HOKITIKA INCREASE IN THE CEMETERY FEES SUGGESTED

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1947, Page 4

HOKITIKA INCREASE IN THE CEMETERY FEES SUGGESTED

(0.C.l HOKITIKA, This DayThe maintenance of the Hokitika cemetery was again discussed at a meeting of the Westland County Council this week when a deputation comprising the Mayor (Mr A. R. Elcock) and Councillor A. C. Armstrong met the council. After hearing the deputation it was decided to appoint Cr. T. Harcourt to the cemetery committee, with the engineer available in an advisory capacity, and to find its proportionate share of the costs, but to propose to the Borough Council that the fees be increased to cover the expenditure. The members of the deputation expressed regret concerning the acrimonious controversy, which had taken place about the cemetery. Mr Elcock explained details of the expenditure, and said the Borough Council suggested the reconstitution of the reserves committee to give equal representation to both social bodies. Cr Armstrong said he would like to see a continuation of the good feeling and co-operation between the two councils that had existed in the past. He supported the suggestion to form a joint cemetery committee. Cr E. Cook (County) said the condition of the cemetery had improved very considerably of late.

Cr M- Wallace (chairman) said he thought the County Council would be glad to have a representative on the reserves committee and would be pleased to make the services 01. the county engineer available when required. He thought the adjustment of the interment fees and cost of plots to cover all costs including administration would meet the case equitably. The county had two other internal boroughs and other cemeteries and had to watch it did not involve itself too deeply. ; The decision to share the costs and appoint a member to the committee was then made, as stated above. The chairman reported that the county’s finances had shown a very definite improvement and the overdraft an appreciable drop. He congratulated the clerk and the assistant clerk on their good work. The increase in rates and improved goldfields revenue had, he said, given an increased revenue of over £3OOO which more than offset the increased expenditure. * Subsidies Approved The Department of Tourist and Health Resorts advised approval of a subsidy of £lOO, on a £ for £ basis, for repairs to Gillespie’s road. Advice was received .of the approval of the Public Works Department of the expenditure of £2OO on the Martyr river bridge, Okuru, subject to a contribution of one-fourth being received from the council.—lt was resolved that the council provide £25 and that interested settlers be asked to provide another £25.

It was decided to offer no objection to the granting of a licence to F. J, Fussell, of Jackson, to use water for generating electricity and to use electric lines.