KUMARA AFFAIRS

Grey River Argus, 4 May 1936, Page 2

KUMARA AFFAIRS

BOROUGH COUNCIL Delayed Meeting The Kuniara Borough Council met on Thursday evening. Present: The Mavor, Mr.' A. B. Spiers and Crs. h’ee'dv. Gilbert, McDonald, Passmore, Inglis, Hanna, Featherstone and Murph i’. The Deputy Mayor, Cr. Reedy, said that before the meeting commenced he would like t<i welcome Mr. Spiers as Mayor and also Mr. Featherstone as Councillor. They had important matters to see to such as the electric light and water supply and he hoped that lhev would all pull along together. Mi. Spiers thanked the Deputy Mayor for I,is wel after an absence of three years and promised to do his best with what funds were available, lie would remind the <'ouncillors that they were there to do the Council’s business and that while he was Mayor he would allow no discussion other than on business before the Council. The Town Clerk read correspondence and documents in connection with the recent by-election mid presented the report of the Returning Officer. The declarations in respect of Mr. Spiers, Mayor: and Mr. Featherstone. Conn eillor, were read and signed. Cr. Hanna asked why a general meeting had not been held for two months. The Mayor said that the byelection and the Easter races had made it rather awkward to arrange for a meeting. He had considered calling an ordinary meeting the previous week but as there was nothing very ingent to attend to. it was left over. Cr. Hanna asked whether it was considered the race meeting to be of more importance than the Council’s business.

Cr. Gilbert said that there had been only two ordinary meetings In five months.

Cr. Reedy said that he had been asked to call a meeting, but as the usual night coincided with the election and there seemed to be nothing requiring urgent attention, he did not de so. If there was any blame in the matter he would take the blame. The Mayor said that it was of no use arguing the point. Tn future ordinary- meetings would be held regular-

' Mr. C. R. West, Returning Officer, tendered his resignation due to private reasons. —Accepted. The Commissioner of Transport advised the appointment of Cr. W. J. Inglis as local Traffic Inspector. Applications for use of the Rceroa'tion Ground were received from the ladies’ hockey club and the Kmnara League Club—Permission was given in both eases. Grey County Council advised that no action was being taken in connection with the request lor a revision of the apportionment of the upkeep of the Teremakau bridge. Cr. Reedv said that the Borough received no portion of the timber royalties. Provision was made in the last commission for the position to be reviewed if circumstances warranted by application to the Governor-General. He moved that an application for a fresh commission be made. —Carried. The Valuer-General wrote re protest at excessive cost of valuation, stating that the cost compared very favourably wi'h charges made in similar circumstances elsewhere. Cr. Reedy said that it was not n fair charge considering the way the valuation °had been carried out.

Cr. Murphy said that the reason for the unsatisfactory job was that no information could be got in the Borough office. Payment of account was agreed Public Works Department tidvise' 1 that the cost of the Teremakau bridge repairs amounted in all to .£740 and rc-quesfcd the early payment of the balance of £6O due from the three local bodies. The Town Clerk said that the Court cil had intimated that it would not. hs committed to a total expenditure exceeding £5OO. The Mayor said that they should not pay the extra amount and moved that the Town Clerk explain the position to the Public. Works Department. The Kuniara V.F.B. forwarded 14 names of firemen for insurance purposes. Cr. Murphy asked for information as to the policy. The Town Clerk said that he had not attended to it. Cr. Reedv said that now the names bad been given the men should bo insured at once.

Applications for grazing over vacantsections were made by R. G. Castle and Rev. A. IT. AVhceldon. Permission was given on payment of rates. Park and Murdoch advised that the petition in connection with the supply of electric power had be-in foi ■ warded to the Public Works Depart ment and the documents were in order and awaited signature. Cr. Gilbert said that Mr. Langtora had intimated that the light should be ir the town by last Christmas and there still were no signs of it. He moved that the Minister of Public. Works be written to and informed ol the way Mt. Langford had treated the Borough. The Mayor said that he thought Mr. Langford should be advised first and triveii ti chance, but Councillors disagreed. The motion was carried. ”rhe Secretary- of the School Committee and Mr.' .A. L. Mclntosh complained of the encroachment of noxious weeds. Left in the hands of the Public Works chairman. Westland Power Ltd. wrote re petition signed by people of Kuniara complaining that' water was unobtainable for mining purposes and asked it the Borough Council had any knoyvledge of the complaints as no requests for water had been made for over two years.

Cr. lleedv said the ]>etition yvas drawn up bv people at Waimea. The Mayor said that although i 0 residents of Kuniara had signed he did not know of anyone having made application for water. The Inspector of'Mines was coming down in connection with the matter and they had nothing to put before him. Cr. Murphv said that the V arnica people could see him themselves He was more concerned about the shortage of water for fire-fighting purposes. He knew that water had been deliheratelv turned over the face with a full race. He suggested that the matter be taken up with the Inspector. Miss E. Whitehouse forwarded donation towards the Cemetery- gates. The Dominion President ot Hie R.S.A. solicited co-operation in the postage stamp campaign. Cr. Murphy moved that stamps to the value of £1 be purchased for office purposes. Ministers of Public Works and Edu-

cation advised that no funds were available for a grant towards the swimming baths. The Main Highways Board advised that instruction had been given to tar seal the highway through the business part of the Borough for a distance of 28 chains mid a width of 24 feet on a . free basis; i.e., without charge to the Borough. The work would be proceeded with in due course. Cr. Murphy moved that a letter of thanks be sent.

Jones, Burton and Co., Ltd., Liverpool, forwarded particulars and quoted for hydraulic rani, suitable for the water scheme.

Cr. Reedy moved that consideration be left over for the public works committee to go into the matter. Cr. Gilbert said that the committee should have technical assistance.

The Mayor said that it was unnecessary to go to England, tor the plant. Better and cheaper plant could be made in New Zealand. Andersons, of Christchurch, had the best rams in the world.

The. motion was carried. Cr. Gilbert said that they had been out of order in considering the inward correspondence. According to the standing orders in the by-laws, they should have had the outward correspondence first. The Mayor said that the by-laws were not worth the paper they were written on. They were full of mistakes.

Cr. Gilbert, said that they had gone to a lot of trouble to compile the by laws. They may not be perfect but they were a great improvement on the old set.

The Mayor said that he did not wish to discuss it further.

The inward correspondence was read and approved. Cr. Reedy moved that the Borough balance sheet be approved. Cr. Reedy said that as no reply had been received from Mr. Patterson in regard to the (lumping of spoil in the cemetery, he should be asked to comply forthwith, failing which be should be prosecuted.—Carried. Cr. Inglis drew attention to the dumping of rubbish in various places in the Borough. The Inspector ot Nuisances was instructed to see into the matter and take action.

Cr. Gilbert asked what had become of the prosecution against S. M. Case. The. Town Clerk said that he had not lost the job. Cr. Gilbert asked the Town Clerk what ho meant by that. He had not carried out the instructions of the Council.

Cr. Reedv said that that was quite right. The building erected by Mr. Case was a disgrace to Kuniara. Lt was not even in alignment with the footpath. He yvas required to submit plans to the. Council, but he refused Io do so. The Council instructed de Town Clerk to prosecute. There yvas a motion on the books.

Cr. Gilbert, asked the Town Clerk why he, did not take action. The Town Clerk replied'that he had not had tho time.

Cr. Gilbert maintained that the resolution yvas passed last September. The Town Clerk was simply defying the Council. He was servant of t-ie Council and he was neglecting his duty. He had asked the same question five months ago and yvas told that the Town Clerk was waiting for the bylayv to be printed. Il had been in print for five mouths. Cr. Gilbert also asked whether Air. Case had paid his billiards license and if not would the Town Clerk inform the police that he was conducting a billiards room yvithout a licen-e. The Town Clerk replied that, the current license had not yet been paid. Cr. Murphy said that he noticed an amount received for a building l peimit, but no application for a building had come before the Council. He ivas a member of the building committee and he did not intend to be side-step-ped. It yvas apparently a case of ‘‘Rafferty's Rules”. Another building had been started in Third Street, of yvhicli the Town Clerk was yvell aiva.but no application yvas in front of them.

Cr. Reedy- said that in future it would save trouble if it was made known that before any building could be started, plans yvere to be submitted to the building committee. The Mayor said that he understood that in the ease before them a plan had been submitted, but it was necessary to start, the building the very next day and the committee had not had time to meet. The reports of the public yvorks. domain and reserves committees were presented and approved. Cr. Gilbert dreyv the Council’s attention to the outstanding rates. He had asked for a list of outstanding ratepayers to be drawn up. They yvere losin’g opportunities of securing back rates He moved that the list b“ produced and the matter discussed. The. Mayor said that lie was of the opinion that the matter should be dealt with at a special meeting to oe called biter. Cr. Gilbert said that he would like the matter to be discussed immediate I? The Mayor said that he would mi have the matter discussed at that meet ing. Cr. Reedy said that the 9 own Clerk could draw up a list and he moved (hat a special meeting could be held in, say', a fortnight, to consider the matter.

Cr. Gilbert said that tho matter wa-i discussed and a motion passed two mouths ago, and ho considered it a matter of urgency. He was not in favour of the motion an he yvished his vote against it to be recorded. Tho Mayor requested Cr. Gilbert to sit down as ho talked 100 much. Cr. Gilbert replied that he was there to serve the ratepayers as much as the Mayor was. He considered the Mayor's attitude a disgrace. He was entitleo to speak and he yvished to justify his place on the Council. Cr. Murphy said that the Mayor was not the whole Council, ho was tnerilv the chairman of it. The Mavnr said that all that haa been gone through before. He did not want any argument or discussion on the -matter. AVhou he was prey'iou.-i}, put out of the Council the work he had done was thrown into the fire yvithout 'i'-cttss’on. He yvas doing Cm same. A payment of ten guineas mid been passed for a report on a wiier scheme to the same person who yvas paid a similar amount beiore for the same tvork.

Cr. Gilbert said that there was no connection between the sc I .ernes at a.i 1 A Councillor then sitting in the room had said that the Council had never had a plan and report in such detiil as the one that li-.d recently been put before them.

Cr. Murph' 7 ;aid that the Miyor cculd not discredit the past Conn .11 like -that. It was also reflection on the capabilities of a highly respected et.pinoor. He hid noted also, that in the press report sent in by the Town C'tnk. reference was niade to the te.i

gu neas passed for payment to Mr. JKeenford and this was the only oe'asion that refeiei’ce had ever been made to accounts passed for payment. The motive was a paltry one. They had evidence that evening that the Town Clerk was not doing Ins job and Councillors were being abused by him. He would therefore give notice that he intended to move at the next meeting that the Town Clerk’s services be dispensed with for neglect ot duty. . ('r. Gilbert said that it was move 1 some' time back that an agenda be prepared and a copy sent to each Councillor. He yvould ask the Mayor io see that that was done in future. The;.' could not adequately discuss maneis yvithout having had some notice. This method was adopted by almost every other public body in New Zealand. The Mayor said that such a thing had never been done since Kuniara yvas a Borough. lie did not think that it was necessary noyv. They had not much business to get through and it could be easily disposed of m a fetv minutes. , , Or. Murphv said that the business was probably- yarned over by the Mayor and the Clerk, as it used to be but the other members ot the Council could get no information. Cr Reedv said that the motion yyas nil tile books and it should be carried

""Accounts amounting to £216 16s 8d yvere passed for payment.