BIRKENHEAD BOROUGH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20950, 13 August 1931, Page 13

BIRKENHEAD BOROUGH.

SMALL INCREASE !N RATES. PROVISION FOR FIRE LEVY. A decision to increase rates by one farthing in the pound was made at- a meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council last evening. The Mayor, Mr. J. P. McPhail, moved that the rates be struck in accordance with notice, a total of 6fd in the pound, beside a water consumer's rate of Id, a special Fire Board rate on buildings of 5-32 d and a sanitation charge of 355. An amendment that the Fire Board rate of 5-32 d be not struck was carried. The Mayor said £353 had to be provided for the Fire Board levy and the position was that items of proposed expenditure in the # general account would have to be reduced to that extent or the general rate' increased by one-farth-ing. A further amendment that the general rate be increased by one farthing was* carried on the casting vote of'the Mayor. The rates, as amended, were then , adopted, making a total of 7d, besides water and sanitatibn charges. This is an increase <?f one farthing in the poupd, compared with last year. In response to a circular from ths Auckland Headmastero' Association it was decided to adopt the suggested speed limit of ten miles an hour for motor vehicles passing schools. The Minister of Internal Affairs wrot® stating that on account of the urgent financial business engaging the attention of the Government this, session it would not be possible to bring down an amendment to section 69 of the Rating Act, 1925. exempting unimproved valuerrating from (.he requirement to refund half-rates' where a dwelling is unoccupied for six months in any financial year. Mr. H. G. R. Mason, M.P., advised that he intended to introduce a bill, on the lines desired. The waterworks engineer reported that 2.422.000 gallons of water had been used during the past month. The use of the council chambers fdr holding the Workers' Educational Association class was withdrawn by six votes to four. A request from the Birkenhead Ratepayers' Association for the use of the chambers for its general and executive meetings was declined. The foreman of works - stated that all the roads at, Birkdale would receive attention before the fruit season. Mr. H. A. Campbell reported that a deputation representing the council and the ratepayers' association had met Wing-Commander S. Grant-Daltou and Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt at the Hobsonville air base regarding the scheme to dam the harbour for the purpose of constructing road access between Beach Haven and Hobsonville. The proposal had been favourably received by the officials. This would make the air base the finest in the world for the water craft. It was pointed out that these were only the private opinions of the officials.