CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22022, 3 August 1933, Page 7

CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING The fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin City Council was held last night, and was attended by the Mayor (The Rev. E. T. Cox) and Crs Munro, M.P., Borne,' M'Tndoe, Scott, Shaddock, Begg, Allen, Silverstone, Campbell, Marlow, Shepherd, and Jones, M.P. GENERAL COMMITTEE. Cr MTndoe, in moving the adoption of the General Committee’s report, referred to a clause recommending that from 7 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays vehicles should be allowed to stop in Rattray street between Princes and Maclaggan streets only for sufficient time to take up or sot down passengers. Under the present conditions, 'he said, there was danger to life. Cr Marlow said that he would like the committee to deal with High street between Princes street and Manse street in the same way. Cr M'lndoe replied that the committee would be pleased to take the matter into consideration. The report was adopted. WATER COMMITTEE. Cr Begg, who moved the adoption of the Water Committee’s report, said that the committee had decided to take no action with respect to a proposal by a resident of Leith Valley that he should cut certain native timber on the department’s reserve. This, he said, was the only piece of virgin bush within easy reach of the city, and he was sure that citizens would not wish to see it destroyed. Referring to inquiries that had been, made with respect to the Deep Stream water supply, he denied that the supply had ever been condemned, and stated that Dr Herons, the city health officer, had, on the contrary, stated that he did not know of a more suitable catchment area in New Zealand. The lowest flow that the Deep Stream gauge had recorded had been 15,000,000 gallons per day. The council did not propose to increase storage in the city, as it would not be required if the scheme were adopted. He believed that the work would be completed at a cost well within the estimate. Cr Marlow said that he would like to add that since he had been a member of the council the engineer had always completed work below the estimates. , The report was adopted. RESERVES COMMITTEE.

Cr Munro moved the adoption of the Reserves Committee’s report. Cr Jones moved as an amendment that the question of guns in city reserves should be referred back to the committee with instructions to have them removed. It seemed that the committee had been stampeded by a letter from the Returned Soldiers’ Association into going in opposition to the council’s expressed wish. The war trophies did not improve the appearance of reserves, and they should be removed, Cr Silverstone seconded the amendment.

Cr MTndoe said the discussion was paltry and trifling, but he wished to join issue with Cr Jones when he suggested that the committee were stampeded into arriving at its decision. He did not agree that they Avere detrimental to the appearance of the reserves. On the contrary they enhanced the corners where they were placed. If they were to be thrown out because of the bloodshed they suggested, then there should be a “clean-up” of all the beautiful but warlike weapons and implements in the Museum.

Cr Borrie said Crg Jones and Silverstone looked at the question from the wrong angle when they regarded the trophies ns glorifying war. They might say the same of all war memorials. Cr Shepherd said he was not greatly concerned with the fate of the trophies until he read the letter from the Returned Soldiers’ Association. From that he learnt that the association valued these trophies, and he thought they ,-should remain. Surely there could be no more whole-hearted "nomore war” organisation in the Dominion than the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

Cr Begg said the justification for the retention of the trophies was contained in the Scriptural reference, “In time to come, when thy son shall ask, what mean these things?” They would stand for something to future generations. The amendment was defeated, and the report was adopted. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE.

The Traqiways Committee recommended the adoption of the following tenders for tramways uniforms:— Messrs Ross and Glendining, Ltd.: Tunics 365. trousers 17s 3d. Messrs Bing, Harris, and Co., Ltd.: For inspectors’ uniforms and overcoats at the following rates: Tunics £1 17s 6d, trousers 16s 9d, overcoats £1 19s 3d. Messrs Smith and Mackenzie: Overcoats £1 19s. ■ Messrs Hallenstein Bros., Ltd.; Capa 6s 9d each, cap covers 12s per dozen. The tenders recommended were the most suitable having regard to the material offered and other relevant factors. Before moving the adoption of the report Cr Campbell asked for permission to take back a clause in which the committee stated that it could not recommend any reduction in Sunday fares. He stated that since the report had been drawn up certain information had . been received, and the committee would like further time to go into it. Permission was granted. The committee regretted, Cr Campbell added, that it could not allow sales ot concession tickets by conductors. tickets were sold by a number of shops, and he was sure that people could find some means of obtaining them. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Cr Allen, in moving the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report, stated that a further grant of £SO to the Art Gallery Society was recommended. He stressed the fact that the gallery and the pictures were the property of the city. The endowments could be used for any other purpose than the purchase of pictures. The value of the pictures had increased from £BOSI in 1924 to £22,120 at the present time. The additional grant was necessary for the maintenance of the gallery. He would like to see the gallery given greater public support. Referring to an application by the bt. Joseph’s Orphanage Band for participation with other city bands in the band subsidy granted by the council Cr Allen said that the applicant was a junior band, of which there were many in the city. If the council gave to one band it would have to give to all. The council could not possibly give more than the total of £350 which was at present granted, and that amount should be divided among the senior bands. Cr Begg moved as an amendment that the clause bo referred back to the committee, the matter to be reviewed in September, when the allocations were made. He pointed out that the baud had won the C Grade Competition at the recent contest. The boys would later graduate into senior bands. Cr Jones seconded the amendment, stating'that the boys were deserving of encouragement. .. Cr Allen, in reply, said that if the application were granted every band in Dunedin would apply for a subsidy and the position would become ridiculous. The amendment was carried by seven votes to six, and the remainder of the report was adopted. OTHER REPORTS.

The reports of the Works, Llectiic Power and Lighting, and Gas Committees were adopted.

TENDERS

Tenders for the supply mid delivery of 170 tons of bitumen were referred to the Works Committee with power to act. The following tenders for work at the Public Baths were accepted:—Repairs to roof lantern, O’Driscoll Bros., £los, painting, Wren and Co £298; repairs to brickwork and plaster, G. M Donald, £L>.