LOWER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 27, 27 November 1930, Page 11

LOWER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

yflie regular meeting of tiio Lower Hutt Borough Council was held on Monday evening. There were present the Mayor (Sir Alex. Roberts), Crs. W. Cr. Meldrum, I>. S. Patrick, J. Mitchell, F. Campbell, and A. Grierson. Apologies were received, from Crs. McBain and J. E. Boyd:

The Blthaan Borough. Council stil)mitted for the Council's consideration and support a scheme for th.o relief of ;un«mpiopineait "which has been prepared by His Worship the Mayor of Eltham (Mr. J. J. Bridger). T3ie Mayor thougiht the scheane amiglit well foe given :» trial and outlined its objects. Each, settler would be given 200 acres of land in the Botoniia district free of rates and charges for 10 years and at •Kh© expiration, of that time it. would 3>e subject to a nominal rental. The •land is to be held on a 66 years' ]ease, wath right of renewal. The Government would provide the housing, fencing and implements. Sir Alex t&ought the land might be bTought into use as dafiry farms. "One difficulty was that the number of persons it -was likely to iaieeammpdaite would necessarily be small (probably 500 families) in comparison to the number of unemployed. The 3tten -would be employed on road work for two days a week. At the end of 10 years it was estimated that the land would be worth £10 per acre Or. Campbell thought the scheme anighit well be given consideration as it was better than employing temporary measures and moved that tie Government be asked to give it consideration. " i

In reply to a question the Mayor said the land would be within reasonable distance of the rail heads. Or. Meldxum seconded the motion.

Cr. Mitchell supported the suggestion.

Or. Patriet was of the opinion thait the Council should have more time to consider the scheme before coming to a .decision. This was agreed to and all councillors will be supplied with a copy of t&e report and discuss it at a later meeting.

Tho application of the Bus Department for permission to increase the bus fares, with a minimum fare of 4d and elimination of return tickets was unanimously opposed.

Cr. Campibell pointed out that ready and dheap transport was vital to the Sujtt. The present time was not opportunWwhen everyone was looking for a redaction in the cost of living. Doing away with the return fares was wrong arid unless the department could show some very good reason he would streoiu«ously oppose it.

Cr. Patrick supported the previous speaker and said that to charge a minimum fare of 4d was -wrong, snob, an increase was going to seriously affect the business people of the Hutt. He pointed out that -with few exceptions all commodities were on. the down grade and he waa strongly opposed to any increase in the fares.

Or. Meldrum took the same view and thought that the taxation was already more than the people could carry. Cr. Campbell remarked that if the anuses were not paying, the system should be overhauled to see what savings could be xna<de, rather than impose <axtra faxes.

Cr. Meldrum was of the same opinion and pointed out some of the wastage that was occurring particularly on the railways.

The following gentlemen were appointed to serve on the Unemployment JDommittee set up by Mr. Nash for the purpose of acting in conjunction with the Unemployment Board:—Council's TepTesentative, Cr. J. Mitchell; the local member of the Hospital Board, Mr C. B. Robinson, and Mr. A. D. Thomson, an ex-magistrate Tetired .