BOROUGH AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9869, 15 January 1918, Page 3

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

MEETING OF PETONE COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Petone Borough council was neiu.last evening, 'inwo were present:—hue major yu .. VV. alcAwou;, 1 ana Councillors u. r. xsrockiuuank, vV. cos, J. Cnurcnouso, \v. Hcuousail,. D. Mcßenzio, it. XL. Jones, j. roster. and 6. iNewiands. King xvrouiets. earners, informed the council itnac tnev wqtud bo luiatue to supply shingle as in tne past, lor borougn Works as a company. Known'as tne xxucc Shingle Company, nad purenaseu all rights of'removing sniiigie ironi -;tne river oe&cues from ‘ tii© iiutt Xvlvet Board, xt was pointed out by tne Mayor that since the company in question nad bi-cur id control of the boucues the cost of sningle had gone up. ne expressed the opinion, that the River Board should be only too .pleased to have the shinglo removed from the riverbed at a very iow charge aa it would help to deepen the channel. It was decided to write, the River Board and inquire how the-coun-cil stood in respectto the council procuring shingle lor borough works at a reasonable rate. An otter by King Brothers to pay XI per .annum 'in lieu of having a meter installed at. their business premises was accented.

It was decided to grant the use of the municipal tennis courts to school girls at a charge of 3d per set. A petition signed by three ratepayers of East street asking that the water main be extended down the street was complied with. The estimated cost of the work is XSO. .

It was decided to provide Messrs Allender and Co., soap manufacturers, with an extraordinary water supply. 'The offer of the company was accepted provided the requirements of . the borough engineer are complied with. The borough A, Cowie. re. ported thak Cuba street had suffered severely from the heavy motor traffic and from the nature of its formation it would be difficult to make good enough to stand the' exceptional traffic. Host of the potholes in the various streets had been filled with tarred macadam, and the tar. ring of the atredtg is to’be commenced this week. The boys’ and girls’ bathing shelters on tho beach have been com. pleted.

.Councillor McKenzie moved : ’That the Government grant the right of area travel when on leave on fthe New Zealand railways and steam ferry ships to soldiers of His Majesty’s Forces, and to sailors of the Royal Navy. If this suggestion fails To receive approval, will the Government .bring this very important matter before Parliament so that.it may be decided upon by the direct vote of the representatives of the people, as w e consider in view of the great sacrifices that the fighting men are making for us, everything possible should, bo done fyr them." ■ ’

Councillor McKenzie said * that it was not right for any Government to make revenue out of the men who had done so much for the country. Enough could not be done for the soldiers and everything should be showered on them. If a Government-official was sent to any part of the country his expenses were Paid and he was given a railway ticket, while the men who risked their lives to keep them in their positions were compelled to pay. Tho motion was carried.