BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1560, 16 June 1920, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MFFTIN G. The Palmerston North Borough Council met last evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr J. A. Nash, M.P.), and Councillors M. H. Oram, L. R. Bryant, S. R. Lancaster, L. H. Crabb, A. J. Graham, C. F. Spooner ami .)■ Hodgens. From the Philosophical Society asking that serious consideration be given their application I'm- a lurther grant towards maintain; m- the Museum and Observatory. ..no pointing out that the Scientific Co; - ess will be held here next January. :’d the expenses of the local brand' re same will be considerable. — H-ferred to Finance Committee. From the Prime Minister intimating that the Board of Trade has allotted 35 tons of Portland cement for the use of the Council, and advising as to how same can be procured.—Received. From the Palmerston North Board pointing out that the services of firemen when engaged at local houses of entertainment are now paid 3/ per night when in attendance, and asking- that the Council in future pay a like amount when firemen are engaged at the Opera House. —Agreed to.

From the Minister of Internal Affairs intimating that owing- to extreme scarcity of paper further free copies of the New Zealand Gazette to the Council be discontinued.—The Mayor said he thought the Town Clerk should be instructed to write to the Minister pointing- out the absolute necessity for the Gazettes to be sent to the Council so that it could keep in touch with the doings of the Government affecting councils, and asking that free copies should be supplied as before. GENERAL. In accordance with his notice of motion, Cr Crabb moved: “That the resolution carried on 23rd April re taking a loan of £3OOO for the purpose of installing a temporary system of traction be rescinded.” —Agreed to. The Reserves Committee recommended that the curator should be empowered to take action against persons playing football on the North Street Park on Sundays.—Cr Crabb said that the playing of football on the grounds was a nuisance to people in the vicinity.—Cr Hoddens opposed the recommendation. He did not think the Council had at any time attempted to block Sunday sport and had indeed catered for the swimmers on Sundays. Why should they block the playing of football? —The Mayor: There is no objection to them playingin Fitzherbert Street, but this is all exposed.—Cr Oram asked if the Council was within its rights to prevent playing on Sundays. He mentioned that in a recent test case in Wellington it had been proved that any such action on the part of a council was ultra vires. He moved it should be referred to the borough solicitor. — This was agreed to. In view of the large amount of work in front of the Borough Council, Cr M. 11. Oram withdrew his two notices of motion regarding thd nationalising of the cement industry and reform of civic administration, remarking that he could bring them up again at a later date. The Housing Committee recommended the adoption of a plan showing two semi-detached workers’ dwellings, which it was proposed to erect near the abattoirs. The Mayor and Cr. Hodgens both objected to the semi-detached type of house, the latter remarking that they- were not favoured by- the prospective occupants. Cr. Crabb intimated that it was impossible to combine cheapness and beauty of form. The matter was held over.