CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17376, 25 July 1918, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

meeting of the City Oonnoil. held last night, was attended by the Mayor (Mr J. J. dark), On, Macdonl aid, Scott Tavenicr, Bradley, Kellett, Harvard, Begg, Hancock, WUson, Sincook, Shacklock, and GreeiL A vote of oondolonce wa3 passotl wi 4 h Gr Berc and his family in the death "of * brother by accident in Christchurch. WO UK BBS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATIOV J.ho hon. secretary of the Workers' Educational Association wrote, inviting th» Mayor, councillors, and town clerk to & social function, to be held in the Waraiah Tea Rooms on Tuesday, August 6, to assist in making known the work of the association.—The invitation was accepted. t . ENliill' ALi-KN's. Ihe town clerk, Gisborne, wrote forwarding the following resolution lor the City Council's endorsement: " That council, at the request oi the returned soldiers and public generally, approach tile Government and ask it to intern all enemy aliens without exception whatever, during the period ot the war (and to utilise too services of such aliens in a manner winch will return v.alue to the State), and if the Government no " possess suiheient authority, that the necessary legislation be passed at the coming session ol Parliament, and that the principal local authorities ot the dominion be written to, asking their co-operation aud support in this matter, iinemy alien meats aud includes every person who is or haa at any t-uno been a subject of any State with which his Alajesty is now at war, notwithstanding that such person may be also jjy birth, naturalisation, or otherwise a British subject, or niay Jiavc m any tnajuiex ceased to be a subjcct of any such State." —Or Bradley moved, 'lhat tne council approves of the resolution, and that the Gisborne Council be written to and ooogratulated on its resolution. Cr Green seconded the motion. The Mayor said they all, no doubt, concurred in the sentiment, but it seemed to him that the Gisborne Council had gone to such an extent that it was almost impossible to carry its motion into eli'ect. Or Hayward moved, as an amendment, that the letter be held over for a fortnight. Cr Thompson seconded the amendment. Cr Kellett expressed the opinion that the time had gone by to deal with the matter. It ought to have been tackled four years ago. The amendment was lost. Cr Hancock moved, as an amendment, that the letter be received. Cr Scott seconded the amendment, which was lost.

Ct Green said he was surprised that the council was so lukewarm in showing its loyalty.

lhe amendment moved by Or Hancock was lost, and Mr Bradley's motion was carried.

REPOBT3. Cr Hancock moved the adoption of the Reserves Committee's report.—The Mayor pointed out that tho recommendation of the committee that £95 bo expended on the renovation of the Burns monument in the Octagon would have to be withdrawn, as the Finance Committee was not yet in a position to make a report on the matter, aa provided in tho Standing Orders.—The alteration was made.—Cr Hancock, in reply to a question by Cr Macdonald, said there were no sugar maples on the reserves, but he might be able to secure some plants. Ho saw no difficulty in growing these maples.—The superintendent of reserves had sold 500 stone of seed potatoes, at the price fixed by the Reserves Committee.—The report was adopted Cr Begg moved tho adoption of the Gas Committee's report. He stated that " a petition had been received from a number of employees at the Gasworks, protesting against the decision of the council to appeal for exemption from military service of leading stoker Douglas. The matter had been again investigated, and in view of the emphatic evidence given by the gas engineer, the petitioners were 'being informed that the Gas Committee was of opinion that the present position should not be disturbed, but that the question should bo fully inquired into and determined by the Appeal Board. He considered that it was entirely a matter for tho Appeal Board to settle one way or the other.—Cr Sinocck said he hao seen the petition. It appeared to him that nearly every employee in tho works had signed it. It was rather strango that the council had decided not to appeal in the case of the manager, but was now asked not to appeal for a leading stoker. The employees were practically unanimous in their decision. The leading stoker's place could be Hilled. He considered that the manager had taken up a rather peculiar attitude.—The Mayor said he understood that tho committee had requested the employees to go before tho Appeal Board and givo the fullest evidence on the point—Cr Scott said that as the matter stood now, it was a question for tho Government to deal with, under the law, set up by the Military Service Boards. —Cr Bradley said when tile gas eugmeer's minute came before the committee ho understood the stoker had to keep certain machinery in repair, but he now learnt that he did not himself carry out the repairs, but reported on the matter. Had ne (the speaker) known as much about the business as he did now ho would not have voted in favour of the stoker being appealed for. —Cr Macdonald said there must be something in the claim of the signatories, seeing the number which signed the peti-tion.—-Cr Thompson said that, as a member of tho Gas Committee, he agreed with Cr Bradley's remarks. —Cr Wilson said the council ought not to appeal for any man. One man's life was as valuable as another's. —("Hear, hear."). —Cr Begg, in reply, said the engineer's report slated that the stoker was tho only skilled mechanic in the works with carbonising knowledge—■ that was, apart from the engineer.—The report was adopted.—During the discussion Cr Kellett (a member of the Military Service Board) retired from the table.

The rest of' the reports were adopted with practically no discussion.