CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19498, 5 June 1925, Page 10

CITY COUNCIL.

The regular fortnightly meeting of the City Council,, held last evening, was attended by the Mayor (Mr H. L. Taplcy), and Crs Douglas, Begg, Clark, Shaeklock, Hancock, Taverner, Wilson, Scott, Hayward, Larnach, and MacManus. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The report of the Reserves Committee was submitted by Cr Hancock, who moved its adoption. Cr MacManus moved as an amendment that the clause recommending the council to conclude the agreement to oyer the acquarium at the close of the Exhibition be referred back to the comniittec. The Mayor pointed out that this agreement iiad always been approved, and, in his opinion, the council had made an excellent bargain.—(Councillors: “Hear, hear.”) The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Manager of the Crown Milling Company wrote that the company had learned with dismay that 'the council proposed to discontinue the privilege which the company had had for a lifetime of a railway siding across Princes street to its premises. The company sincerely trusted that the council was not going to do this. If they lost this privilege they did not know how they were going to keep _ their business going. If they lost the siding it would give the railway officials a problem which they admitted would bo ■ very difficult to find another. The only thing they could contemplate was to move their mills to some other town if they were to compete with other mills of the same capacity and up-to-date machinery- the council would leave the lino the company was quite willing- to spend any reasonable sum to put the track in such order as would’ be satisfactory to all parties concerned. On the motion of Cr Scott, the letter was deferred to bo considered in conjunction with the Works Committees report, Tlie adoption of the Works Committee’s report was moved by Cr Wilson. Ho said that the cost of putting the Crown Milling Company’s siding in order would be something like £SOO, and if that were done it would practically mean establishing the line there for all time. He thought the common sense view would be that to take their goods from Jervois street would not he any great hardship on the company, lie certainly thought they ought to come to a decision now. - The council would be pleased to know they were going to clean up the Town Hall yard—not beforo its time. Cr Hancock seconded the motion. Cr Scott moved that clause 3, referring to the Crown Milling Company siding, be referred back to the committee to g' v e the company an opportunity to make good its undertaking to put the crossing in satisfactory order. It seemod to bo worth a great deal to the company, and the company should l>o given the opportunity of meeting the council in the matter. . Or Hayward seconded the amendment, and said that the council should consider citizens as far us possible. Cr Shaeklock suggested that the question of traction should lx* considered by the company. If mechanical traction were adopted the whole difficulty would be got over. The horse traction used was quite unsuitable, and the lino would not be laid down in good asphalt while horses were used. The council also had a siding to the Gasworks, and what was sauce for the goose w’as aause for the gander. If the Milling Company valued the siding as they said they did, surely it was good enough to warrant mechanical traction. He asked when the footpath from the steps at Musselburgh Rise to Moana orescent was to bo gone on with. Cr Larnach characterised it ns “ all rot ’ to say it would hamper industry to take away the siding. The company would have to cart only about 200 yards. The bang, bang of the cars on the crossing on Sunday afternoons and evenings was a disgrace to the neighbourhood Ho hoped the committee's recommendation to abolish the crossing would bo carried. The Mayor said ho was sorry ho could not agree with Cr Larnach. Ho was out to encourage local industry all he could. Ho know that if the siding was removed that ilour milling industry would bo taken away from Dunedin. He believed that the objections could he overcome, and the rest of the traffic properly protected. He asked the council to refer the matter back to the committee. Cr Wilson, in replying, said ho would bo the last ono to injure industries here, but in this case the council had been ignoring public interests for the sake of private interests. An amount was placed on (ho estimates for the work to which Cr Shacklock referred, and it would probably bo spent beforo the end of the year. Proposals were in hand for extra lighting from the Stock Exchange to Jetty street. The amendment was lost and the report, adopted with the exception of two clauses considered in committee. FINANCE COMMITTEE. u- Taverner moved Iho adoption of the Finance Committee's report, and referred to the proposed grant of £2OOO towards the financing of the Otago Provincial Court at tlie Exhibition. This was one of the ways in which Otago was endeavouring to regain its all-round supremacy. He explained how Uie sum of £2uOO had been arrived at. It was thought that the trading departments should carry the lot, as they would ail gain largely by the Exhibition activities. Matters in regard to the Otago Court were progressing in a very lino manner. The matter had been taken up enthusiastically by nine or 10 committees, and an excellent display was promised. Cr Tk-ott seconded the motion, hut expressed the hope that (his would not bo taken as a precedent in drawing upon the finances of the trading concerns. The circumstances were quite exceptional. Cr Clark said this was a procedure that had been followed many times by the council in the past. Cr MacManus moved that the clause making the grant to the Otago Court bo referred back fo the committee. He argued that the Exhibition hud already done very well out of the corporation in a number of ways. He objected to money being “lavished right mid left, on a venture of this kind.” Ttie amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. Cr Larnach said Cr MacManus was forgetting that this money was being spent for the-benefit of the city. Cr Douglas asked if these had been any further negotiation with the Kaikorai Tramway Company. He thought each of the trading departments should have been consulted beforo this proposal was brought down. It was wrong in principle for the Finance Committee to decide what each of the other committees should do. A small rate would have been a better way. Cr Hayward referred to what all the other centres were doing for a display at the Exhibition, and supported their committee’s recommendation. Cr Begg expressed the view that the various committees should have ben consulted in tlie matter. Cr Taverner, in replying, contended that the correct procedure had been followed. It was not possible to levy a rate as the rates for the year had been struck. The Itoslyn Ratepayers’ Association had been informed that 'the council would be prepared to meet the Kaikorai Tramway Company if the company cared to do so, but so far the offer had not, been accepted. The report was adopted. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE. The adoption of the Tramways Committee’s report was moved by Cr Douglas. Referring to the ■ motor buses lie stated that they were proving a great asset. The observation trips had proved so popular that both the buses bad boon put on them, and both, wore fully booked up for the fallowing day. That showed that tlie management was alive, to what could be done with the buses. The returns from the Maori Mill service were, satisfactory, as were those from tho Roslyn service. Cr Taverner seconded the motion, and said that a gratifying incident had occurred that day which showed the utility of the buses. "One of tho Mornington cable cars broke down at the rush hour, and a bus came on the scone and conveyed the people (o their homes. Cr Clark referred io clause 1, dealing with tho purchase, of a Dodge motor car, and asked why no English car had been considered, or some price asked for. Cr Hancock said he would like to know what provision the Tramways Committee was making to cope with the traffic during the Exhibition period. Cr Scott, dealing with the purchase of the motor car, said there was a dividing line between American and British cars. Cr MacManus moved that the clanso ho referred back, and the committee asked to obtain a quotation for a Brit ish motor car. Cr Douglas said there was no harm in the matter going back. The Mayer said it was recognised that the English car was the hotter of the. two, but it was the price which had to be considered. Cr Douglas said that with regard io the. question of coping with the traffic at the Exhibition period he could say that the department, was pushing on with all tlie available money it had, and was well ott with the tine. The, third bus would bo jpady in a fortnight.

The amendment was carried, and the report was adopted. WATER COMMITTEE. Cr Begg moved the adoption of the Water Committee's report. He stated that he had been asked lately how the water supply at the reservoir was holding. He had received a report from the engineer, which stated that the rainfall for several weeks had not been large, and that only l-10tli of an inch had fallen in the last two weeks. There had been a drop of Ift at lloss Creek, bringing it to IS in below the overflow. The southern reservoir remained steady. The report was adopted. ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHTING COMMITTEE. Cr Shaeklock moved the adoption of the Electric Power and Lighting Committees report. He stated that clause -1 regarding alterations to the lay-out of the switch gear in the underground pit. in Upper Stuart street meant considerable expense, but it was a necessary work. The report was adopted. GENERAL COMMITTEE. The adoption of the General Committee’s report was moved by Cr Clark. The Town Clerk read a letter from the Stock Exchange Company stating that the tenants of the shops in Water street were complaining of the presence of the taxi stand which interfered with business. It was suggested that the rank be moved to the other side of the road. Cr Clark said that in addition to the present motor stands, it was proposed to provide stands all over the city which could be used free of charge. There would lie no telephones on those stands. With reference to the clause relating to the Water street rank he would move as an amendment that the rank be not abolished. The amendment was carried. Cr MacManus moved that clause 3 referring to the fee to be charged for the different vehicles on the various ranks be referred back to the committee. Th motion lapsed for the want of a seconder. Cr Begg said he would like to draw attention to the new registration numbers with which all motor vehicles had been supplied. They were there for a specific purpose, but. it was an utter impossibility to see them distinctly. The Mayor said the Municipal Association and the Motor Association were to meet the Minister on June 18 in respect of that very question. Cr Clark said he would emphasise that where the taxi drivers would be pleased would be in the knowledge that there would be a limited number of cars allowed ou each rank. The report was adopted, and the letter from the Stock Exchange Company was referred to the committee. GENERAL. The council went into committee to hear a statement from the Hon. M. Cohen, M.L.C.. with reference to the Mothers’ Rest and Creche scheme, at the close of which the mutters mentioned were referred to the committees concerned. The secretary of the Otago Harbour Roard advised that the following recommendation had been adopted by the board. —“That the City Council be offered, under a special form of lease, which would give either body the right to determine the lease on six months’ notice, sections 125 and 145 (with the intervening roadway), block 75, for a period not exceeding five years, at a rental of £2O per annum, for flic full area.’’ The offer was accepted on the motion of Cr Wilson. The adoption of the Gas Committee’s report was moved by Cr Scott, and it was carried without discussion.