PALMERSTON NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21357, 10 June 1931, Page 11

PALMERSTON NOTES

(From Otjr Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON. June 8. BOROUGH COUNCIL. The monthly meeting was attended by the Mayor (Mr W. H. Hopkins) and Crs Riddle, Gordon, A. M'Gregor, Morrison, Warren, Earley, Haggle, Thomson, and Thomas. The foreman of works reported that asphalt had A>een put down at the post office and Arkle’s corner. A stop cock had been repaired. The remainder of the month had been put in at the creek with the unemployed. Fourteen men were working at the creek, eight at the cemetery, three at the school, and one painting.—Received, A request by Mr A. Pastier for gravel for the entrance to his property was granted on the usual conditions. Mr C. F. Smith complained of the state of a neighbouring property on which rubbish had been dumped.—The Works Com mittee to arrange for the rubbish to be spread and for the obiectionable matter to be covered up. The district engineer forwarded keys for the Sir John M'Kenzie Memorial. — Received. —The Mayor said he had been asked by the district engineer to provide flags for the monument on opening day. He had heard that day that someone had already tried to get into the monument, and had left a broken key in the lock.— Cr Riddle moved that no one be given keys unless a deposit of 5a is paid. Seconded by Cr Morrison and earned. The health inspector gave permission to George Roberts to erect a septic tank, under certain conditions. —Received. A circular was received from the Health Department in connection with the appointment of health inspectors. The Otago Hospital Board wrote that it had decided to invite the co-operation of the Dunedin City Council, local Unemployment Committee, Harbour Board, Manufacturers’ Association. Chamber ot Commerce, Trades and Labour Council, Rotary Club, and other bodies to confer on the question of unemployment, with a view to formulating suggestions tor work of a more permanent and productive nature, and to produce a concrete P°hcy to place before the Government, ihe council was asked to appoint representatives to meet in Dunedin City Council Chambers on July 28. —Received. Gazette notices for heavy motor regulations were received. J Accounts amounting to £2lB 15s lid were passed for payment. . , The Works Committee was instructed to place unemployed men on work on certain footpaths, and other parts of the town when the creek was finished. Crs Thomson, Haggle, and Earley reported on information they bad gathered with respect to roller skating and its effect on a dancing floor. They suggested that if skates with bevelled edges were used it would be safe to let the hall, under the supervision of the Reserves Comm t6 Cr Thomson moved that the hall be let for skating, subject to th ® skates being approved, with the right terminate the lease if it were proved that skating was detrimental to the hal 1 floor. —Seconded by Cr Haggle.— The motion W ‘Cr* Thomas reported that the Finance and Pictures Committees had discussed and made investigations about sound pictures. The public seemed to want a change from silent pictures to talkies. He outlined the financial results received since the council took over the pictures winch he considered very satisfactory for the term of two years and nine months, l.ne Finance Committee considered it would be be safe to make the change.—Cr Warren, as chairman of the Picture Committee, said he had made inquiries and inspections; but, so far, he had not received enough information to recommend any particular make of machine. Cr Haggle said that he and Cr Earley and their operator had inspected one make of ma chine in Dunedin, which seemed good. Since then the speaker had, by invitation, inspected a plant in the Christchurch district, and had been given a lot of information. Five members of the committee had later gone to Geraldine to inspect a plant there. /The operator there had tried many different makes of machines before deciding on the present plant. The speaker was in favour of this particular plant.—Cr Earley spoke in similar terms, and his remarks were endorsed by Cr Gordon. —Crs Morrison, Riddle, Thomson, and McGregor thanked the committees for their reports, and thought a chaige to 11 talkies ” should be made. —Cr Gordon moved that the council change to a “ talkie ” machine, as recommended by the committees.—Seconded by Cr Haggie, and carried unanimously. Cr Thomas reported that the Finance Committee had investigated the work done by the clerk of the Unemployment Committee, and recommended that the Borough Council pay him 15s per week, and the Waihemo County Council pay 5s per week. Particulars of the large amount of work done were given.—Recommendation carried.

Cr Warren said he had made inquiries

about the pump, and considered they could carry on in the meantime with the present pump. The Works Committee was instructed to ascertain at what price screened gravel could be obtained. On the suggestion of Cr Thomson, the Lighting Committee was requested to inspect the lighting from Mr Galloway’s onwards.

The Pictures Committee was empowered to arrange for films for the new machine, for a term not exceeding nine months. The Mayor’s honorarium was fixed at the same as last term.