CITY COUNCIL REPORTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17325, 27 May 1918, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL REPORTS

The following are summaries of the principal reports to be presented at Wednesday night's meeting of the City Council :— The Finance Committee recommends that in terms of section 4 of "The Local Authorities' Empowerig Act, 1915," the council resolve to postpone the date for payment of rates for the years ended March 31, 1916, and March 31, 1917, respectively, due by ratepayers on active service, to December 31, 1918. The Library Committee recommends that owing to tlie increasing price of books and the very limited number available for purchase, the inauguration of the scheme of school travelling libraries bo deferred in the meantime. The Public Works Committee recommends that authority be granted to construct an entrance alongside tho bank of the Water of Leith to Messrs Gregg and Company's premises off Harbour terrace. Tho Electric Power and Lighting Committee reports that authority has been granted for tho renewal of the contract with the Roslyn Tramway Company, Ld., at tho present rate of 1.2 d per unit metered at the converter station. The contract with Messrs Stevenson and Cook, Port Chalmers, is to be revised so as to bring that firm under the standard conditions of supply for the particular class of scrvico which it requires. Hitherto Messrs Stevenson and Cook have been charged in accordance with special rate No. 2, but now that the nature of their service is known they will pay for their power in accordance with special rate No. 1. An amended quotation for automatio control gear for two voltage regulators in iho converter station at £78 each, plus £9 for accessories, has been accepted. Tho quotation was originally for £39 each, f.0.b., New York (witliout accessories), but it has been shown to the satisfaction of the committee that a mistako was made by tho local agents in interpreting the cable from their principals. Tho Tramways Committee reports having considered the question of free passes on cars, and recommends as follows:—(1) That tho present practice in regard to tho employees in the Tramways Department bo not disturbed. At present free passes aro available as follows: (a) Employees when going to or xeturning from duty (provided for by award); (b) officials of tho Tramway Department, 15 in number, available at all times; (c) six tramway inspectors who travel freo at all times without passes. 12) That passes granted to officials of other branches of the corporation be withdrawn, and that any such pass desired by any of tho departments for such officials, bo granted upon payment of a yearly fee of £8 to the Tramways Department (3) That the passes issued to the City Sinking Fund Commissioners bo charged equally to all departments. the Tramways Department contributing £2, and the balance of £8 to be charged to tho other departments concerned. (4) That tho pass i?sucd to tlie telegraph engineer be paid for equally by tho Electric Power and Lighting and the Tramways Departments—i.e., each department being debited with £5 per year. (5) Undischarged soldiers are issued free tickets. It is recommended that this practice remain in force. (6) No recommendation is made by t-hc committee in icspec.t of passes issued to tho members of tlie Tramways Appeal Board, nor in respect of free travel by the police and detectives, or by firemen going t.o or returning from a fire. In respect of the firemen, there is practically use the. concession. ~ .