City Administration

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 236, 6 October 1936, Page 8

City Administration

MATTERS BEFORE COUNCIL.

The Palmerston North City Council met last night, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) presiding. Also present were Crs. G. Tremaine, R. L. C. Aitchison, J. T. J. Heatley, J. J. Stevenson. \V. B. Cameron, W. B. Tcnnent, W. Mouldey and A. A. Langley. An apo'ogy for absence was received from Cr. J. Hodgens, M.P.

A letter from the Takaro Progressive Association expressed disappointment that nothing had so far becii done in the matter of coping with the overflow waters from the Kawau drain during flood-time. It was decided to advise the association that the council was unable to proceed with the work until Parliamentary sanction was obtained, and that it be requested to state “to what decision of the council reference is made in the concluding paragraph of their letter of the sth instant.” ’ .

Residents of Pirie street requested the tar-sealing of the roadway, and it was resolved to advise them that a programme of works had already been framed for the current year and that the application will be further considered when next year’s estimates were being dealt with.

The Tiritea Women’s Institute wrote in reference to the lease of portion of the reservoir site and advised that it required a 50 years’ lease, with right of renewal, of an area of 00ft. by 200 ft., and agreeing to pay cost of survey, fences and advertising. It was decided to inform the institute that, when the city engineer met Mesdames Andrews and Webster, representatives of the institute, it was understood that they required only sufficient land upon which to erect a hall and that 21 years was the longest term the council could grant, and that the cost of survey, legal expenses, etc., would be approximately £25, exclusive of the cost of boundary fences.

With referenco to the construction of a stopbank on the new golf links, the city curator (Mr P. Black) reported that he had been advised by the local Labour Department that the work could be proceeded with and would be subsidised at the rate of £2 5s per man week. It -was resolved that the curator be authorised to proceed with the work, provided availability of subsidy is confirmed in writing by the department. The Public Works Department advised that it had taken over the education reserve, being part section 310, and submitted a tentative lay-out of buildings, etc., showing thereon a proposed street, 51ft. in width, running between Cuba and Main streets. It was decided that approval be given to the construction of a street of the width mentioned.

The Wellington Labourers and General Workers’ Union advised that u 40-hour week should be worked from Monday to Friday inclusive and that any work on Saturday should bo paid for at overtime rates, and offering to discuss with the council tho matter of making a general agreement covering outside employees. The city engineer reported that he had made inquiries from the local Labour Department and ho verified the statement regarding the 40-hour week. It was decided that the matter bo referred to tho Municipal Association with a request as to the position between members of the union and the Wellington City Council and whether the association would advise the Palmerston North council to execute a similar agreement with its employees. Reporting under date of September 17, tho electrical engineer (Mr J. W. Muir) stated that practically all the work on the diesel plant had now been completed, with tho exception of a general clean-up of tho power station yard. The extra silencing chambers had been completed and they were successful in making the new plant at least as quiet, or no more noisy, than the old gas engine plant. As gas manager, Mr Muir reported an increase of 032,000 cubic feet in the output of gas for August, as compared with the corresponding month of 1935. A start had been made in pulling dow r u the old retorts in readiness for rebuilding them. The abattoir manager (Mr A. M. Spilman) presented tho following return for September: —Stock slaughtered: Cows 314, heifers 139, bullocks GO, calves 11, ewes 982, wethers 531, lambs 0, pigs 93. Stock condemned: Cows 14, sheep 10. Fees received: £334 4s 9d. Six head of stock were impounded during September by the poundkeeper (Mr T. Wood) and fees received totalled £1 13s.