BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1942, Page 2

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

MEETING OF COUNCIL

At the monthly meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council . last evening, the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) presided, and there were also present: Councillors H. Herring, J. Saunders, C. Neville, G. M.'Truman, G. R. Harker, P. Blanchfield, junr., and the Town Clerk (Mr. F. H. Denton). • . The Royal Humane Society of New Zealand wrote asking for a donation towards its funds, and thanking the Council for support in past years.—lt was decided to make the usual grant of £l/1/-. , . J The Minister for Health advised receipt of the Council’s representations regarding hospital taxation, and stated that the matter was receiving the attention of the Government. The Greymouth Boy Scouts’ Association wrote asking the Council’s assistance in having the sewer connected to the Scout Hall. It was stated the present convenience was most insanitary. For financial reasons the Association’s committee was not able to undertake the whole of the cost, but if the Council would Jay the pipes to the building, the committee could complete the job.—Referred to Works Committee for report. The Blaketown-Preston Road Ratepayers’ Association wrote protesting against the stoppage of the sewerage wbrks across the Blaketown lagoon, and pointing out that several residents in Preston Road, and in the area south of Flowers Street have installed flush pans, but are not allowed to use them until the sewer is completed. It was felt, the letter continued, that the stoppage of the works was probably caused by war conditions and that the Council was severely handicapped by the shortage of labour etc. If that was the case, the Association asked that permission be given those residents who had installed flush pans, to use them. The Association considered that as there was no dead water in the lagoon at the outlet to the sewer in Preston Road, and that the lagoon itself was flushed regularly by every tide, there would be little danger to the public health if the request were granted.— The letter was referred to the Works Committee.

Mr. E. T. Fleming wrote drawing the Council’s attention to what he termed the disgraceful state of the footpath in front of his residence in Sturge Street. He added that in fact there was no footpath, and that recently a lorry laden with firewood became” bogged to the axle while crossing the supposed footpath. He stated that the lorry was extricated only with assistance' of members of the Home Guard. He asked that the Council inspect the street approach to his property or sanction the necessary work. —Referred to the Works Committee. ARMY DRIVING LICENSES Mr. H. Lane, Traffic Inspector, wrote enclosing the following letter from Major J.-W. D. McKnight, officer commanding the 17th Independent Infantry Company. “I have to advise that the Army Department are issuing drivers’ licenses through the Transport Department, under the Motor Vehicle Emergency Regulations, 1941, Amendment No. 1, which entitles any member of the armed forces who holds an Army driving authority to drive any civil or Army vehicle while in uniform. I would respectfully ask that you place before your Council the question of cancellation of licenses issued by you to members of this Unit, who are in possession of Army Authority Licenses and that a refund of the money paid by them be authorised.” In his letter, Inspector Lane said it appeared to him that Major McKnight was taking rather an extreme view of the regulations in claiming that any member of the forces had the right at all times to drive any civil or Army vehicle provided he was in uniform. The regulations gave power to the Commissioner of Transport to issue a license to any member of the forces “who is required for the purposes of any of these forces to drive a motor vehicle.” Consequently it appeared to him to be the intention to issue these licenses for military purposes only. The Chief Traffic Officer, Transport Department, Christchurch, had given his opinion that it would include any member while in uniform, but he (Mr. Lane) did not agree with that opinion. He added that he understood that the Officer Commanding the Unit had issued upwards of GO of the licenses. Cr. Blanchfield said he thought it was the thin end of the wedge to eventually take over the issuing of licenses from the Council. He had read the Act, and he did not think that the Council could be compelled to give back the license fees. If there was any doubt about the matter it should be referred to the solicitor for the Municipal Association.It was resolved that the question be referred to the solicitor for the Muncipal Association.

TO PREVENT VANDALISM

Cr. Naville reported that there had been a lot of serious acts of vandalism committed in the Children’s Park, and unfortunately they were not the acts of children, but of youths. Councillors, he said, cotud not credit the damage that had been done, unless they saw it. Shrubs had been trodden down and rooted out, and seats damaged. Endeavours . to catch the offenders had not been successful, and it was a question what action the Council could take.

The Mayor said that the Council was the owner of the land and could take action, by which any persons found on the land after a set hour could be regarded as trespassing. If members of the public were such fools that they were going to damage their own property as well as that of their fellow-citizens, then they had to be kept out of the place. ’These complaints had been coming in for 20 years, and he was tired of them. He moved that the matter ffe referred to the Reserves Committee, with a view to their having a by-law framed to exclude the public during hours which the Committee thought fit. He added that a lot of damage had been done at the swimming bath, where the valve had been opened and the water drained, the springboards broken, and rubbish oi all sorts thrown into the bath. Mr Noel Smith was appointed working foreman in charge of the Birough ’reserves at a salary of £6 10/- a week. AIR RAID SHELTERS. In accord with notice given, Cr. Blanchfield moved that the matter of erecting covered trenches in the business area be held in abeyance, until a census was taken of the people who would use them in an emergency, and a survey of the existing trenches in the town taken. Cr. Blanchfield said that seeing Councillors were better acquainted now with the state of the Borough finances, as a result of discussions on the estimates, he felt they would be openminded enough to give the motion some support. When the last E.P.S. trial was held he said there was a preponderance of men in the town wearing E.P.S. arm-bands, and he thought that if they were fulfilling their duties in the event of an emergency they would not be using the shelters. That fact, he contended, was not taken into account in the taking of the last census. Further, to his mind the cost of the shelters proposed was going to be greater than they were worth. One estimate had been as high as £8 per head, and in view of the Council’s position, and the fact that the number of people who would be using shelters in the town in the event of an emergency, he thought that the expenditure would be unjusitfied.

Cr. Harker seconded the motion, pro forma. He added that he was not in favour of that kind of shelter, and he thought that they could almost be called a luxury. He still thought that open trenches were the better proposition. Cr. Neville supported the motion, adding that he thought it would be waste of money building them. Cr. Truman spoke against the motion. He said that the Engineer had assured him that the census that was taken was quite fair and correct. He understood that the Government had practically ordered that shelter be provided, and he thought it was the duty of the Council to provide shelter, as an assurance. He did not think the matter of finance should enter into the question. It was a question of saving and protecting lives, and the Council was asked to find only one quarter of the cost. The Mayor said he was satisfied that the census was taken fairly. Cr. Blanch field had rightly pointed out that a number of people would be on emergency precautions service as soon as the alarm sounded. The trenches to be erected were the form of protection recommended by the Government, who had implied in a letter to the Council that if the work was done by the Council, the Government would do it, —and presumably at the expense of the Borough. The Government had virtually requested that the shelters be built. All Councillors knew the financial position but they had to be prepared to meet emergencies. Cr. Saunders said he thought the Council should provide some protection, but he intended to oppose the erection of any more than the ones already approved. ' Cr. Herring said he was not at the meeting when it was decided to build the shelter trenches, but he presumed that the matter was fully debated. He agreed with Cr. Blanc.ifield that not 50 per cent who were included in the census would rush to the shelters, but he thought tney should leave the question as it was previously decided. , Cr Blanchfield pointed out that the shelters to be built were supposed to be for the people in the business area of the town, but. in the event of an emergency in addition to the ±act that such large numbers would have duties to perform, there would not be any business being carried put. I here was a squeal about hospital expenditure and the Council was rushing into’expenditure which he considered needless. On being put to the meeting Cl. Blanchfield’s motion was lost, by one vote, Crs. Blanchfield, Harker and Neville supporting it. Two tenders were received for the erection of a covered air raid sheltei and they were referred to the Engineer, and Crs. Herring, Saunders and Blanchfield. ~ , „ T _ It was resolved that the Karoio Home Guard be granted permission to use a shooting range on the Karoro Domain for the duration ol the war, and for 12 months. thereafter. provided the Council is indemnified by the Army Department.