AFFAIRS OF THE CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20897, 12 June 1931, Page 13

AFFAIRS OF THE CITY.

VALUATION ADJUSTMENTS. MEMBERS AND TRAM PASSES. REGIONAL PLANNING SCHEME. The City Council met last evening, the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, presiding. The city valuer reported adjustments to the valuation roll made since the sitting of the Assessment Court as the result of a special inspection. On account of new buildings and improvements, the total rateable valuee had been increased by £8938, less £549 on account of buildings demolished or destroyed by fire, leaving a net increase of £8389. Regarding an inquiry by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce concerning the council's efforts at economy, and its opinions on the constitution of hospital boards, the burden of their levies upon local bodies, and the advisability of reducing the number of local bodies in .New Zealand, the Finance Committee recommended that the chamber bo informed (1) that the council, in framing estimates, would make every reasonable endeavour to keep down the burden of rates; (2) that the constitution of the Hospital Board was a subject which the council would be willing to discuss with the board itself and other local bodies affected, if invited; and (3) that with regard to local authorities, the committee had no recommendation to make. The report was adopted. The director of town-planning, in a letter, stated that in view of the desire expressed by a largo number of the local bodies in the Auckland regional district to have a regional committee set up for the preparation of a regional planning scheme, the Town-Planning Board had resolved to recommend all the 27 local authorities to pass resolutions deciding to unite for that purpose. _ On receipt of two or more such resolutions the board would proceed to gazette the boundaries of the region and advise the authorities of the further steps to be taken to set up a committee and prepare the scheme. The matter was referred to the TownPlanning Committee for a report. A petition was received from 12 business firms asking for the provision of better street lighting at the intersection of Vulcan Lane and High Street. The petitioners stated that attempts had been made to break and enter premises in the vicinity. The matter was referred to the Works Committee. . A petition was also received from all the owners of property in Swanson Street asking that the street be made a one-way traffic route for vehicles descending the grade. The matter was referred to the Legal and By-Laws Committee. It was resolved, on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, that representations be made to the Minister of Internal Affairs in regard to the council I being empowered to purchase tram passes for the councillors, and that local members of Parliament be requested to give their support thereto. Also, that in the meantime application be made to the Auckland Transport Board for the issue of free tram passes to councillors. A request that the council should recommend the reduction of fire insurance rates in the St. Heliers Bay district was received from a resident, who stated that the fire-fighting facilities had been improved, but, that the insurance companies declined to reduce their rates without a recommendation from the local authority. The waterworks engineer reported that except in a few outlying streets the facilities were quite as good as in other suburban areas of the city. He suggested, however, that a report be obtained from the superintendent of the fire brigade. It was decided to ask the Fire Underwriters Association to adjust the rates.