BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 November 1939, Page 10

BOROUGH COUNCIL

■ ’ IAM EVENING’S MEETING.. The. in.6ntl.ily meeting of the Greyjmouth Borough Council, held last Evening, was attended by the Mayor £Mr. F. A. Kitcliingham) and Crs’. J. B. Kent, G. R. Harker, F. F. Bousfridge, J. Saunders, C. Neville, ,J. Anderson, ,H. Herring, R; J. Williams and A. H, McKane. Messrs Hannan and Seddon fo.nyarded for the Council’s' approval subdiviSional plan for pan of municipal reserve. 51. Messrs Hannan and Seddon, .acting on behalf of Mrs. B. Caiii, also; ,for the Council’s .approval plan.; of subdivision, of section 44 and ,$5 nArt reserve, 51, Block XII, Greyinouth.—Apprdvhl ‘ was given in each Jjasp, subject to everything being in order. , ~f . . v, Department of /Afijairs, forwarded copies of |he A fgllgwing: ~Thi& Patriotic Purposes Emergency Regulations,.Declaration of dn Approved Patriotic Purpose under 2B, and Exemptions from the Application of the Regulation's. .With regard to the second, the letter stated thatdt be specially, uotqd that, in the meantime, this would Ije the only patriotic purpose for which moneys , or, goods. might be lawfully collected under ,the regulations. The Mayor said, that the only purpose., foy which money could be raised, at 3 pt’^ 6ll k, for the, provision b’tC comforts/for the soldiers. . Mr, D. Jaiinock, Dunedin,..honorary secretdry of tli’e Park .Superintendents Association, wrote .stating that.it,was proposed .to hold the next, conference of. chah-niem. Of. Reserves Committees b.iid Domains ..Board and superintendents of reseiwes at .Wellington, from January. 30 to Febriihry 3, 1940, at the kame., tiipfe.ks ..the annual meeting of 'thb'lnstitute, of and the National,FloWer,Show. At first th,ere was ail ..impression that,. owing to the war, the conference should pot be held. buU p.s it, >vp,s the.,desire of tb'e Govei ilmeiit thnt/as as possible, all I’ct'ivitids shpul'd.. proceed as usual, it jvas -.feit that/.the conference, which wak, .both ...practical and . useful, should be held... It was hoped to make a special feature of recreational facilities, which had a special bearing on physical fitness, and the production of food! crops ,in reserves and allotments as a I special war measure. —It was decided) to reply that the Council hoped to be represented at the conference.

Messrs Guinness and Kitchingham fojnv^Lrdje/i, > fpi7it]jje consent of the Council;,.. mehiorapduin of .transfer,. E. M. Bji'rnett , ,tb Peter Banks.—Approval wa&;grahted. ... .. Mr. - J. Conaghah, representative of the Wellington,, Nelson and Westland Local Bodies Labourers’ Union, wrote stating that, under the Greymouth Municipal Employees’ Agreement, in addition to the holidays specified, the men were entitled to “two other days to be mutually agreed upon.;’ lie had consulted the men. and they were unanimous, in their request that the two. days should be added to their annual Jeave, if this arrangement was suitable to .the Council. —It was decided to agree to the arrangement. Tjhe .Under T Secretary, Department of..lnte'rilai Affairs, forwarded a resump.pf, the legislation affecting local authorities, which had. been passed last session. . , , Tiie .Department of. Internal Affairs wrote, asking, for information with regard. .to. .tile preparation of the Council’s town planning scheme, and whether ah approximate date could be. fixed for its submission to the board for provisional approval.—The letter was referred to the Town. Planning Committee to frame a reply. 1 I Mr. D. J. Evans, secretary x of the Westland .. Organisation <. of the N.Z. wrote stating that Mr. D. w Leslie,.,bx-ciistodiah , of the i Wellington Town Hail would be in i

charge of the Westland Reception Room at the Exhibitions A further £2OO was being paid to the Exhibition authorities in connection with the provincial guarantee. This- left only £lOO remaining to be paid. In another letter. Mr. Evans advised that the third payment in respect to the expenses., being incurred for the Westland provincial , representation at the Exhibition was payable not later than January next. —It ■ was decided that it be left in the hands of the. Town .Clerk to make payment, namely £135/2/-, when necessary. Mr. D. J. Evans, secretary of the Westland Provincial Patriotic Council, wrote stating that, at a meeting pf the National Council, it had been decided to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs to convene a conference of all Patriotic Councils, in Wellington, on November 9. Mr. P. J. McLean h'nd himself would be in Wellington. at that time, .and it was proposed that they should, represent the Westland Council at the conference 1 , in order to save expense., •_ . . ...

In reply to a question, from Mr. McKane, the Mayor said that the- Runanga Borough Council .was willing to join, in a Grey district group scheme in connection with the raising of funds .for patriotic purposes. He had communicated, ..with the Brunner Borough Council,, and the Grey County Council on the matter, but so far had received no reply. He had been informed that the. Government was in favour of this scheme, for, the Grey district, but thei'e was some difficulty about the question of sepai'ate banking accounts. ■ • 1

It was decided that the engineer (Mr. A. J. Fairmaid) should attend the forthcoming conference of gas works managers and. engineers, to be held at Auckland.

EMPLOYEES WHO ENLIST. With regard to local body officers and. regular employees who, join the military forces, .the Municipal. Ass.o.ciation of New Zealand wrote drawing attention to recommendations made at a joint meeting of I'epreseutative.s of the New Zealand Counties’ and Municipal Associations, on . October . 18. With regard to leave, it was recommended that this should accrue and might be taken as* leave on discharge from the forces. Payment for leave should be at the civilian rate of pay, and, in the event of death, an equivalent payment, based on leave actually due, should be made to deceased’s

'dependents. With regard to superan jnuation and National Provident contributions, it was recommended that these should be paid by the local body | in cases where- a superannuation '.scheme was in existence, or where a I National Provident scheme was in force, in lieu of a superannuation J scheme. Where, however, the office; I or employee made private contributions to the National Provident. Fund, he.should himself be- liable- for the contributions, and officers and employees I should also be- liable for all premiums .on life and other insurance policies. It was unanimously decided not to recommend that any subsidy of the solIdier’s rate of pay should be made by local bodies, for the reason that such subsidy would be an unfair discrimination in favour ot' soldiers, who were employees of local bodies, against other soldiers who were not so employed. This principle was apparently recognised by the Government, which was making do such payment to public servants who enlisted. It was understood that similar recommendations to its members were being made by the Electric Power Boards’ and Supply Authorities’ Association of New Zealand. The Mayor suggested the letter be received and referred to the Finance Committee. ;.Cr. McKane said he thought they should approve of the recommendations. They had been approved by

tile Municipal Association, of which the Council was a member. The Mayor: There is only the question of the insurance payments. Cr. Kent: W T e are already paying them.

It was decided to approve of the recommendations’, and pay the premiums as . provided for in the recommendations.'

ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Engineer’s report was as follows: — . • . Streets: Preparation for the tar sealing season, about, to commence, has been given required atteiitioq, Alexander Street, between the Town Belt North and Shakespeare Street, and ttie letter street, from Sawyer’s Creek to .Buccleugli Street, are . now receiving the last stages, of attention. Paroa Road, from Nelson. Street to the. Town ..Belt South, has .been scarified and regraded. In readiness for sealing operations, the tar sprayer lorry is receiving some overhaul and the . delivery. pipe from the tar well to the tar still has been relaid to obviate difficulties, which have occurred iii. some fornjer seasons. In Bright Street, reformation and metalling having been completed to Sturge Street; the principal work is in hand from Richmond Street towards Clifford Street, the spoil available from excavation here being used for filling and widening from Blackett to Richmond Streets. The stone wall in Ashmore Avenue has been completed as far as it is proposed to carry it at present. The northern portion, being of a less urgent nature, will receive attention at a later date, the stone which would be used there, thus 1 being made available for work in Bright Street. Widening of the first hairpin bend on the Upper Puketahi Street roadway, is showing progress, and as soon as this is completed work will be commenced upon the second bend. A short length of concrete kerbing and channelling in Franklin Street, adjacent to Shakespeare Street bridge, havingbeen damaged by settlement of the filling across- which it was constructed, has. been renewed. . . . . . Sewerage Loan Works: During the month work has been confined to thesame lengths of sewer as those previously in hand, in Marsden Road, Marlborough Street (two localities) and Joyce Crescent. Within a fortnight, a commencement will be made upon the Cowper Street —Palmerston Street section of the main sewer into the Marsden Road area. Given favourable circumstances by the time of the present-

- ing of this report the concreting of the - main outfall culvert opposite the t northern end of Doyle Street will have { been completed. Progress in sewer i laying, to date, is as follows: Total i length of sewer laid, 31,134 feet, or ; i 5.90 miles; length laid in October,) i 1,802 feet. To date, of the originally r designed length of 37,789 feet of| - sewers of six inches in diameter and) , upwards, 77.3 per cent, has been laid. - The men now engaged number 49; of 1 5 whom 43 are employed .on a co-opera-1 5 five basis, and six on day labour. General drainage work: The outlet - end of a pipe culvert under Paroa - Road, between Nelson and Chesterfield r Streets, has been repaired. A sump, i complete with connection, has been - constructed adjacent to the Technical > School hostel gate, off Nelson Street, t In Blake and Reid Streets, three - sumps have been put in. connecting to - the storm water drains laid some time , ago. Waterworks: The reservoir has . been kept full by an average daily ■ pump run of 13 hours. A concrete ■ cover has been constructed over the valv& chamber on the south western ■ side of the railway, opposite the pumping station. Preparations arc ini hand for th© cleaning of a length of! the rising main to the reservoir in an endeavour to reduce the pumping! head. | On the motion of Cr. McKane, it was decided that before authority was

given by the Council for the carrying out of any work exceeding a cost of £2O, the engineer 'should table an estimate showing the cost of labour and the cost of material, provided always that, in th© case of emergency, the engineer be allowed to use his discretion.

In speaking to this motion, Cr. McKane said that no reflection on the engineer was intended, neither did he think the engineer carried out work without first preparing proper estimates. However, it was quite l evident at committee meetings that some councillors were not familiar with the cost of. jobs, and the purpose of the motion was to have the necessary information handy. The Mayor said that the motion applied to all departments, reserves, abattoir and so forth.

WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works' Committee reported that it had paid visits to Ashmore Avenue, Hall, Bright, Puketahi and SpringStreets, Sinnott Road, Town .Belt North, Tindale Road, Marlborough Street, Marsden Road, Joyce Crescent, Byron Street, Paroa Road. Doyle and Blake Streets.

'The Committee made the following recommendations, which were approved: That the request of Mr. J. Beban for improved access to his residence on the Town Belt North be acceded to. That no further action be taken in connection with the location of the motor garage erected at the southern end of Byron Street. That the Borough Engineer prepare plans and estimates 4ior the formation of that portion of Spring Street adjacent to the Town Belt North. That the head of the gully on the western side of Tindale Road, in front of Mr. Warnes’ property, be filled to the building line, to enable a. footpath to be carried across, and that such portions' of the concrete kerbing and channelling as can be completed in Tindale Road be proceeded with, the same to be charged against the money deposited for the purpose. The following recommendations of the Finance Committee were approved: That accounts amounting to £2,580/2/10 (£1,511/6/9 District Fund Account, and £1,068/16/1 Sewerage Loan Account) be paid. That the payment of accounts since last meeting, £8,3.92/9/8 District Fund Account and £1,951/15/7 Sewerage Loan Account be approved. That the tender submitted by Messrs Hume Steel Ltd. for the pipes for the new feeder main be accepted, namely 4/111 per foot. That an application from Mr. Charles Dando for permission to: lease a section adjoining Buxton Park be referred to the Reserves Committee for enquiry. That a letter from the honorary secre-

tary, Mawhera Boys’ and Girls’ Agri- ‘ cultural Club requesting the Council’s [ co-operation be received, and that Cr. [Neville represent the Council at the next meeting of the club. That a let'ter from the Native Trustee, Wellington, advising that the system suggested by the Council regarding outstanding rates and other charges on native leasehold property cannot be accepted, be referred to the Town Clerk for further consideration and action, along the lines suggested by the Trustee. That a letter from Messrs Hannan and Seddon, solicitors, advising the Council's position regarding advances to property owners for cost of drainage connections be received. That the Town Clerk write to the Local Bodies’ Loans Board to obtain the Board’s ■sanction to increase the rate' of interest on the Sewerage Advances Loan to. 4A per cent. That the- Council authorise expenditure, up to £lO, in connection with the Emergency Precautions Committee.

BROKEN GLASS ON STREETS

“1 have received complaints about the amount of broken glass that is left lying about the streets of the

borough,” said Cr. .Anderson. “Oii two occasions, last month, motorists had tyres badly damaged by broken bottles. I have seen broken glass and bottles on the road all the .way from Karoro to the Quay.” Cr. Harker said it -was an offence againt the law to leave broken glass on th© roadway. After an accident, it was the duty of those involved to see that any broken glass was swept from the roadway. Cr. Kent: Does that apply, also, if you have the misfortune to drop a bottle and break it? (Laughter).

The Mayor: The law is wide enough to meet th© case, but it is a question of catching the culprits. Cr. Herring: A person who drops and smashes a bottle has 1 the responsibility to see that it is swept up. Cr. Boustridge: Why refer to bottles all the time? Why not call it broken glass?

Cr. Herring: Bottles: ar© the chief offenders. People who ride bicycles see.these things on 1 the roadway better than people who drive cars. The Mayor: It is a matter of good citizenship, and I would ask the people of the town to do the proper thingin this respect. Attention has been called to broken bottles. On a . beach last Summer, 1 saw broken bottles, and they were a terrible source of danger to children running about with their feet bare.

Cr. Anderson said he thought they should ask the police to attend to the question of broken glass on the streets.

The Mayor: I do not think that is necessary. If this discussion gets publicity, it should serve- the purpose.

The Mayor added that he thought it was also desirable to suggest to owners of. derelict motor cars that they should get them off the 1 streets as soon as possible. There were others, iff addition to the one in Marlborough Street to which reference was made at the previous meeting of the Council.