WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1935, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) Borough Affairs: WESTPORT, August 1. lhe Mayor. Air J. Ki kenny, was iu lhe chair at the usual monthly meeting , of the Borough Council, held ’last ewen mg. Au application from the street and gasworks staff for full wages rustoiaticn was referred to 'the h'inance Coiiiinitlee. The Holland Memorial Hall Committee waj granted the use of Victoria Square on Labour Day. An oiler from Mr principal of tr.e Technical School, to ‘put 40 boys on the cleaning up of the Esplanade was accepted. An application from the unemployment union asking that’ 'the v. ages of men employed at’ the gravel pit be subsidised by the Council was ' referred to the Finance Committee. The Electrical Committee declined applications from Mayfair Ltd., aaci J. M. Kobertson, fur a induction in e’ec tr.e current charges). Loan Proposal: Mr Furkert, who was asked to investigate the position regarding a loon for improvements to borough street’s, i\ ported last evening to the Council that the work wou d not rest mure than .L20.U00, including Af.5.(100 lor footpaths. The Unemployment Board would probably piuvide E 5 000 which wou'd leave E15,0(H) to be rai.-’-efl by loan. Of this lhe foundation mutLl being protected by the surfac ng w. not be subject to wear or the action of the elements and can safely be assumed to have a dcliuite life. For this 1 have allowed one and a-half per vent, fur sinking fund. Eor the sur facing 1 Lave allowed six and a-half per cent, sinking fund, which, in view of your own experience with such .’tieols us you have surfaced, is eon svrvative. To these figures I have added three and a-ha f per cent, for in'ierest. the Jigure you suggested as 1 lint which you expect to laise thloan. This gives fixed charges of .L 1.230 per annum 'to which must be added the ordinary cleaning and aptrol plus ‘the cost of a periodical spray 1 coat lopdressing. It has been found necessary to topdress the main streets now sealed at intervals of about three years and in the less important streets now to be dealt with, once m four years on the average should suffice. This applies to the roadways. The footpaths in the pasef have had little topdressing, but a coat every five 10 seven years according to situation shou'd be allowed for. The total of these expenses should not exceed 11 13U0, giving wil'h fixed chaigcL 2,55(» .which is less than the aver age which has been spent per year since 1924. In view of the above it -would apjieai that your Council would be justified in putting the issue before the rate payers with reason Ide coufidcncu That a loan poll would be carried. “Attached is a schedule showing'the i .-•lreels pioposed to be their ( approximate length, and the widths ‘ suggested for each case. Distances were not chained, but sea.ied from . lithographs, and are near enough for this pin pose.’ 5 The Mayor referring to the report .-aid it had been discussed by the com inittoc and it was recommended that Mr I’. C. Webb, the Town Clerk and himself proceed to WeLington and interview the Loans Board, Unemploy meut Boards and A.M.P. Society for the purpose of raising the necessary capita*!. Councillors expressed them selves in favour of the scheme being proceed- d with and it was decided the Mayor, Town Gierk and Mr Webb visit’ Wei Tngtun as suggested.

Karamea Womens’ Institute: Al the monthly nneiing of the Karamea Womens’ Institute, a very interesting demonstration on “Cane Work’’ was given by Mr Malcolm, of Arapito. Mrs J. Dunean and Miss D. Simkin secured the awards for “the best washing cushion’’ competition. A debate “Should Husband.-) Open Their Wive’s Letters’’ provided an interesting and at times amusing discussion, ’lhe roll call was “The Best Dinner lor Institute Night.” Millerton Unemployed: It in feared that if the Millerton unemp'oyed persist in their refusal to accept file P-W.D. contract offered them on the Gianity-Millerton track, their action might have serious repersecutions. Mr P. C. Webb, M.P., at the meeting which he addressed on .he Hill foresaw t'he possibility of tmeh a deadlock and did not mince words in giving the warning. Any action of the kind would also injure Mr Webb’s power to mediate on <their behalf in the future. As pointed out by Mr Webb, the in view of the economic outlook on the Hill, did not warrant the expenditure of money on new •work and this was another difficulty he had lo overcome in securing a job, which would be a big improvement on the* dole, for the Miller'ton unemployed. It was to be hoped the men of Millerton will give the position yerious consideration before deciding on a course of action which would as Mr Webb stated, be stupid. Mr Webb’s efforts conform 'to the requests of unionists throughout New Zealand and at present 13 000* men are employed on similar contracts. The wage, it is admitted, is not a big one but in this direction the unemployed have it in their own power to employ remedial measures by casting their vote for Labour at the general election. Milk Vendors Protest: At la.9t evening’s meeting of the Borough Council a complaint was received from -tlie recently-formed Milk Vendors’ Association regarding the owners of cows in the Borough being allowed to so 1 ! milk without complying with th.e Health. Act, and Borough re-.

gulwtions. Commenting on the letter, the Mayor said the Council would take action against owners allowing -’their cows to stray on the borough street's. Shrubs were being planted in an effort to beautify the town and they could not tolerate stray cows destroying them. After discussion, it was decided to refer the phase of the comp'aint which affected, the Health Act to the local officer. Pakihi Laud: Mr P. (J. Webb, advises that the pakihi land cultivation scheme will be proceeded with immediately, as satis* factory arrangements have been made for tli 0 aequisation of large areas in the vicinity of Sergeant’s Hill. Mr A. F. Waters (Commissioner of Crown Lands) and Mr T. .R'igg (Director of the Cawthron Institute) are expected :n Westport next week to make furtherproposal. Personal: Mr K. J. Holyoake. M.P. for Motuoka. arrives iu Westport on Tuesday next and proceeds to Karamea the following day with members of the Buller County Council. It is also in'tended •to invite Mr P. C. Webb. M.P for ■Buller to accompany the party. 1 Mr P. c. Webb will address the members of the Farmers’ Union at the office of thu Secretary, Mr Radford, on Saturday c vening. Skipping; lhe Kai'toa is discharging cargo and proceeds to Grcymuutfi to load timber for Wellington. ■ The Inaha and Omana are* both due from Wellington to-night. The Kanna is expected on Saturday. The Fairburn is due here to-morrow from Wellington.