PETONE BOROUGH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11247, 27 June 1922, Page 9

PETONE BOROUGH

ANTECEDENT LIABILITIES A DIFFERENCE WITH THE AUDITOR-GENERAL. WATER SUPPLY QUESTION. The Petone Borough Council met last evening. Present: —Messrs J- W. McEwan (Mayor), in the chair, C. P. Brocklebank, M. Ford, A. Pere, R. H. Jones, W. Hay, A. Anderson, D. S. Bedingfield, G. Cook and R. ,A. Hartley. ' ANTECEDENT LIABILITIES LOAN. A letter from the Public Trustee agreed to loan the council the sum of £15,350 for ten years at 6 per cent., plus 1 per cent, for sinking fund!, to meet antecedent liabilit.es. Councillor Anderson asked if it was an urgent necessity to raise the loan at once. The Mayor replied that it was desirable to do so as early as possible, seeing that they were paying ill per cent, for temporary deposits and 7 per cent, for bank overdrafts. The meeting of local authorities to consider the question of pooling antecedent liabilities was poorly attended, only six authorities being represented. It was felt that they could not ask the Government to guarantee a loan on the London market. The big cities thought they would do better, on their own in going on the London market. The City Council had absorbed a lot of Wellington money, having mopped up £IBO,OOO at 6 per cent. Councillor Anderson thought they might'have waited until November. The Mayor replied thai? _ other authorities would also be wanting to borrow money. It was agreed to accept the loan on the terms offered, the order to be confirmed on July 31st. WAR MEMORIAL DEPOSIT. The Controller and Auditor-General replied maintaining that the amount of the war memorial’s deposit account could not he included in the council's statutory antecedent liabilities. Much as the Audit Office held Mr Martin’s opinion in respect, it oouTd not agree with him in this case. A further letter from Mr Martin further strengthened his first opinion that the money could he so treated, and said that it the council wished they, ctouild iteat the matter by an originating summons in the Supreme Court. It was stated- that by using the money, £IOOO, they bad avoided increasing -the ibamk overdraft by that amount. It was decided that further consideration of the matter be held ovei. BAD ROAD NEAR STATION. The secretary of the Wellington An tomcbile Association wTote entering a strong protest in -respect to the state of the main road in the vicinity of the railway station. Their committee considered the council should immediately place the portion of the road in a safe condition for motor traffic. Oouncillor Brocklebank asked what the engineer was going to do, and when ? The engineer replied that he had no money for the purpose, although he was promised some. It would be rolled down now and tarred next summer. It was stated that the road was bad for about a quarter of a mile, and also suggested that hurdles should be placed along the road to stop speeding. It was agreed to inform the association of the council’s intentions. ON. THE LIBRARY TABLE. The hon. secretary of the Hutt Lab our Representation Committee asked permission to place a copy of the “Maoriland Worker” on.the municipal reading table. Councillor Brocklebank: I have never read a copy yet. Councillor Anderson: There can be no objection to it. The request was granted. VALLEY WATER SUPPLY. A letter from the Lower Hutt Borough Council stated that the works committee bad been empowered to act on a joint committee with the works committee of the Petone toconsider the question of the water supply for both boroughs. Councillor Brocklebank said the two committees should meet as early as possible, though he was quite satisfied the larger scheme would not come into operation for many years to. come. Councillor Anderson seconded, and said these kind of works could tjjs done better by amalgamation. It was highly desirable that they should get in touch with Lower Hutt at the earliest possible moment. It was agreed to arrange the meeting -at the earliest possible moment. GROUND ACCOMMODATION. The secretary of the Petone Association Football Club called attention to the lack of dressing accommodation over the stop bank, adding that usually there wero 100 boys dressing on the ground, and some frequently had to strip in the trees, -which was somewhat obfieotionable. The engineer said he did n-ot recommend the council to provide much more in the way of shelter, for the shede yore continually being broken into. It was agreed -(hat the engineer should provide some temporary shelter. MOTOR TRAFFIC. The Minister for Internal Affairs wrote asking for partkmlars of motors registered in the district. The clerk said there were 800 meters of various kinds registered, of which somewhat extensive particulars were requested. It was to supply the usual particulars, and if further information was desired the department should send a clerk down to go through tie books.