UNDERTAKING GIVEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1946, Page 3

UNDERTAKING GIVEN

MODERNISING SWIMMING BATHS READY WITHIN SIX YEARS The Greymouth Borough Coun» cil, in the terms of a. resolution passed at a meeting of the council last evening, will give an assurance to the West Coast Swimming Centre that the proposed improvements to the municipal swimming baths will be carried out by 1952. The centre, in representations to the council expressed a hope that it might be able to stage the New Zealand senior championships at Greymouth in that year, and on the basis of the assurance to be given by the council the centre will be able to make application for the championships. The proposed improvements compised:—l. Heating and filtration plant; 2. roofing; 3. doubling of present accommodation for spectators and swimmers; 4. provision of adequate shelters, conveniences, learners’ pool and high diving well. In a letter to the council the centre stated that the sum “earmarked” for modernising the baths was £1053 14/11 in National Savings and in the Post Office Savings Bank. The engineer (Mr. A. J. Fairmaid) said that he had had a discussion with two representatives of the Swimming Centre and had told them of the steps he had already taken in the matter of modernising the baths. He had told them that he did not think a high diving well could with safety be installed as there was a chance that its construction would ruin the rest of the baths. He also told them that he did not think there was any possibility of them being able to stage the junior championships at Greymouth in 1948. When they mentioned the 1952 senior championships he had said that he thought they could look forward to the baths being ready by that time. Cr. J. B. Kent said he had been offered a heating plant for £6OO, and it was of a type (electric) which would suit the Greymouth baths. The resolution, as stated above, to give the undertaking to the centre, was proposed by Cr. Kent and seconded by Cr. F. F. Boustridge. The Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) presided and the following were also present:—Councillors P. Blanchfield. J. E. Stokes, H. Hutchinson, W. Herring, A. L. McKay, G. R. Harker, Kent and Boustridge. Trans-Alpine Air Service.

The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce wrote inviting representatives of the council to attend a conference to be held at Christchurch this month to consider proposals for a transalpine air service for the South Island. The chamber emphasised that advantages to Canterbury and the West Coast would result from a regular air service between the two provinces.-— Cr. Blanchfield was appointed to attend the conference. The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce wrote stating that since the Government steamer, the Maui Pomare. was taken off the South Island service the supplies of bananas from the islands to the South Island had been both inadequate and irregular and that the fruit often arrived in such poor condition that it was wasted. The chamber suggested that strong recommendations be made to the Prime Minister that, as a short term policy, the Maui Pomare be returned to the South Island service, and, as a long term policy, two refrigerated steamers be acquired for the South Island service, the Maui Pomare to be withdrawn after the arrival of the second steamer. —It was resolved that the recommendations be made as suggested. It was resolved that the Mayor (or a substitute) and the Town Clerk attend the Municipal Conference at Rotorua in March, 1947, and that hotel accommodation be reserved for them. The Punakaiki Domain Board wrote asking for a donation towards its ground improvement funds. After some discussion it was resolved that no action be taken, a motion by Cr. Hutchinson and the Mayor that £5/5/- be given, having been previously lost with only the sponsors supporting it. The Blaketown-Preston Road Ratepayers’ Association wrote protesting against any suggestion that the footbridge connecting Blaketown with Greymouth be closed, and requesting that if the bridge is unsafe it be made safe. The letter added that the association also decided to press for the erection of the traffic bridge which the Greymouth Harbour Board contemplates building between Gresson street and Packer’s quay. Cr. Kent said there was no question of the bridge being closed, and it was decided to advise the association accordingly. Use of Recreation Ground. The West Coast Cricket Association wrote asking for the use of the Recreation Ground during the summer, and asking that the council provide more seating accoipmodation at the ground. For the reserves committee, Cr. Stokes recommended that permission be given the association to use the ground free of cost, the council to keep the outfield in order, but that the association provide the wickets. Cr. Stokes added that he did not think the council was entitled to give one body the exclusive use of the ground for such a period, and any other bodies wishing to use the ground would have to have their applications considered ,on their merits. The committee also recommended that the association be not permitted to put down any more pug wickets on the ground.

The recommendations o£ the committee were adopted. The question of providing more seating accommodation was referred back to the committee, Cr. Stokes stating that the letter had been received late and that there had not been time for adequate consideration to be given to that question. The Salvation Army, Greymouth, wrote asking permission for its band to play in Mackay street this evening in connection with the annual Self-Denial appeal, with a stand in front of Harley’s or Herb Moore’s shops. Permission was also requested for the band to play in Children’s Park on Sunday afternoon.—Permission was granted, with a reservation that the band play in front of the Land and Income Tax Department offices, and not in front of Herb Moore’s or Harley’s. The abattoir manager reported that the following stock was examined at the abattoir during September:— Cows, 28; bullocks and heifers, 160; sheep, 753; pigs, 31; calves, 14. Total fees,. £167/18/3. The New Zealand Refrigerating Company reported that the following meat was sent to the Grey district from Canterbury during

September: —Large cattle, one; calves, 2i; sheep, 177; lambs, nine; boneless meat, 16691 b. On the motion of Cr. Harker (chairman of the abattoir committee) it was decided to ask the Price Tribunal for a reply to the council’s request for permission to increase the abattoir charges in an effort to meet costs as the council was proceeding with amendment of the by-laws. Librarian’s Report. The following report by the librarian was approved:—lssues during September: Rentals 1003; non-fiction 516; periodicals 498; fiction 1454; C.L.S. (non-fiction) 583; C.L.S. (fiction) 409; junior 402; total 486 a. Receipts: £l6/0/9. Forty-nine books have been added to the adult library during the month. Of these 28 were non-fiction and 17 fiction. A new loan collection on photography has been received from the Country Library Service. The display was designed to answer numerous inquiries for books on this subject. The music collection sent in connection with the W.E.A. music group has proved popular. Water Supply Scheme. The Mayor, in the course of general business, said there had beenvery little reaction to the loan proposals, but one of the few people who showed some reaction referred to the question of bringing in a water supply for the borough from the Roaring Meg stream. He (the Mayor) thought it was just as well to let the public know that the council and the engineer had not been asleep, and that as far back as 1944 the engineer had reported on the proposal. The engineer had then made a couple of visits to the locality and in October, 1944 members of the council inspected the locality with him. The question of a water supply for Blackball had since been proposed, the Mayor added, and the engineer had made further visits to the proposed source. The subject had been well and truly investigated by the council, but the costt, roughly estimated at £70,000 had been prohibitive. _ ME - Z jjcuiaiw«w<» a ** H ®KS’»s«»Trww®nßrwwB