MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 196, 20 July 1937, Page 14

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The Palmerston North City Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) presiding. Others present were Crs. J. Hodgens, M.P., W. B. Tennent, G. Tremaine, R. L. C. Aitchison, W. Mouldey, A. A. Langley, W. B. Cameron, J. T. J. Heatley, and J. J. Stevenson. WORKS COMMITTEE. Recommendations and reports by the works committee were adopted as follow :—That the communication from the Commissioner of Crown Lands advising that other areas sufficient for the present requirements of the Housing Construction Department had now been' secured be received. That the Palmerston North 50,000 Club (Inc.) had. written applying for the remission of the sum of £1 5s covering the hire of the Municipal Hall for an address by Hon. W. E. Barnard. It had been decided that tho amount bo written off. That the Manawatu Employers’ Association lull written advising that a complete agreement in regard to the local body labourers’ dispute had been reached, and forwarding a copy of the award. It was decided that this bo accepted and that tho council comply with the conditions contained in the agreement That Mr P. M. Butler, secretary to the New Zealand Municipal and General Workers’ Union, had forwarded a circular letter regarding the new agreement, stating that it was hoped that local bodies would adliero to the practice of paying additional wages to special men over and above the minimum. It was decided that the communication be received and that Mr Butler be advised that the council proposed to adhere strictly to the terms of the award. That the Municipal Association of New Zealand had forwarded a copy of the provisions of tho proposed award between the Local Body Officers’ Union and the various local bodies " being parties thereto in the Wellington province, and it was decided to reply to the questions submitted by the association as under:—(l) That the higest salary payable to a member of the union be £275. (2) That the limit of pay in tho ninth year of service be £275. (3) Tliat the term of the award be 18 months from October 1, 1937. (4) That the minimum or starting salary which the council would pay to a new officer is £65; and that those portions referring to the engineer’s department and electricity department be submitted to the respective heads, and that the matter be left in the hands of the Mayor and town clerk with power to act. TRANSIT COMMITTEE.

Reports and recommendations by the transit committee were adopted as follow:—That the Palmerston North Fire Board had written advising that it had instructed tho superintendent to arrange for the removal of the alarm box at the corner of Ferguson and Hereford Streets, and it was decided that the communication be received. That tho West End Progressive Association had again written requesting consideration for a late Saturday night after-pictures bus to West End. It was decided that the communication be received and that the association be advised of the lack of patronage of a bus running to West End on Friday nights; that in the opinion of the manager, the Saturday night bus would be less productive; and that, unless the association could induce additional patronage, the committee regretted that it cannot recommend the proposal. That the Palmerston North Cycle Retailers’ Association had written pointing out that a large number of cyc'|3 reflectors were of such a nature as not to comply with the traffic regulations, and it was decided that the communication he received and the matter be referred to the traffic manager for attention. That a communication had been received from a taxi firm making application for taxi stands to be allotted to the company in various portions of the city, and it was decided that the communication be received and the matter be left to the chairman and traffic manager for further information to be obtained, after which a special meeting of the committee be called to consider the report. That Messrs Collinson and Son had written making application for parking facilities for three cars within calling distance of their taxi depot in Broadway, and it was decided that the communication be received and the firm advised that the council regretted being unable to agree to their request. That Garner’s Drapery Warehouse had written making application for the marking of a pedestrian crossing in Broadway. The traffic manager had reported that a crossing was becoming necessary in this area, and it was decided that his suggestion, that the matter of arranging for a crossing be left in the hands of the chairman and himself with power to act, be given effect. That Mrs N. Novak had written complaining that the 8.20 a.m. school bus was often overcrowded with children on wet days. It was decided that the communication be received, that the secretary of the High School Board of Governors (through whom the communication was received), be advised in terms of the tpiffic manager’s report, and in addition that the council had no record of any previous report having been received regarding the matter. That the question of traffic control at the aerodrome had been considered, that the traffic manager had reported that it had been his practice to control such traffic on Satuidays and Sundays; and it was resolved that this practice bo continued.

GAS AND ELECTRICITY. The electrical engineer (Mr J. W. Muir) reported that during June the lines department had run 15 services tested 114 metres, and installed 80 meters. The total number of consumers ivas 6216 The total connected load, including street lights, was now 24 241 k.w. The quarter’s power costs had been £BIO4 14s 7d. The gas department manager (Mr Muir) reported that the output for June had been 9,360,000 cubic feet, and 535 tons of coal had been carbonised. New Zealand coal used had been

69.3 per cent., and Newcastle 30.7 per cent. Consumers now numbered 5434. . LIGHTING COMMITTEE. Reports and recommendations by tlie lighting committee were adopted as follow: That the electrical engineer had reported regarding the position of the street light serving Keeling Street, and it was decided that the light in Ngaio Street be shifted back towards Ferguson Street and that a new light be installed at the end of Ngaio Street. That the Power Boards’ Association had written inviting the council to rejoin the association, and enumerating many matters which had been carried out for the benefit of the electricity supply authorities. It was decided that the communication be received and referred to tho Municipal Electric Supply Authorities’ Association for consideration. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

Reporting on activities during June, the city engineer (Mr J. R. Hughes) stated: The usual maintenance of streets was carried out and a total of 350 cubic yards of screened river metal was spread on secondary streets, and 80 cubic yards of screened pit metal spread on various paved surfaces. One gang has been engaged throughout the month repairing weak places on paved streets and footpaths. A start was made near the end of the month on tho special works tar-isealing programme for 1937-38. The first street to be done under this heading was Marne Street, between College Street and Park Road. Footpath maintenance: The following footpaths have been patched where necessary aud topdressed with tar and fine chips: Featherston Street, south side; Ruahine Street, east side. The cleaning up of a strip 4ft wide and metalling same on the south side of Boundary Road between Ruahine and Vogel Streets, as authorised, was completed. Stormwater drainage, Heretaunga Street: A concrete pipe drain was laid from the corner of Featherston Street along Heretaunga Street to the boundary of Papaeoia Park. Fitzroy Street: Three chains of concrete pipes have been laid from tho north alignment of Alan Street across the road and along the open drain in Fitzrov Street. Two sumps at the intersection of Manson Street have been connected to the drain. Snelson Street: A concrete pipe was laid for a distance of 4 chains from a sump at the north end of Snelson Street and connecting to the main terrace water conduit at the extreme south end. Sower extension: Tho sewer in Albert Street has been extended in earthenware pipes from Manawatu Street, and at the end of the month 2J chains of pipes had been laid. General.—The renumbering of houses in Victoria Avenue, Princess Street, and Heretaunga Street lias been completed. Opera House: The wqrk authorised of painting the exterior woodwork at the Opera House has been completed, also tho dividing fence between the neighbours and the baths has been rebuilt. Damage by fire: The roof of tho vehicle shelter at the rear of the council offices, which was damaged by fire, has. been dismantled and a new roof constructed. Waterworks.—During the month 17 new services were installed, 8 services replaced, and 21 services overhauled and repaired where necessary. The 4-inch main in Ashley Street, and a joint on the main mossing tho Mangaone Stream, Botanical Road, have been repaired. The 4-inch main in Guy Street has been extended eleven chains and tested sound. GENERAL. Passengers carried by the municipal buses during June numbered 44,115, the revenue earned being £517 16s 9d. Increases of 2511 in the number of passengers carried and £35 9s 7d in the revenue earned were recorded, compared with the corresponding month of last year. “Consideration will havo to be given in the very near future to the reconstruction of tlie Mangaone bridge on Botanical Road, in concrete,” stated the city engineer when reporting that much repair work had been carried out to the northern end of the bridge, where many of the timbers were in a very bad state of decay. Replacing the previous sub-committee which had functioned, the council set up an aerodrome committee consisting of the Mayor, Crs Tremaine, Cameron and Tennent.