FOXTON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 201, 15 July 1936, Page 10

FOXTON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) FOXTON, July 14. According to a statement made at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, there is a possibility of a collapse at the municipal gasworks und even if the works do hold together there is a probability of their being closed down or disposed of in the near future. In his monthly report the gas manager (Mr A. G. Thomson) stated that the bed of retorts at- the works had been a source of anxiety dm ng the past month anti the fUrnace had become shaky. The report was formally adopted and apparently the matter was disposed of. but later in the evening Cr 1. Chaffer asked the Mayor tom ake an a: iiouneement ns to whether or not it was possible ic: the council to carry on with the gasworks in their present state c: repair, lii-:- c.erk (Mr W. Trueman) : I think I am sate i: saying that about 20 per cent c: our consumers are onfv sticking to us out c: loyalty and I don’t think that tine- wcum mind if the works were c.osed tievr. Others, of course, are tin: ociiliy involve*: with gas appliances. The Mayor: It t= those wo are concerned about. Cr. Co a Gey paid the reason why gas was not being installed locally was because the prospective consumer was not given any c. tidence to intal it by the council, ft was fairly safe to predict a housing scheme would be started at an early date by the Government, itid Foxton, in common with other places, would benefit as a result. Cr D. U. Barron said that for the past five years the matter had been allowed to drift and he thought tliat it was high time for the council to ‘‘get down to tin tacks.” The Mayor: There is a possibility that the retorts will collapse any lime. The people have been warned before. \\ e simply cannot advise them to go in for now gas appliances as we have no finance ro purchase new equipment at the inoimi.t. It was finally resolved to hold a special meeting at an early date to come to a definite decision in regard to the fate of the works.

The Borough Counci! docs not intend to wait until it is compulsory to adopt the 40-hour week. At last night’s meeting it was> decided that the requirements of the Act, which become operative as from September 1, be adopted_ as from August 1. At last month’s meeting of the Borough Council a resolution was passed asking the .Minister of Labour for exemption from the operation of the 40-hour week in connection with the local gasworks as it was considered that it Wfuld seriously embarrass the council's finances. In a reply to the council's communication, read at last ni'dit’s meeting, the Minister of Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) stated that he regretted that ho was unable to grant any exemption now that the Act had been passed. Cr F. Robinson said that now the 40-hour week was becoming operative it was more than ever necessary to have a universal Saturday hall-holiday. 11 this was not adopted the small towns would he very detrimentally affected as most of the shopping would be done in the main centres. The Mayor said that a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce would be held at an early date, when the matter would be fully discussed. It would be useless, he eaidj for Fox ton to adopt a Saturday half-holiday if Palmerston North shops remained open on that day. At a meeting of the Blanket Society correspondence was read and discussed and the nurse’s report read and received. Accounts amounting to £4 were passed for payment. •