders for the erection of further dwellings in connection with the council's housing Scheme were accepted:—D. Rowcastle, £1,047; G F Jackson and Son, £1,155; G. and S Booth, £1,150; J. Donaldson, £1,287.