FEILDING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 63, 10 February 1933, Page 4

FEILDING.

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING. The first meeting of the Feilding Borough Council of the new year was held last night, the Mayor (Mr C. ETaylor) presiding. Also present were Crs. E. Fair, S. D. Pearce, T. Collins, A. C. McCorkindale, J. Corpe, A. H. Maguire, G. Kilvington and D. C. Cullinane. CORRESPONDENCE. ' From the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies’ Association and the Newmarket Borough Council, urging the council to press for a careful investigation into the proposed unification of boroughs before the step becomes the subject of legislation. The Mayor said that the move had not come from the Municipal Association, but had apparently emanated from the Government. The Mayor went on to explain the provisions of the Bill, which the speaker considered was an honest attempt to save overhead expenses. Cr. Fair suggested that the letters be sent on to Hon. J. G. Cobbe for his information, this being agreed to. From the Newmarket Borough Council advising that it had forwarded a remit to the Municipal Association Conference protesting against the disproportionate representation of smaller boroughs on the Municipal Association’s executive. —The Mayor said he was in accord with the protest, stating that besides himself the only representation the small boroughs had on the executive was the Mayor of Rotorua, the president of the executive. On the motion of the Mayor, it was decided to support the remit. From the Kaiapoi Borough Council, requesting the council to support a move to the Minister of Finance regarding the reducing of the bank rate. —Supported, the Mayor stating that steps along this line were already taking place. BOROUGH RATES. Commenting on the rate payments received, the Mayor said that the payment of 90 per cent, of the rates was a compliment to the council and a recognition by the public of the council’s efforts to keep the rates as low as possible. The fact that this amount had been forthcoming before the 10 per cent, penalty had been put on reflected in no small way the solidarity of the borough. Continuing, the Mayor referred to the debit balance in the rates of £1377, and was afraid that all of this would not be forthcoming before the end of the financial year. At the present time_ the speaker could not tell the council just how the borough finances stood, but before the next meeting this information would be forthcoming. It looked, however, in the light of the present figures, as if for the first time in the six years the Mayor had been connected with the council there would be a debit balance at the end of the financial year m the general account. It would be small, however, and Mr Taylor was sure that the record established by the council in collecting 90 per cent, of its rates up to the present was one that would not be equalled by many boroughs in New Zealand. All would agree that the borough’s finances were very sound and that the end of the financial year would find the position quite safe. The Mayor briefly went on to review the treasurer’s statement of accounts for the period ended December 31, 1932, the report being adopted.

GENERAL NOTES. During January, 1933, 13 cows, 31 oxen, 67 heifers, 324 wethers, 84 ewes, 82 lambs, 1047 pigs and 1 vealer were dealt with at the municipal abattoir. Fees amounted to £220 14s 8d as compared with £236 11s 7d for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of £ls 16s lid. At the borough library last month 1493 books were changed by 235 subscribers. . , , Ten building permits to a value ot £1421 were issued in Feilding during December and January. _ , Crs A. C. McCorkindale and T. Collins were appointed to represent the council at the 50tli anniversary of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows Lodge next month. . , For the balance of the council s term in office Cr S. D. Pearce was appointed chairman of the reserves committee, vice the late Cr D. Pryde. The Mayor and the town clerk were appointed to represent _ the council at the forthcoming Municipal Association’s Conference at Rotorua.

FOOTPATH REPAYMENT LOAN. At a special meeting of the Borough Council last night the question of passing a special order in connection with the raising of the £3500 footpath repayment loan was finalised and a special resolution making and levying the special rate as security for the loan passed. LATE CR D. PRYDE. Prior to the commencement of the business of the Feilding Borough Council last night,, .the Mayor (Mr C. E. Taylor) made reference to the passing of the late Cr X). Pryde. Jhe deceased gentleman, t-lie Mnyor said, had an almost unbroken record of service on the Borough Council of 'l3 years, having served under five Mayors since his election in April, 1920. Til Cr Pryde, the Mayor went on, the council’ had lost the service of one who always had the advancement of the borough at heart, and his vacant chair brought home to the council the realisation of its loss and yet recalled associations with the deceased which the council was happy to retain. As chairman of the reserves committee. Cr Pryde had displayed,to the utmost his love for the beautiful. His had been a delightful spirit, and by his passing the council had lost a conscientious servant and the town a publie-snirited citizen. .Mr Taylor moved that the council place on record its appreciation of the 13 years’ service to the burgesses.of Feilding rendered by tbe late Cr Prvde, and that a copy of the resolution’ he sent to the relatives of the deceased gentleman. Cr S’ D. Pearce supported tne remarks of the Mayor, the motion being carried in silence. BAPTIST MISSION. The Feilding Baptist "Women’s Missionary "Union held its first meeting on "Wednesday afternoon, when Miss Tolley gave lin interesting address on mission work in Fiji. Alter the opening hymn and prayer a solo was rendered by Mr Kendall and much enjoyed. • ■ , The president. Miss E. G. Shearer, welcomed Miss Tolley and a menlbei presented the guest with a bouquet carried out in autumn tints. Miss Tolley spoke of the work being done amongst the Fijians especially among the women and girls, her account of the mission holding tlie interest of all. Snapshots taken in Suva, where Miss Tolley is stationed, were handed round Afternoon tea brought to a close a happy and profitable afternoon.

CATHERINE STREET PROPOSAL. DONATIONS TOWARDS COST. The question of the extension of the Sandon Road to link lip with Warwick Street in a direct line as proposed by Mr R. M. Watson, S.M., recently, again came before tire Borough Council last night, when a letter was received from the Feilding Chamber of Commerce, enclosing a petition from a number of ratepayers, praying that the work be proceeded with. The petition included a cheque for £202 towards the cost of the work. The Mayor said the council could hardly do anything in the matter until the standing motion of the council, that all streets should be named after past Mayors, was rescinded. In this case the stipulation was that the new street should be named “Catherine Street,” and this required a notice of motion to bring about, and this the Mayor was quite prepared to receive. However, the speaker would have preferred the matter to have come along about three months later. The council at present did not know its financial position, and Mr Taylor was not prepared to commit the incoming council to a capital charge and a definite annual charge as matters stood. Mr Taylor reviewed the question of the options over the sections required for the formation of the deviation, stating that all of them had expired and would require fresh negotiations to renew. Mr Taylor was quite averse to committing the next council to the expense the work entailed and when it was remembered that the Urban Farm Lands Rating Bill would call for considerable expense by the council the aspect of the matter became worse.

Mr Taylor detailed briefly the approximate expense of the deviation, stating that the council could not possibly get out of it under £IOO, with a definite annual charge of from £ls to £2O. It would not do any harm to have the matter stood down until the next meeting of the council, when the estimates for the year were being considered. The Mayor directed attention to the fact that among the signatories to the petition were some of the largest ratepayers of the town, and their request was entitled to and would receive full consideration. At the present juncture the petition was embarrassing to the Mayor, and he would rather it was stood down for the time being. Cr. D. C. Cullinane said he had previously opposed the work being done, on the score of expense, but now that the greater part of this sum had • been found the speaker intended to support the petition. Tire Mayor replied that the council should know before it acted just what it should be committed to, and in this connection he referred to the matter of the options. Cr. E. Fair could see no advantage in postponing action, the present being a favourable time, he said, to hgve the work carried out. Cr. Fair thought there was a chance of the work costing less than the estimate, and as for fire annual charge it was not very big, but in the mind of the speaker the work was worth it. Cr. Fair eulogised the work of Mr Watson. in getting np the petition and the list of donations, and thought the council could find its share of the cost quite safely. Cr. A. C. McCorkindale recalled that he had originally supported the project, but he was quite in accordance with tire Mayor’s advice that the matter be held over for a month until the council knew definitely where it was financially. The speaker believed that the scheme was in the best interests of Feilding, but at the same time lie thoroughly disagreed with the stipulation that the street should De named “Catherine.” The council had passed a resolution that streets be named after past Mayors as a recognition of their services, and on this point the speaker felt strongly. He would like this matter referred back to the sponsors of the project for reconsideration.

The Mayor pointed out that this aspect had to be considered before the main proposal could he voted on. He himself had no strong objections on this point, but if Cr McCorkindale had the objection would have to stand. Cr McCorkindale then moved that tbe petition be referred back to the originators with a view to the waiving of the “Catherine Street” stipulation, Cr G. Kilvington seconding the motion. As an amendment Cr Cullinane moved that the standing orders of the council be suspended to allow the matter to he finalised and, if decided upon, the question of name to be decided later.

The Mayor said he could not accept the amendment for the reason that it required a motion by itself. Cr S. D. Pearce said bis views on the subject bad undergone a change since the large donation bad been put forward by tlie ratepayers, and be now intended to support the work being gone on with. Cr Fair agreed with Cr McCorkindale’s views and thought that Mr Watson should have the opportunity given him of waiving his stipulation to the name of “Catherine” lor the street. The council had set a precedent in the matter of names and it should be adhered to. A month’s delay would not harm the project. The Mayor said he was pleased to hear Cr Fair’s views and gave his assurance that at the next meeting of the council lie would place no objection to the standing orders of council being .suspended to deal with the question of the name of the street. On the grounds that the council should know where it stood before it acted, the Mayor objected that the standing orders he suspended at the present meeting. Cr McCofkindiile’s motion was then put to tlie vote, the Mayor, Cr McCorkindale, Cr -Fair and Cr Kelvington voting in the affirmative and Crs Pearce, Collins, Cullinane. Corpe and Maguire against it. The Mayor declared tlie motion lost, pointing out that approach to the Feilding Chamber of Commerce was now blocked. Mr Taylor then gave notice of intention to move that the resolution naming streets after past Mayors be amended to allow of a departure from tlie terms of the resolution if it is decided by tbe council that the same is warranted. The town clerk was instructed also to ascertain full particulars in regard to the options on tlie land, etc., and other details.

“KITCHEN” TEA. A large number of Miss Eileon Geary’s friends assembled at St. John’s kindergarten schoolroom on Tuesday evening to tender her a kitchen tea. The decorations were most effectively carried out with hydrangeas, and Misses Molly Petrie and Marjorie Morphy, who were the organisers, had made very complete arrangements lor the enjoyment of all present. The greater portion of tho guests arrived with the earliest possible photographs of themselves, and these made a quaint collection. A prize was awardled Miss Nellie Guthrie, who identified the largest number. Gaines were indulged in, the latter part of the evening being given up to dancing. Songs

by Mrs A. E. Golding and Miss E. Taylor added to the pleasure of a very happy party, and a comic song by Messrs W. Geary and A. Taylor was also much enjoyed. Music for dancing was contributed by Mr A. E. Golding. Following supper, the many presents received by the bride-elect were opened and admired. Miss Geary, who was charmingly frocked in navy beau de chine, with trimmings of lemon broderie Anglaise, expressed appreciation of the kindness shown her, and Mr Street, her fiance, also made a brief speech suitable to the occasion. ABATTOIR DISTRICT. In the near future all meat killed at the Feilding freezing works and used for consumption in the borough of Feilding will be subject to the payment of abattoir fees, the Feilding Borough Council and the Oroua County Council having agreed upon an extension of the borough abattoir district to include the works at Aorangi. Under the new arrangement, the Oroua County Council will receive 20 per cent, of the fees collected by the Borough Council from the butcher’s shop at the freezing works. BOWLING. On Saturday the Feilding Bowling Club is sending six rinks to Marton for an inter-club match.