GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1944, Page 3

GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING

The Grcymoutl) Borough Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham) presiding. Also present were Councillors P. Blanehfield, J- E. Stokes, H. Hutchinson, W. H. Herring, A. L. McKay, G. R. Harker, J. B. Kent, T. Caldwell and F. F. Boustridge, also the Town Clerk (M’r F. H. Denton).' The Grey County Council wrote, in response to- the Council’s enquiry, stating that no subsidy had been received from the Government on mining property taken over by the State and the total rateable capital value of the riding concerned had been reduced. On the same matter the Runanga Borough Council advised that the Council did not receive a subsidy, but that the matter was at present the subject of representations. No reduction had been made in the capital value consequent on the properties being taken over by the Mines Department. The Brunner Borough Council advised that it now received £lOOO a year subsidy in lieu of rates formerly paid to the Grey Valley and Brunner Collieries. The rateable capital value of the Brunner Borough prior to the taking over by the State Mines Department of the Grey Valley and Brunner Collieries amounted to £191,475. The rateable capital' value as at March 31 last amounted to £94,060. —Referred to a committee consisting of Crs McKay and Kent. The Westland, Grey and Inangahua County Councils advised the appointment erf delegates to attend a meeting at Greymouth to discuss the setting up of a Catchment Board. Crs Blanchfield, Boustridge and Hutchinson were appointed to represent the Council. The District Engineer, N.Z. Railways, wrote advising that the Department was willing to lease to the Council .a part of. Railway Reserve at Karoro on a year-to-year tenure terminable on one month’s -notice at a rental of £1 a year.—Accepted. The Mayor said that the purpose was to retain control of the area. The Principal, Greymouth Technical High School, wrote regarding the drain running along the southern boundary of the school hostel property, stating that it created a nuisance to a near neighbour by overflowing and at other times through mosquitoes, etc. The Council was asked to undertake the work of abating the nuisance, charging the School' Board such part of the cost as was thought fair. —Left to the Engineer with power to act, a report to be made to the next meeting if the remedy suggested was not satisfactory. Mr J. Fleming, Stock Inspector, Department of Agriculture, Greymouth, wrote advising that all sources of the Borough milk supply, including dairy herds and dairies, were regularly inspected by the Department. In addition the. Health Department officers kept in toucn with the vendors. The inspector stated he would be glad at any. time to meet the Council’s milk supply committee and discuss with it any matters likely to be of benefit to the consuming public.—Referred to the milk committee. Hon. J. O’Brien advised that the application of the proposed Milk Bill to Greymouth was largely dependant on the report of the committee of investigation which had visited Greymouth. Mr A N. Campbell, District Rehabilitation Officer, wrote stating that the Rehabilitation Board was unable to grant a subsidy for the tr a ining of returned serviceman as a slaughterman. The opinion of doctors was that the man in question was able to carry on his former occupaton and the Board’s policy was not to train a man in another trade unless his physical disability was such as to preclude him from following his pre-service occupation. The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council forwarded a copy iof its first bulletin. Mr H. Lane, Borough Inspector, advised that he had inspected the property of Mrs E. Benny, Cobden, regarding a complaint that water was running from the roof of a neighbour’s garage on to her section. He had explained that the matter w.as between the owner of the adjoining property and herself.—Decided to write confirming the Inspector’s explanation. The Municipal Association of New Zealand advised that the annual conference wduld be held on November I, 2 and 3.—Decided that the Council be represented by the Mayor. The Town Clerk, Christchurch, forwarded a questionnaire prepared by the South Island Local Bodies’ Associaton and the minutes of the executive meeting. The Town Clerk, Sumner, forwarded a resolution passed by the Sumner Borough Council requesting the Government to grant the Council an interest-free loan of £50,000 direct from the Reserve Bank at cost of issue, same to be self-amor-tising over a period of 30 years for the purpose of building homes within the borough for discharged serviceTlie secretary, Grey Hospital Board advised that the Board was prepared to meet the charges in connection with the closing of High Street but that the ime of closing, was dependent on how soon the. Board’s new building pogramme was proceeded with. | The Blaketown-F’reston Road Ratepayers’ Association wrote protesting against the proposal to store the town clock, also asking that the Council-construct a pedestrian safety zone at the Mackay-Boundary-Her-bert-Gresson Street intersection.— decided to re-mark the zone, Inspector Lane to discuss the matter further with the secretary of the Association. , The Westland District Progress League wrote forwarding recommendations: (1) That the Town Clock be placed in a conspicuous position immediately it is removed from the Post Office; and (2) that the clock be erected on the hill site as soon as possible after removal from the Post Office. I On the motion of Cr Boustridge, a I committee was set up to make full enquiries regarding a suitable site, the possible cost of re-erection, and all other details in connection with the matter, Crs Herring, Blanchfield and Boustridge to comprise the committee.

The Westland .agent, Local Bodies’ and other Labourers’ Union, wrote asking that the men working ,on> the streets on Saturday mornings have their hours of work altered to bring them back to the ordinary 40 hours from Monday to Friday. He stated that the present procedure was for the men to work 44 hours one week and 36 hours the next, making 80 hours for the fortnight.—Referred to the Works Committee

The Provincial Secretary, Westland Girl Guides, wrote asking for permission to clean up old graves at the KAroro Cemetery during “Birthday Week,” September 30 to October 7.—Permission was granted. The Greymouth Highland Pipe Band wrote asking for a grant, stating that in June, 1942, the Council, in reply to a similar request, had stated that a grant could not be made at that time. It was pointed out that the band had had to pay miner members for time lost in attending parade such as that to mark

the liberation of Paris, the total amount being something over' £6. It was decided to make a g r^ n n t line ° i i £10" 10s, members of the Council making appreciative references to the way in which the band turned cut on' all public occasions. It was decided to a PPr°y e the transfer of Part Reserve 198, Lots 3 and 4> from W. E. Larcombe, to F 'Co?res”ndenee was the Napier Borough Council, Cemetery Board. Palmerston North RnrouEh Council, Wanganui City Councfl Oamaru Cemetery Trustees and Christchurch City Council recarding fees for interpient and for the interment of ashes. Referred to Cemetery Committee.