ST. KILDA COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22204, 6 March 1934, Page 11

ST. KILDA COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING The fortnightly meeting of the St. Hilda Borough Council was held last night. The Deputy Mayor (Mr A. ,D. Edgar) presided, and there were also present Crs H. H. Leary, J. Robinson, J. German, G. Glue, W. G. Baird, R. J. B. Griffiths, E. W. Hunter, S. Hartley, and N. D. Anderson. REPORT ON RATES. The town clerk submitted the following report in connection with the collecting of rates:—Last year £SBB 4s 8d was collected from February 28 to March 31. This year’s Hospital levy amounted to £2515 8s lid, and £2126 14 s lOd bad been received in Hospital rates, while £3BB 14a Id had been paid in excess of rates received. The rates outstanding on April I, 1933, amounted to £3717 14s lOd, and the rates in arrears which had been collected amounted to £2661 3s 7d, while unpaid rates totalled £1056 11s 3d. The current year’s unpaid rates amounted to £3551 19s 3d.' RACE TRAM FARES.

The town clerk reported that he had investigated the Order-in-Council regard* ing the Forbury Park and Tahuna tramway services. He said the position was, briefly* that concession tickets were available on schedule trams on race and show days. . , , . Cr Carman said that the power of cancelling the ordinary time tables of trains on any special occasion was in the hands of the Minister of Public Works. The council had done its share to probe the matter, and it now rested with the ratepayers to appeal to the Minister for more satisfactory tram services on race and show days. RELIEF WORKERS’ REQUEST.

The St. Kilda Unemployed Association wrote asking the council to consider paying standard rates of wages to those relief workers who were employed cutting grass with lawn mowers in the parks. Cr Hunter moved that the council continue to have the grass in the parks cut as necessary by relief workers, the men so employed to be paid standard rates. The motion was seconded by Cr Robme°Cr Glue moved an amendment to the effect that the council should revert to the previous method of cutting the graas with tho horse mower. Cr Anderson seconded the amendment. Cr Glue said that the lawn mowers had been introduced so that the St. Kilda unemployed Cricket Club could prepare the pitches. Many of the men were prepared to do the work, which they considered better than cutting grass on the streets. Cr Baird said that the horse mower did not cut the grass closely enough, and it was for this reason that lawn mowers had been introduced. Cr Leary said I, the whole question was one of finance, and the council had no money. The council had to consider the ratepayers, and unless the rates were increased, and that was hardly feasible, the council could not pay any class ot outside labour standard wages. Five voted for the motion and five tor the amendment. The amendmentwas carried on the casting vote of the Deputy Mayor. CORRESPONDENCE. The town clerk of Dunedin, writing, w reply to the council’s letter in connection with a deputation from the St. Kilda Unemployed Association regarding the carrying out of certain water main laying operations, stated that the City Unemployment Committee had no knowledge or the matter. The council v,;a 6 asked to advise whether or not the allegations of the deputation were correct, and it correct, to supply full details.—The letter " received that. Mr J. 'H. Francis, of Wellington, would call on the town clerk this week in connection with the loan conversion scheme which had been submitted to the Loans Board. REPORTS. The traffic inspector reported that one motor driver’s license and three, heavy traffic licenses had been issued during the past fortnight. Two building permits had also heeii granted.—lhe report was a< The borough foreman reported that C 3 chains of the Richardson street footpath and 12 V chains of Market street had been sealed,“and other footpaths and streets had been patched. It was suggested that Jackson street should be sealed and that Douglas, Council, and Bowen streets should be patched during the next fortnight Ninety relief workers bad been employed in cutting grass on streets, sweeping channels, and building a kerb and wall in Victoria road.—The report was adopted. WATER CONSUMPTION, It was reported that during the fortnight ended on March 5 the water consumption of the borough was 4,211,000 gallons, at a cost of £lO5 5s 6d, as com : pared with 4.363,000 gallons at a cost ot £lO9 Is 6d for the previous two weeks. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £5481 I6s 9d were passed for payment.