LOCAL BODY AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20794, 10 February 1931, Page 15

LOCAL BODY AFFAIRS.

MOUNT EDEN BOROUGH.

COLLECTION OF RATES.

The placing of about 80 unemployed on works in the Mount Eden borough yesterday morning without first consulting the council caused considerable criticism to be levellecj. at the Mayor, Mr. E. H. Potter, at a meeting of the Borough Council last evening. Mr. Potter explained that he had had no opportunity of calling the council together before last evening and his action was endorsed by the meeting.

"With two months of the financial year yet to go 91 per cent, of the rates have now been collected. I congratulate the borough ratepayers on paying up so promptly in a time of depression," said Mr. Potter.

A recommendation of the Works Committee that a limit of £20,000 be placed upon the amount of work to be done in any one year was adopted. It was stated that this limit was to be observed, provided that no satisfactory reply was received from the Minister of Finance to a request regarding interest and sinking fund for the loan for the completion of drainage works in the borough.

The Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, wrote stating that ho was adviSed that the railway bridge in Mount Eden Road would, with ordinary repairs, meet requirements for some years and he was, therefore, unable to authorise any expenditure on the bridge. The letter was received.

Permission was granted to the Crystal Palace, Capitol and Empire picture theatres to give benefit performances next Sunday evening in aid of the earthquake relief fund. Permission was granted subject to the performances not starting before 8.20, so as not to interfere with church services and the approval of the programmes by the Mayor. MOUNT ALBERT RATING. CHANGE IN SYSTEM SOUGHT. POLL TO BE HELD TO-MORROW. A poll on the proposal to rescind tho system of rating on unimproved values in the Mount Albert Borough will be submitted to the ratepayers to-morrow. The poll is to be held as tho result of a petition from ratepayers. If the proposal is carried the borough will have to revert to the system of rating on the capital value, which was in operation before the advent of the present system. This is a statutory regulation, but there is provision for a further change/ if necessary, after 12 months. Polling will be conducted between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ONEHUNGA COUNCIL. PROGRESS OF WORKS.

The Onehunga Borough Council met last evening, tho Mayor, Mr. E. Morton, presiding. The chairman of the Reserves Committee, Mr. A. C. Tonkin, reported that 12 seats would be required on the esplanade', and suggested that public-spirited citizens be invited lo donate them. The foreman reported that the relief works were approaching completion and that there was a balance of £6B available on the ex-servicemen's relief jobs. It was decided to expend this money in cutting down Grey Street West, fronting Jellicoe Park, to the approximate level of Hill Street. A start had been made on Hill Street and a balance of £4OO was available for labour on this work. It was decided to proceed with the Anglo Street drainage, application to bo made to tho Unemployment Board for a subsidy of £2OOO, comprising £ISOO for drainage and £SOO for laying out Miss Watts' reserve and street and footpath formation.