THE CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 7

THE CITY COUNCIL.

SEPARATE HEALTH DISTRICT.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S SCHEME.

The Auckland City Council met last evening, the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, presiding. There were also present: Messrs. G. Baildon, J. A. Warnock, G. Knight, A. E. Dowry, G. R. Hutchinson, J. Robertson, C. G. Maclndoe, F. W. H. Brinsden, T. Bloodworth, J. Dempsey, J. A. C. Allnm, S. I. Crookes, J. W. Hardley, M. J. Bennett, J. B. Paterson, C. H. Furness, T. T. Garland, J. Donald, and A. J. Entrican. -•' The rates, in accordance with the estimates for the current year, were struck. The total of the rates amounts to 3s lOd in the £, a reduction of Id over those of last year. The proposal recently made by the Director-General of Health that each of the four main centres of the Dominion should appoint a full-time medical officer of health, came before the council in the form of a circular letter. The scheme proposed is that the cities be constituted separate health districts, the officers appointed to confine themselves entirely to the city area 3 and to be primarily rasponsiblo to" the local authority, and only secondarily to the department. It was suggested that the local authority pay one-half of the salary of the officer. The proposal was referred to the Works Committee for a report. The draft of an agreement with the Auckland Coach and Car Builders' Union, covering the coach and car builders, painters and helpers employed by the City Tramway Department, was submitted by the tramways manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, who stated that the proposed agreement was acceptable to . the men concerned. "It was shown that 23 coach workers and four helpers were affected and that the' proposed rate for journeymen coach builders was 2£d in excess of thf» present rate an hour, representing £585 10s per annum. The rate for helpers was l£d an hour in excess of the present rates, or a total of £50 17s per annum. Payment for eleven public holidays would absorb another £282 14s. It was stated that if the proposed agreement were acceptable to the council the union would enter into a two-years term, bringing it into line with the dates of the agreement with other skilled workers. - On the recommendation of the Tramways Committee the council decided to confirm the agreement. Advice was received from the Auckland Hospital Board that the levy on the council for tho year 1924-25 was £25,764 3s 3d. This was received, full provision having been made in the estimates. The council decided to call tenders for the proposed alterations at the .Epsom Branch Library. On the recommendation of the Finance and Legal Committee the licenses to drive motor-cabs, held by Thomas Edward Ireland and Leslie Martin, were cancelled.