BOROUGH WORKS

Grey River Argus, 11 March 1939, Page 8

BOROUGH WORKS

HOKITIKA PROGRAMME Questions of Finance SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council was convened on Thursday evening to consider four motions submitted by Cr. W. H. Stopforth, Councillors F. Freitas and J. Turner having signed the requisition for the meeting along with Cr. Stopforth. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (G. A. Perry, Esq.), Councillors C. Caliari, J. L. Turner, G. Heinz, J. Fox, W. H. Stopforth, A. R. Elcock, D. P. Stuart, D. F. E. Freitas and the Town Clerk (Mr. H. G. Coles). The Mayor explained the meeting had been called for the purpose of considering four motions to be moved b? Cr. Stopforth. He asked Cr. Stopforth to proceed with the motions, which all were unanimously carried, as follows: — (1) That the Council consider the purchase of a suitable tip lorry, and equipment for tar sealing general road work. (2) That the Council increase the outside permanent staff with a man experienced in road work, and lorry driving. (3) That Hampden, Sewell, Weld and Tancred Streets be tar sealed, piped, and levelled as far as revenue will permit. (4) That, if necessary, an extra rate, not exceeding three pence, be struck for the coming year, to meet the cost of the lorry and equipment, tar, etc.

Cr. Stopforth said these works were an essential, and had been contemplated for a long period. Special works required special attention. He felt with other Councillors that they should lay down a definite policy for urgent works. The first, motion was seconded by Cr. Freitas and was unanimously carried. Cr. Stopforth then proposed: That the Council increase the outside permanent staff with a man experienced in road work and lorry driving. He also proposed that a special committee be set up to consider types of lorry, the lorry to go into operation on April 1.” This was seconded by Cr. Elcock.

Cr. Turner: Mr. Mayor, we are getting the cart before the horse. The Council has gone into the cost of a lorry. We know it will cost £5OO. An extra man will have to be paid £6 a week. Now where is the money coming from? The first item to be considered should be: “Where is the money coming from?” The Mayor: You are right Cr. Turner, but we cannot get service out of horses and drays these days. It is a serious position. Cr. Turner: We must, be certain that we can keep the lorry fully occupied. The Mayor: We should investigate. Cr. Turner: They are wanted, but do not. let us waste time, if we have not got the money. The Mayor: The big programme is tar sealing. Could the motion be modified, to engage a man to assist with the work of sealing. Tar sealing is an important work.

Cr. Turner: I am in favour of securing a permanent man. A Mr. Graham has been mentioned, and he would be an ideal selection for the job. The present staff have been good workers, but time marches on. The men in charge have no control. If men are receiving 18s 6d a day and won’t work, they should be sacked from the job. Cr. Freitas: Mr. Graham is an authority on sealing, and would be a splendid man for the Council. The Mayor: Oh, there are other men to be considered.

Cr. Elcock: I am up against any job being cut and dried for any one person. AU the Council needs is a lorry driver, the present staff have given excellent service. The Council has a foreman whose ability has been proved with regard to tar-sealing work. When the Council get their lorry they should then increase their staff by one man. The Mayor supported Cr. Elcock’s remarks objecting to a “cut and dried" job for a person. Cr. Stopforth: I do not suggest any one man In particular. Cr. Heinz: I will insist that applications be called.

Cr. Elcock: Let Cr. Stopforth add to his motion that a lorry driver be engaged. The Mayor: “I will put the motion.” He called for those in favour. Cr. Stopforth expressed his assent, while the remaining Councillors did not record assent or dissent.

The Mayor declared the motion carried. Cr. Stuart: Could the committee selected to choose a lorry also choose a suitable man. Cr. Heinz: The Council cannot do without a horse. Cr. Stuart: Trade the horse and dray in. Cr. Stopforth moved the third resolution, viz.:—That Hampden, Weld and Tancred Streets be tar-sealed, piped and levelled as far as revenue will permit.

Cr. Stopforth, in itemising the streets to be sealed, said he had only made a start. Others could be suggested. The Mayor: The Council has decided all this before. ’ It is just a matter of getting time to go on. Cr. Heinz: The men have not had time. The major works are at an end. The staff will then get ahead. The tar sealing of all the streets would come in time. There had been big handicaps in the jjast, particularly with the renewal of the watermains and the drainage scheme. They must have a little patience. The Mayor: Our present Foreman has had considerable experience. Some of his work compares more than favourably with the sealing carried out by the Public Works Department. The Council will be able to go straight on with the work now. Cr. Stopforth: What about the cost?

The Mayor: This Council tar sealed its roads for two_ thirds of what the cost would have* been if it had been carried out by the Public Works Department. Cr. Turner: I am in favour of all

the motions, but they are all old, and have been considered long ago. It just happens that some major work crops up to stop the men getting ahead. Cr. Fox: There is nothing new in Cr. Stopforth’s scheme. There is not a Skerret in the argument to call the members of this Council to a meeting to-night. The present plan is to go right ahead with the work. For 40 years the job has been going on, and the Council has been' doing piecemeal improvements to the streets and this would go on for another 440 years. It was the expressed intention of the Council to go on with the piecemeal work out of rate moneys and it seems to be the wish of the rate-payers that the work be done that way. No ice has been cut by calling this meeting. The Council should drop the scheme holus bolus.

Cr. Stopforth (jumping to his feet): Not 2 per cent of the present Councillors have done their jobs. They have been only 'using propaganda. Has the Council yet exerted itself in forming a definite policy? Councillors have not done one iota to justify their election. We all know we can Jive on our revenue. We, however, have legacies of work from past Councils; the hire of horses and drays, feeding, shoeing, and repairs, but' never a definite policy with progressive works. The Council could carry out the policy he_ proposed out of revenue. Cr. Fox’s remarks were not in keeping with the meeting. Cr. Heinz: Cr. Stopforth mentioned that, there had been no definite policy in the past. He forgets about the emergencies that arise — water works, drainage and water services. With a small staff, how could the Council get ahead? Cr. Turner: When the Chairman of Works (Cr. Heinz) brought down his policy at the start of the year, all of the Councillors complimented him, and it was decided to go right ahead. Cr. Stopforth asked if the Council had a definite minute on its books of a decision to purchase a lorry. The Mayor: There is not one of these things, except the rate, but what has been arranged for.

Cr. Stopforth: I beg to differ, Mr. Mayor. The Mayor; There is a lot of talk about the Council not. doing this and that the purchase of a lorry has been considered, so have all the other matters. That is why I have not commented upon them. You talk about the Council not getting ahead. What about the Government, ' with its housing policy, setting out to build 4,000 houses a year? How far did they get? They met emergencies, shortage of labour, wet weather, and hold up for materials, and so every local body meets the same emergencies. What about Cass Square, is that finished? No, the weather hampered that work. There is always something. Take Sewell Street drain; what did the Council meet there? Tar sealing is our main job. Am I not right gentlemen? Councillors: Yes.

The Mayor: The Council is all the time trying to do its best as far as is humanly possible. We cannot get on as fast as we want to. We all know that. If we had not had such a phenomenally wet year we would have been at least six or eignt weeks further ahead than we Are today. The Council did a good job with the water scheme —we were hurried along, as the pipe line would not hang out. Yet, to-day, we are still getting our supplies along that line. The motion was carried.

Cr. Stopforth then moved: “That if necessary, an extra rate not exceeding three-pence, he struck for the coming year to meet the cost of lorry, lar, etc.” The Mayor: I suggest Cr. Stopforth, that you withdraw No. 4 motion. This means you will increase the rates by 3d. It will put the rates up to 2s in the £, and it is a serious matter.

Cr. Stopforth: It is a precautionary measure.

Cr. Turner: I am against it. Cr. Stuart seconded the motion. The Mayor: Oh, it commits the Council to nothing.

Cr. Turner: It is ridiculous. It is the highest rate yet suggested. The Mayor: That is so.

Cr. Turner: Jobs cannot be done without special equipment, and special men, which in turn means special money. I pay rates, and all others who pay should receive some of the benefits —not just pick on certain streets. The whole of the ratepayers should benefit, not a few. The Mayor said that the words “if necessary” did not commit, the Council at all.

Cr. Freitas: Why was Sewell Street picked out? No revenue comes from that portion being sealed. Those who pay should come first. The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

Cr. Stopforth thanked fhe councillors for attending and passing the motions. There had been a lot of comment —both adverse and favourable—but despite this and also the fact mentioned that the Council had been “on the table” for the last 40 years, he felt these efforts should be made. He had been informed that there would be some friction at the meeting, but had come prepared to see the motions put through. When the signatures of three councilors were being obtained for the notice to hold this meeting, Cr. Turner had been one to sign and had been more or less in accord with the suggestions made. He had signed on condition Sewell Street was included in the tar-sealing programme. The speaker hoped the works would be nearly completed within 12 months. The Mayor: The Clerk has some other important matters to consider. The Council agreed to purchase 7,000 gallons of tar at 6d per gallon. On the request of Miss M. Daly, it was decided to connect the drainage from a new house built by applicant in Weld Street, to the Sale Street drain, a distance of 1- chains. It was decided that authority be given Mr. J. B. Ward for the removal of two pine trees on Ward road at the cemetery.

Westland County Council invited the Council to be represented at a combined meeting of the representatives of the Councils and the Hokitika Aero Club and Air Travel Company, to suggest a method of financing the cutting of the grass on the airport. The Club had no funds. Cr. Freitas: Air Travel should do the job.

Cr. Heinz: They say it is the best paying company in New Zealand.

The Mayor: Well, who are flying men? Let us appoint, representatives. The Mayor, Crs. Freitas and Stuart, were appointed to represent the Borough Council.

Kanieri Dredging Company notified the Council that the Company’s dredge would soon reach the pipe line, and asked to meet in conference to make amicable arrangements regarding a permanent deviation of the borough water-supply at Tucker Flat, on the area where the line traverses the dredging area held by the Company. The Mayor, Crs. Heinz and Freitas were appointed.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote asking Council to put a price on two sections in Upper Sewell Street, lately handed back by the Hospital Board.—The Council offered the sections at £BO each. The Commissioner also asked for price for a further reserve in the northern end of the Convent sections.—The Council agreed to offer at. £65. Cr. Turner: We have been talking about living out of revenue. We hear on all sides that rates are unpaid. What about the report, of the special committee appointed to go into this matter? The Mayor: The committee have met, and their report will be before the Council at its next, meeting, and, gentlemen, I assure you all that it is a drastic one indeed. Cr. Turner: Well, I am pleased to hear that. The meeting then closed.