CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22212, 15 March 1934, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING The fortnightly meeting, of the City Council was held last evening, and in the absence of the Mayor (the Rev. E. 1. Cox) and the Deputy Mayor (Cr J. J. Mar low), was presided, over by Cr J. B. Shacklock. There were also present: Crs W. Begg, M. Silverstone, W. A. Scott, J. L. M'lndoe, F. Jones, M. 8., W. H. Shepherd, and W. Borrie. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the secretary of the Dunedin Amenities and Town Planning Society, who forwarded a copy of the following resolution passed by the society:—" That this society expresses its regret at the retrograde step of the City Council in departing from its policy with regard to the display of advertisements On hoardings." Received. ANZAC DAY SERVICE. A letter was received from the Rev. V. G. Bryan King inviting the Mayor and councillors to be present at a special Anzac Day service to be held at St. Paul's Cathedral on the evening of April 25.—1 t was decided to accept the invitation. SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS. Mr C. Anderson, secretary of the South Dunedin Unemployed Association, wrote requesting a six months', permit to hold Sunday evening concerts in the South Dunedin Town Hall or any other ball approved by the council. —It was decided to grant a permit for a month subject to the usual conditions. RESERVES COMMITTEE. Moving the adoption of the Reserves Committee's renort, Cr Shepherd said that the representations submitted to the council by a deputation from the Unemployed Workers' Movement on the subject of the employment of relief workers at the Gardens on carpentry, painting, and similar works had now been investigated. The workers in question were employed in or about the nursery, the bulk of them being classed as unfit for heavy manual work such as trenching and the ordinary pick and shovel work. An attempt had, therefore, been made to employ theni as" far as possible at their various trades. The work which, had been done, while of advantage to the department, was not essential, and, under ordinary circumstances, would not have been carried out at the present juncture. One man who.bad been doing some carpentry work was paid 5s a week additional for the use of his tools, and the department also replaced any which were lost, broken, or worn out. It was understood/ that the men concerned appreciated the atteh.pt which had been made to find them congenial work. It should be added that any essential work provided for in the department's allocations, as, for instance,- painting railings in the cemeteries, was paid for at ordinary time rates, and the work was done by the men concerned in addition to the unemployment time.—The report was adopted. GENERAL COMMITTEE. Cr M'lndoe moved the adoption of the General Committee's report. Cr Shepherd said be would Uke some information concerning the responsibility of the Corporation with regard to the crops of ragwort which were making their appearance in the city and suburbs. Cr M'lndoe said the incidence of the pest within the city boundaries was the council's responsibility. Outside the urban area the Department of Agriculture was responsible. , , , Cr Borrie wanted to know what control the council had over bicycle traffic in the streets. He referred to recent accidents, and said this class of traffic seemed to be subject to no control at all. While on the subject of the control of traffic, Cr Borrie said he thought they should arrange for a policeman to be on point duty at the Exchange for about half an hour when the theatres were coming out. , , Cr Jones said it was time a stop was put to the habit of carrying several milk cans on bicycles. Cr M'lndoe said that arrangements would be made to have the regulations strictly enforced by the corporation inspectors, and he thought that if publicity were given to the matter an improvement would soon be effected. The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE.

In the absence of Or Marlpw, Cr Begg moved the adoption of the Works Committeea report, and, referring to the committee's recommendation to grant an application by a ratepayer to have a portion of the Town Belt declared a public street, said he did not agree with this procedure. There were many houses facing on the Belt, and if the owners of all these properties asked for a similar privilege it would be difficult, if the present application were granted, to refuse them. Cr Scott seconded the motion. Cr Shepherd agreed with Cr Begg, and thought that the committee should reconsider the matter. He moved as an amendment—" That the clause be referred pack to the committee." Cr M'lndoe seconded the amendment, which was carried, and the report, with the exception of the clause referred to, was adopted. TEAMWAYS COMMITTEE.

" Cr Scott moved the adoption of the Tramways Committee's report. Referring to Cr Jones's question concerning concessions for apprentices in the form of special tickets, the mover said the manager was of the opinion that any further concessions were impossible. Cr Jones suggested that Cr Scott was a little premature in his remarks about apprentices' tickets, as the matter had been held over for a fortnight by the Tramways Committee. Cr Silverstone urged that an improvement be made on the Dalmore bus service, even if it comprised only an additional car each evening. Cr Silverstone also objected to an instruction to conductors to examine seats for grease before taking cars out under pain of beiDg beld responsible for any damage to passengers' clothing. He contended that such precautions were the responsibility of the night staff. Cr Scott said the representations regarding improvements in the Dalmore service would be looked into. Concerning the instruction regarding precautions against oil on the seats, Cr Scott said it was a long-standing regulation which was merely being renewed at the present time. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The chairman moved the adoption of the Finance Committee's report. Letters were received from the town clerk of St. Kilda and the town clerk of Green Island asking that the council defer its decision in connection with the suggestion put forward by the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding the formation of a united fire district until the boroughs of Green Island and St. Kilda had had an opportunity of placing their views before the committee. Cr Scott said he thought, it reasonable for the council to fall in'with the request, but suggested that discussion on

the matter might be held over until the Finance Committee's report came before the council.

Cr Jones moved that the matter be referred back to the committee to enable representatives of the two boroughs to meet the Finance Committee.

The amendment was adopted. Cr Silverstone questioned whether a picnic day arrangement which lasted for 20 years could have been a very great inconvenience to the council. Over 400 employees desired a picnic day holiday, but it was apparently simply a case of finance and not a matter of inconvenience. Cr M'lndoe: Why should it not be a matter of finance? It is the ratepayers money that is being spent. Cr Silverstone: These people are ratepayers who supply the money. It seemed to him that the committee had not made out a very good case, and had not even acted on the reasons it had advanced. He would move as an amendment that the Picnic Committee's request be granted. Cr Jones seconded the amendment. Why should not the workers have a picnic day? They were sending a man away to Sydney for a picnic. Cries of dissent greeted this remark, but Cr Jones persisted in his remarks until the chairman insisted ou a withdrawal. Cr Jones withdrew the word "picnic, but continued to discuss the tramway man. ager's visit to Sydney. When called to order by the chairman on the ground that he was not speaking to the report, Cr Jones said he was making the comparison only to show the unfairness of the I inance Committee's decision. > Cr Shepherd said he . would support the Finance Committee's resolution and would be agreeable to an even larger grant. Cr M'lndoe said it was always amusing to hear Cr Jones's utterances on the rights and wrongs of various/matters. He seemed to think he held the scales of justice and was not willing to give his fellow councillors credit for considering such matters fairly. There were others on the council who could see as far through a brick wall as he could. It was unfair, and should not be tolerated. Here Cr Jonea rose to a point of order and said Cr M'lndoe had no right to question the chairman's conduct of the meeting. The chairman said he regarded nothing said by Cr M'lndoe as a criticism of his control of the meeting. Cr Begg. suggested that as the Finance Committee was the council's guide in such matters the council should accept its recommendations with respect to a matter that bad been very carefully considered. In reply Cr Shacklock said he hoped the committee's lecommendation concerning the picnic day would be approved. He could assure Cr Silverstone that the decision was not the result of financial considerations alone. There were many other questions to be considered, as Cr Silverstone would realise when he had been a few more years in the position he now held. The cost was not to be reckoned only in money. The amendment waa defeated, and the report was adopted. OTHER COMMITTEES. The reports of the Water, Gas, and Electric Power and lighting Committees were adopted without discussion. TENDER. The council accepted Mr G. Dunn's tender of £69 18s for repairs to the rest room and watchman's house at the Botanic Gardens.