CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21774, 13 October 1932, Page 7

CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING The fortnightly meeting • of the City Council was held last night, and was attended by the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black), and Crs Wilson, Allen, Marlow, Begg, Scott, Clark, Wilkinson, M'lndoe, Shacklock, and Mitchell. Leave of absence was granted to Cr J. W. Munro, M.P. PELICHET BAY SIDING. A memorandum of agreement was ceived from the district engineer, New Zealand Railways, for the right of access to the l railways by means of a siding at Pelichet Bay for a further term of five years.—lt was decided to affix the seal of the council to the document. ! C INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. .A. letter was "received from the secretary .of the Industrial Exhibition Committee (Mr J. Robinson X asking for the co-operation of the council in connection with the proposed exhibition, to be held in. Brydone Hall from November 18 to November -26. Cr; Clark 4 moved that the letter be referred to the Electric Power and Lighting, Gas, afid‘.Reserves Committees for a report on the action to be taken by the council. Cr M'lndoe said he would like to point out that the Manufacturers’ Association, the official organisation, had decided to hold an exhibition for , the purpose of stimulating interest in New Zealand-made goods in February or March of next year arid that the association was taking steps to make, it a great success. The City Council would also be approached with a request for assistance. He did not want the council to. be confused over the two exhibitions. • v .The Mayor:said that personally he was very much in. favour of helping the November 'exhibition. The position should no doubt have-been made clear and 4 the officials might, have.waited on the Manufacturers’.Association. Cr M'lndoe: They did. The Mayor referred to the fact that many people in Dunedin did not know what goods cduld; be manufactured here. He knew of ofie maw in Dunedin who had sent* to Christchjirch for goods which he could have'secured here at the same price and with a quicker-delivery. They did not want any petty jealousy in connection with the two exhibitions. If the Manufacturers’ Association was _not > prepared to support the November exhibition no doubt there would be some manufacturers who would be prepared to first he had heard of an exhibition being held in February. The industrial exhibition to be held next month was evidently intended to help on the. city. ■ Ur . Wilson said he saw no reason why the council could not support both exhibitions. Mr Tannock had a number of exhibits, and it would not cost much to provide a display from his department. Cr Marlow-said he thought they should do everything to support movements to help ? on the manufacturing - *industries in the city. ‘ . _ , The motion was put and carried. LIBRARY. COMMITTEE.

, Cr Clark moved the adoption of the Library Committee’s report, . making special reference to the fact that the number of books issued ’for home reacting averaged 1.301 per day. He also mentioned that 4 a volume published by the Edinburgh City Council, covering the muni, cipal history of Edinburgh over a period of 600 years, had teen presented' to .the Library with the compliments' of the Lord Provost, magistrates, and . council of Edinburgh, and a special letter of thanks had been sent Ho the donors.. Cr MTndoe seconded the motion, which was ‘carried. V- 4 * > ‘ , RESERVES COMMITTEE. Cr MTndoe moved the adoption ,of the Reserves Committee’s report. He had recently made a tour of the city reserves, arid he had been agreeably surprised ,to see the work that had been carried out on them by the unemployed men. A great deal of useful work had .been done, and as far as the Reserves Department was concerned the charges' of idleness that were sometimes levelled against relief workers certainly could not be substantiated. Work.on the Speedway was going ahead well, but the committee felt that some new name should be.chosen for this reserve.. Neither Speedway nor Stadium appeared to be suitable, and the committee would like suggestions from the publio for a suitable title. The department on Sunday had an anxious time with a fire which-had endangered a valuable reserve on the western side of Flapstaff. aud be wished to issue a warning that if people were caught lighting fites ori these reserves the department would have no hesitation in making an example of them. Cr MTndoe went on to refer to Signal Hill, on which, he said, there were 2000 acres of waste land right, alongside the city. He thought that if _ the right strings were pulled ; this area might ;be acquired by the city for_ afforestation purposes, and in 25 years it would be a valuable asset. They had waste land and waste labour, and it seemed a pity not to bring, them together, ' Cr Clark seconded the motion, and pointed out that at present the terms which the council might acquire the Signal Hill area' were absolutely impossible. ■When they were more suitable something might:be done,. "The -report was adopted.

WATER COMMITTEE. Cr Beg? moved the adoption of ; the Water Committee’s report. He understood that the fire referred to by Cr M'lndoe had not been serious, the greater part of it jiaving been on private land; nevertheless, he heartily concurred with Cc M'ln’doe’s proposal rigorously to prosecute' anyone found lighting fires on the corporation reserves. The report was adopted; ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHT COMMITTEE. Cr Marlow moved the adoption of the Electric Power and Light Committee s report. Referring to the fire that had occurred on Sunday on the department s reserve, at Waipdri, he said that fortunately this bad not proved so serious as had at first been believed, although it had been quite serious enough. The outbreak had not been a forest fire in theproper sense of ythe word. The blaze had mostly been caused by tussocks and grass, the total area affected bashg about 600 acres, although acres, bearing from 100,000 to 120,000 trees, had been destroyed. Where the grass was lighter many of the young trees ,had escaped serious damage, and if vain came soon it was probable that a large percentage would recover. It was worthy oil note that although the fire occurred, on Sunday, Mr Tannock had men a work replanting on Monday, and already some thousands of se<^ hJ’SS&t was due to the negligence of fishermen, not those who owned huts m the locality, but thoge who had visited the lake for the day. The council would have to makapplication to have the area declared a fire district; it would also have to consider the construction of efficient fire breaks, and the Electric Power and Lightine Department would have to consider under what conditions fishermen would be allowed on the reserves. .Every man who had assisted in staying, the progress of the fire was deserving of thanks, but in particular, a letter of thanks .should be sent to Mr Robert Cotton, who , w !!f responsible for organising the band of fire-fighters.— (“Hear, bear. ). 'Gr Clark seconded the motion and referred to the clause recommending the purchase of two motor cars for the department. He said that, the time had come for a thorough investigation whether the council was adopting the most (economic method of transport for its departmental officials. Roughly, the annual cost oi; running the cars equalled their capital C °The Mavor said he was glad that the matter had been brought up. be thought that if the council had the transport ot its officials carried, out by. conti-act it could effect a surprising saving. If tins were done thei£ would not be tlnee or four cars standing every day in the Octagon, a nd they would not have men running back and forward to lunch in departmental machines’ when there were tramcars at their service. Ihe present svstem was responsible for a great waste of money, and the matter of. making some alteration should be tackled immediately. Cr Shacfclock reminded the councillors that some time ago the Finance Committee had made a recommendation that the Question of staff cars should be gone into. By the talk that had . gone on across the council table that night it did not seem an if much had been done. Cr .Marlow said that there was no department in the city where cars were used less for pleasure than in the Electric Power and Lighting Department. He could

assure the council that the cars mentioned in the report were necessary for the efficient working of the department. The report was adopted. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE.

Cr Wilson moved the adoption of the Tramways Committee’s report. He said that the request by a deputation of unemployed workers for the carriage of relief workers on the trams and buses at a fare of Id each way had been considered, and at the present time unemployed workers were permitted to travel on numbers of the ordinary timetable'cars at the . reduced fare of Id for. two sections. The service was from the Exchange to the northern end of the city for both morning and evening cars to enable the workers to travel to work in the morning and return in the evening. The committee was of the opinion that, in view of the present financial position of the department, it was not possible to consider favourably any further extension of existing concession privileges. Cr Wilson said he had been provided with some interesting figures regarding the decrease in tramway traffic in the four centres, as from April 1 to date. The figures showed the decreases to be: — Auckland 12 per cent. Wellington 7J per cent. Christchurch 12 per cent. Dunedin 21 per cent. They would, therefore, see that with the cheap fares in Dunedin the people were still able to use their tramcars, and tins was a good thing for their service. Cr Wilson said he would look into a question raised by Cr MTndoe of improvements required in the approaches to the St. Clair surf pavilion. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Cr Shacklock moved the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report. He said that authority had been granted to issue the balance of £35,000 of the city b 5J per cent, renewal loan of £282.000 at 6 per cent, free of stamp duty—that was on the same terms as the recent Drainage Board issue. The issue would date from the Ist irtst. There was apparently a demand in the city, for tax free loan money.- and the committee was of opinion that the loan would be taken up just ns in the case of the Drainage Board loan. The report was adopted. '• OTHER' COMMITTEES. The reports of the General, Works, and Gas Committees were adopted without dis-, cussion. > TENDERS. The following clauses were submitted in the Tramways Committee’s report:— “ Fifteen tenders were received from eight firms for the supply and delivery of a motor bus chassis for the department. The lowest tender for a suitable vehicle is for a JReo chassis (American .manufacture) in the sum of £959. The next suitable offer is for a Leyland chassis (British manufacture) in the sum of £995. As the bus is required for hiring and observation work iri addition to the ordinary city time-table service, the. matter of the. weight of the finished vehicle is of primary importance in view of the weight limitation of 6J tons placed on the majority of the country roads by the adjoining local bodies. The only vehicle which complies with that condition is the Reo on account of its comparatively light finished weight. Your committee has, therefore, no option but to recommend the purchase of .the Reo chassis at. £959, but in view of the fact that replacement of some of the older buses will shortly be required, and the exceptionally fine price -quoted for the Leyland, it is further recommended that the Leyland chassis be also purchased at £995, both ■prices being for delivery,- all charges paid, at the . department’s garage, Dunediiv The Reo acceptance is to be subject to the condition that the chassis weight supplied by the agents includes petrol, oil, water, and spare tyre. -Both purchases will be a charge on the Bus-Renewal Fund.” “ That the tender of , Messrs John .Burns and Go., Christchurch, for a .new rope for the MOrnington cable tramway, together with repairing strand, at the total price .of £635 15s -3d, c.i.f. and 0.. Dunedin; be accepted. - _ The tender is the lowest of seven received. The ropo will be of the manufacture of Messrs Joseph Crawhall and Sons, England, and as a rope-of this manufacture has not previously been, used, the tefiderers hav* complied with the specification by giving a guarantee of 48 weeks’ use.” The discussion, was taken in committee, and both clauses were adopted. A tender by Messrs John M'Gregor and Son • for- the purchase of approximately two tons of scrap copper at £32 per ton was accepted. - Ten tenders were received for painting work at the City Abattoir, Burnside. —lt was decided to refer the tenders to the. General Committee with power to act. *