CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19238, 31 July 1924, Page 11

CITY COUNCIL.

Tho fortnightly meeting 91 the Dunedin City Council was held last night, tho following being present The Mayor (Mr TI. L. Tapley), and Crs J. B. Shacklock, J. H. Hancock, J. Wilson, J. E. MacManus, W. A. Scott, H. flailiday, J. J. Clark, W. Begg, and E. Sincock. Apologies were received on behalf of Crs J. S. Douglas and J. B. Taverner. It was resolved that the Mayor bo the council’s delegate at the annual election of managers of the Technical College, to exorcise tho vole of the council. Tho Hon. PrcTetary of tho Railway Class of tho Workers’ Educational Association wrote inviting the Mayra- and councillors to bo present at tho Locomotive Library room, Anderson's Bay, at .1 Cu.m, cn Sunday, August 10, to hoar an address delivered by Dr C. E. Thompson, on the subject of “Social Teachings in the Ereneh Novel.’’ —■ Invitation accepted with thanks. RESERVES COMMITTEE. Cr Hancock moved the adoption of the Reserves Committee’s report. The report wad adopted without discussion. GENERAL COMMITTEE. Cr Sincock moved the adoption of tho General Committee’s report. He said that the city engineer had keen instructed to make tho necessary arrangements for providing special garbage collection services, so as to enable householders to get rid ot their collections of Luis and other rubbish which were not usually put into tho ash tin. The service would be on similar lines to that carried out at the conclusion of Health Week of last year. Considerable work wad being done at tho bathe, and a number of improvements were being carried out. Cr Hancock seconded the motion. He said he was glad there was lo bo a cleanup in tho city. There wore a large number of fins, etc., lying in vacant sections. Tho report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. Cr Wilson moved the adoption of tho Works Committee’s report. Cr Halliday seconded the motion. Cr Sincock moved us an amendment that clause s—paysheetss—paysheets and accounts amounting to £4622 8s 6d recommended to the Finance Cbmmitleo for payment —bo referred back to tho committee for further consideration. Ho desired that (lie charge by a firm of arch i tests for tho plan of (ne Union, street bridge should be gone into. The plan which had been put before tho committee was, ho understood, prepared by the city engineer. He thought Mr M‘Curdle should have an opportunity of initialling tho account or giving some explanation, lie wanted to feel sure that they were justified in paying the charge of £42. If tho plan hud been drawn by Air M'Curdie, as tie understood, thou they should not pay tho am ram t. He thought, moreover, that their engineering department should have been able to draw up the plan. The Mayor suggested that the particular charge should be referred back—not the whole clause, Cr Sincock agreed. Tho Mayor said it was news lo him to learn that tho council had had to go outside to got a plan drawn of the bridge. He certainly thought their own engineering department should have drawn ihu plan. Ho himself considered that the clause should be referred back to tho committee, Cr Wilson said ho was surprised that Cr Sincock, who was not at ilm meeting of the committee, should have moved such an amendment. Their city engineer had power to call in any outside help he desired. Air Cardie wanted to make tho structure in keeping with the University building. Tho firm of architects did draw a plan which was not acceptable to the committee, but certain features had been taken from it and put into their own plan. Tho £4O might have been well spent. Their present engineer had agreed that it was a fair account. lie was prepared to allow tho clause to go back for further consideration. Gr Sincock said that the particular city officer concerned had not stated whether the account was in order or not. ' It was agreed to send the clause back to the committee. Cr MacManus moved as an amendment that clause 1 should be referred to the Finance Committee for a report. Clause 1 read: —“Your committee begs to recommend that the offer of Messrs Burton and Patterson, as agents, to sell to tho council part of allotment K and part of sections 6 and 328 r, block 111, Anderson’s Bay district, containing 1 rood 24.2 poles, for the sum of £470. bo accepted. The portion of land is required for extending Hunt Street to Tomahawk road. When tho extension shall have been completed, the balance of the land will then have a good frontage to both Hunt street and Tomahawk road, and will be sold.’’—Cr MacManus said ho thought the committee should have a report on the financial aspects of the matter. ’{’he amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. Or Wilson said that the committee had money for these particular works, and it would not, overstep the mark. Tho report was adopted, "WATER COMMITTEE. Cr Begg moved the adopted of the Water Committee’s report. Or Halliday asked if the chairma.n had any information to offer with regard to tho Southern Reservoir. Cr Begg said the work of repairing the Southern Reservoir was proceeding steadily. An examination had been made, and it had been found that quite a number of pipes had been fractured longitudinally. Two drives, 50ft and 60ft long respectively, had boon driven. It was a well-known fact that a good many pipes had been found to be cracked, and this matter was being attended to. A report, from the engineer would be submitted to the next meeting of the council. The report was adopted. ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHTING COMMITTEE, On tho motion of Cr Shacklock the report of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee was adopted. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE. Cr Scott moved the adoption ot the Tramways Committee’s report. Cr Clark seconded tho motion. Or Sincock said he understood that several casual workers on tho tramways were being put off. He wanted to know why they were being put off at this particular time.—(Or MacManus; Hoar, hear.) He thought the manager and the committee could confer and bring about an improvement at the junction of the Roslyn bill tram and the Maori Hill lines. As they had read in tho papers, there had been an accident there on the previous evening. Ho questioned when tho two cars met at tho junction whether there were 3ft of space in which passengers could stand. He suggested that the electric car should stop about, 12 yards from where it stopped at present. It was only through tho prompt action of the gripinan and the motorman that a serious accident had been, prevented. There was no doubt it was a dangerous part of tho lino. Cr Sincock went on to refer to iho Opobo line, and said that if their private firms handled their business the way seme of the departments of the city handled theirs they would be bankrupt. Or Clark agreed that steps should he taken to provide work for those casual workers. Tho Mayor said it was with regret that ho had learnt that morning that 22 casual workers had been put off. Tie had got into communication with tho tramways manager, and ho had stated that he and the city engineer had conferred, and that there had been nothing else for them to do. Tho manager had stated that there had been some relaying of tho rails to ho carried out in George street, but they had to wait till the Works Committee was ready to go on with the paving work. He agreed with Gr Sincock that tho hill lino at the Junction was dangerous. Cr Halliday suggested that work could he started on the safety island in front of the Stock Exchange. He thought it was about time the city took steps to increase the number of tramcars. There was no doubt tho cars were being shockingly overcrowded. Moreover, they had tho Exhibition coming on. and there would bo a large increase in the number of passengers. Continuing. Cr Halliday said he thought the council should make an official statement that students were not responsible for the tram on tho Maori Hill line leaving' the line. Tho Mayor: That statement was made. It was stated that the students had not been responsible, and tho driver had been disrated. Cr Wibon said he gathered from Air Alexander that he was not stopping tho work being proceeded with at Albany street. There was a section there where tramway work could be gone op with. Cr MacManus said he thought if tho council was very anxious to arrange for work there should bo some means of providing il. Cr Shacklock said fbe council must realise that the amount of capital expenditure that could be charged against revenue was limited to the amount of the year’s profits, and tho tramway department was not permitted to have an overdraft as at March 31 in any one year exceeding the amount of its outstanding accounts, which were practically nil. It was obvious that unless there waa a considerable increase in ,

the net profit for the current year the amount that would be available out of revenue for capital expenditure would tie very small, and this fact had to bo borne in mind when considering any special itcum of expenditure. Cr Scott, in replying, said they had kept the casual men on an extra two weeks with the hope that some work might be available, hut this had not been ready. They intended to proceed with tho relaying of .Manse street to Albany, but the levels hud to ho obtained first. They were stuck up by the levels. The manager of tho tramways would shortly bo able to have another long car on the Aiaori Hill line, and it was proposer! to make a stoppage at the junction about a length before they came io the existing stoppage. Tho manganese work for the on the Opoho line were on hoard the Westmoreland, and a start on this work would he made as soon as she arrived. The lino inself was ready. Work on the line lo tho Exhibition was bold up, waiting for the passing of the Order-in-Council. I hey had the material for two mare largo cars and for three trailers, and these would be built in Duncdia. Some of tho work had already been done. When (be two large cars were completed thev would have 15 large ears altogether. The accident at the junction would be inquired into. The report was adopted. CAS COMMITTER. On tho motion of (T Scott tho Gas Committee’s report was adopted. FINANCE COMAHTTEE. Cr Clark, in moving tho adoption of the Finance Committee’s report, referred fo clause 1, relating fo Marne Township, Maori Hill, where the committee recommended that the allotments which had been lying unoccupied for some time be leased by public lender for building purposes at upset rentals to be fixed after report by flic city valuer. There were 46 allotments in the area according to the out already approved by the council. The council had already approved of the. method of cutting up these sections. The clausa was not in substitution, but was in addition to any proposition i--o council may have in view. lie felt that a strong forward move was being made, and reasonable facilities were given the people ot procuring houses. It was well known that there was no difficulty in financing corporation leaseholds. It was a genuine effort on the part of Iho committee to remedy the housing question, which would be auxiliary to any other scheme. With regard to clause’ 2 of the report, an agreement, had now been reached with the Art Gallery Trustees relative to tbo terms upon which the society’s assets are to be transferred to tho council. Briefly, the agreement provide;; that, the society shall assign and transfer ail its assets, comprising the Art; Gallery, buildings, and contents thereof, together with tho society’s interest in the lease of tho site, lo the council. Tho latter is to pay to the society in perpetuity a sum of not less than £3OO per annum together with a.n amount equal to (ho rates levied on the society’s premises. The Finance Committee was to* control all future lettings of the hall, it being understood that such lettings will lie restricted to iho absolute minimum. The agreement further provided that the Alnyor for the time being and the chairman of the Finance Committee for the time being shall be ex officio members of the Art Gallery Society and of the Art Gallery Council. In reply to Cr Sincock, the Mayor said the council had no power to sell these sections. Cr Wilson said it was a great pity that the council could not grant the fee simple of those sections. One of (ho present troubles wa.s that nrivate people would not undertake subdivision of Iheir holdings owing to the enormous cost of such subdivision. A solution would he the purchase of these properties by the council, and for *>he council lo undertake tho subdivision. Cr MacManus referred to the success 1 of the Hopetoun Settlement in the Mornington district. The success of that settlement, showed that the public were quite prepared to take up houses and sections if facilities were available. The public was hampered in the matter of obtaining bouses hy the foolish legislation of the present Government Tho Government's repatriation scheme had resulted in men competing in the market for their own houses, thus putting up the prices of property all round. He was pleased to see the committee wa.s doing something fo permit the people of the citv to help themselves. Cr Begg said he would have liked to have seen the council go in for a bidding scheme nf its own in the Marne township. Ho wanted to know if (his township had over been considered by the sub-committee sot up by the council lo go into a housing scheme. Cr MacManus: Yes.

Cr Begg said he a-sked the question because he had heard that the council had proposed to lease property from ihe Harbour Board, but why were they suggesting this when they had sections of their own. He thought tho scheme was a good one. but he wanted the buildings to be for workers. Had they had any advice when the £SOOO promised by the Government would come to hand ? They had Mr Massey stating in the II on re that they had plenty of money. Cr Shaddock said ho thought the clause regarding the Marne township scheme was on the right lines. He thought there might bo other sections belonging to the Corporation which could lie dealt with on the same linos. He had said before that, thev could not have a housing scheme and an exhibition at the same time, and he would go further and say that they could not have a housing scheme in 1924-1925. Or Shaddock went on to speak of the city finances and the question of what ho termed unrepioduotive work-9. The council would have to decide what proportion of borrowed money they oould spend on nnrcproductive works. Tho World Committee hoped to save sufficient on their improved street paving to pay the cost of the loan, but. it had to Iw proved whether its hope would bo realised. Then there was the housing scheme. Tho Tramways Committee was quite candid and it stated that, its several works on extensions would not pay. The Drainage Board’s operations were certainly necessary from a. health point of view, but they were not reproductive. If there was no saving from the works department an extra rate of lid would bo involved. Tbo highway could not possibly return anything to the city for years. That would mean Id rate. Housing was in the same position, and they might easily have to increase their water rate by Id, and so it went on. The Finance Committee and the council must realise that every £70,000 spent on unreproductive work meant a penny rate to tbo city. There was not getting out of it. A penny rate was equivalent to £3870, withemt (he money required for the sinking fund. These extra rates would hoar more hardly on the people the least able to pay (bom. (“Herr, hear.”) It behoved the Finance Committee, tho council, and the citizens to consider these matters seriously. lie did not wish io bo pessimistic, but those were the facia they must consider before they w-ent in for unreproductive works.

Hie Afayor said he thought the Finance, Committee’s recommendation to lease these sections was on the right lines. The special sub-committee sot up by the council had not overlooked these sections, but on investigation it found that houses for tho class of people that most required (hem would bo better erected within the city area —with no tram fares necessary.—(“Hear, bear.”) Had it not been for that fact lie personally would have favoured the council going in for a building scheme of its own at Alamo Hill. There were 46 sections in tho township, and if a house waa built on each section it would give some measure of relief as regards the housing problem. The sub-committee of tho council would be bringing forward a housing scheme, ho hoped, very shortly. Notwithstanding the Exhibition, ho thought (hat they would ho able to build some houses at any rate.

In reply to Cr Halliday, Or Clark said n person securing a section on the Alamo township would have power to uiillso tho grant from the Government. Ho agreed with Cr Shacklock that there should he periodical stocktakings. He had always appreciated the excellent reports on financial matters submitted hy the town clerk. The foundation of all (heir works was finance. tic saw no reason why any person taking up one of these sections could not participate in the Government’s grant of With regard to the question of selling the sections, there were difficulties in tho way; (he council was lied down by its present legislative powers. It could not net as a private individual. It could not, for example, engage in the purchase nf land with a view to cutting up and reselling. Cr Hancock; It is a vcm great pity. Ur Clark: I agree with yon. The Mayor said the town clerk's annua! report would he down in a few weeks’ time, and this would he of great help to councillors.—(“Hear, hear.”) Tho report was adopted. TENDERS. The tenders for the supply and delivery of 350 tons of asphaltic cemeiU for street paving were referred to tho Works Committee for a report.