CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 25633, 6 November 1945, Page 8

CIVIC AFFAIRS

MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night. The Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) presided, and there were present Crs M. Connelly, M.L.C., W. B. Taverner, D. C. Jolly, L. M. Wright, 11. F. Barr, L. J. Ireland, M. F. Blain, W. A. Hudson, J. McCrae, and D. G. McMillan. Tributes to those who had assisted in entertaining visiting delegates to the municipal conference last week were paid by the Mayor. There had been an admirable co-operation among all city departments, and the delegates and their wives must have, carried away a very satisfactory picture of Dunedin, and especially of the electrical developments both in the city and at Waipori. GROUND CHARGES. | “This is a step in the right difecj tion,” said Cr Wright, when commenting upon a recommendation made by the Reserves Committee that the rental charged sporting and other bodies for the use of the Caledonian Ground be reduced from 3.‘i 1-3 per cent, to 25 per cent, of the gross gate takings. “This movement wii lhelp to encourage sporting activities, especially athletics, which for many years had a hard run in Dunedin,” added Cr Wright. GUIDE FOR VISITORS. A suggestion advanced by a newspaper correspondent that a notice board be placed near the main entrance gates to the Botanic Gardens informing visitors of various routes to the upper gardens or special attractions in the lower gardens, might be adopted by the Reserves Committee, said Cr Barr. He thought that such a notice could also feature special displays in the reserve. Cr Jolly stated that the suggestion was worthy of consideration, and he would recommend its adoption at the next meeting of the Reserves Committee. * TRAM FARE ANOMALIES. Speaking to the Transport Committee’s report, Cr Connelly asked whether a transfer ticket could be provided for the use of passengers on the Duke street line travelling towards Normanby. A transfer was provided for the journey from Normanby to the Castle street line. There were several such anomalies, and in view of the increase of tram fares, he asked that they be looked .into.

Cr McCrae, replying, promised to bring the matter to the attention of the committee. He pointed out. however, that the transfer applied only to travellers going to or from the station. WATER FOR WAKARI.

Enlarging the report of the water section of the Public Works and Water Committee, Cr Ireland said that a 4in supply pipe to Wakari would cost approximately £4,800. Great development was expected .in the next few years, and an expenditure of this amount would not be warranted when, perhaps within 10 years, a Sin pipe, costing £9,600. to £IO,OOO, would be necessary. The committee had every sympathy with the farmers and settlers in the neighbourhood, but such expenditure was not warranted .in the meantime. Additionally, pipe was impossible to get. The Deep Creek supply was a supply in name only. It supplied the reservoirs. and if used for reticulation must be fitted with fire plugs at freouent intervals. As the water had frequently to be diverted on that pipeline, this would cause unending trouble with the valves. The length of this supply rendered it liable to freezing troubles in the-winter time. The whole question, under the circumstances, could not be classed as immediate in a community where other present problems were of considerable importance. The reticulation of Corstorphine, for example, involved considerable work strengthening the supply to that area. Ho was sure councillors would agree that no work should ho undertaken which involved considerable expense unless it were a permanent job.—The report was adopted without comment. CITY BOUNDARIES. The proposed adjustment of city; and Taieri County Council boundaries on the western side of Riselaw road, on the extension of Middleton road, and in Kaikorai Valley were demonstrated i»y the chairman of the Works Committee (Cr Ireland! on a map.' No purchases were involved in this realignment of boundaries, which was considered necessary bv the development. of housing which could secure essential city services only if the areas concerned were brought within the confines of the municipal zone. The Mayor paid a tribute to the work of Cr Ireland, while Cr Taverner stated that the efforts of the Works Committee were of considerable value to the Housing Department. MUNICIPAL FINANCE.

“ It is a matter of considerable regret that the cable car system is retrogressive in its condition, but there appears to be very little that can be done in the meantime,” said Cr Taverner, when placing the Finance Committee’s half-yearly report before the council. The report showed a loss of £5,580 on the cable car services. “ There is no doubt that the cable system has reached that stage where tbe cost of maintenance is more than it is worth as an earning branch of tho transport system.” The buses had also shown a loss over the period, but this was the first occasion on which a full report on the financial side of the running of the bus services had been available, and an improvement was expected in the second half of the year. Cr Wright remarked that the gas department showed a very satisfactory position, and lie considered that the figures proved it was the most effi-ciently-conducted works in New Zealand. Despite a reduction in the price of secondary units of electricity, the result had been an increase in revenue.

“ It does not make a rosy picture, but we are not unduly alarmed about it,” said Cr McCrae, when discussing transport expenditure. There had been increased expenditure on maintenance and wages without any compensating increase in fares. It was impossible to avoid essential expenditure required to keep the tracks and equipment in good order, but he thought the financial position would improve.