CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22718, 2 November 1935, Page 18

CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night and was attended by the Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) and Crs F. W. Mitchell, D. C. Cameron, W. H. Shepherd, J. W. Munro, M.P., D. G. M'Millan, M. Silverstone, W. W. Batchelor, F. Jones, M.P., and W. Begg. EMPLOYMENT OF YOUTH A request that the City Council should protest to the Government in an effort to secure better ■ provision for the youth o. the country was made by a deputation from the Dunedin branch of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement

Mr A. B. Powell said it was becoming increasingly necessary that the Minister of Employment should make some provision for unemployed youths and girls., Allowance was made for children up to 16, bnt between 16 and 20 no allowance was made. . In many cases such youths belonged to the families of unemployed parents, who were thus faced with an additio-il charge in supporting them. The speaker also stressed the undesirable . effect of leaving young people without employment during these impressionable years. Mr J.. Spence said that if the youths and girls were allowed, to gather on the streets the responsibility would rest with the public, and through it on the City Council. The Mayor moved that the City Council join with the Unemployed Workers' Ilovement in respectfully requesting the Government and the Unemployment Board to make better provision for unemployed young people of both sexes in the community. The motion was carried without discussion. ..•'. SUNDAY NIGHT CONCERTS The secretary of the South Dunedin Unemployed Association wrote asking for permission to hold concerts in the South Dunedin Town Hall on Sunday evenings, November 10 and 24.—Cr Batchelor moved and Cr Munro seconded that such permission be granted. The motion was carried on the voices. LEAGUE OF NATIONS SUPPORTED The Mayor said that the Otago branch of the League of Nations Union had written to the council suggesting that the following motion might'be carried:— "That this council desires to express to the Government its sincere hope that the efforts being made at Geneva to bring an end to the war between Italy and Abyssinia will be successful, and commends the efforts being made by the British representatives to consolidate the strength and unity of the League of Nations in the interests of permanent and universal peace." The motion was carried without discussion. WORKS COMMITTEE Cr, Munro moved the adoption of the Works Committee's report. He said that the estimated cost of work on Sidey street, between the South road and Eyehill, was fairly heavy. The cost was £526, and it would be necessary to.construct walling. Cr Cameron drew the attention of the chairman to the need of a footpath between Minto and Spencer streets at Tomahawk, and the need for removing a bank at the corner of Murchison street and the Tomahawk road. Cr Silverstone said he was surprised that Cr Cameron had brought up these matters seeing that he was a member of the Works-Committee. Had the committee had these matters before it, they would have been looked into. The Mayor said that it often happened that a councillor had a matter brought before him a day or two before the sitting of the council. Cr Cameron said he hoped he was loyal to his committee. He had just mentioned matters which had been mentioned to him. Cr Munro said he saw no' objection to any councillor bringing up a matter in the manner Cr Cameron had. The works mentioned would be placed before the engineer for his report. The report was adopted. GENERAL COMMITTEE

Cr Cameron moved the adoption of the General Committee's report. The report stated that the committee had considered the tenders received for the proposed additions to the city abattoir buildings at Burnside, and recom.mended that the lowest tender—viz., that submitted by Mr W. H. Nayior, in the sum of £2684, be accepted.' In addition to the contract price for the building, there would be additional items of expenditure for cork insulation for the cooling rooms (estimated at £325), installation of electricity for light and power (estimated at £4O), and the drainage for the outside of the building, which was being attended to by the Drainage Board. The actual cost of the building would, therefore, amount to approximately £3074, plus the cost of outside drainage and erection of plant. Details with respect to the cooling plant had not yet been finalised, the cost of this item being estimated at between £SOO and £6OO. The plant, already authorised by the Council, viz., tripe machine, £l6O, de-hairing machine, £550, pig singer, £325 and rump bone saw, £259, had now been ordered. Cr Batchelor said that the reference in the report to the licensing of the sale of newspapers in the streets was erroneous. What had been authorised was the sale of a programme, known as the Sports Guide. It was stated by several councillors that this was registered as a newspaper, and that was why it was referred to as such. The report was adopted. GAS COMMITTEE Cr Mitchell moved the adoption of the Gas Committee's report. Cr Begg said it seemed that the vertical retorts had a very short life and did not compare favourably with the horizontal retorts. Cr Silverstone asked whether the vertical retorts were a payable proposition, compared with the horizontal ones. Cr M'Millan said that, from the point of view of the cost of production, the vertical retorts were far superior and all the major gas companies of the world had changed over to them. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE The Finance Committee's report was presented by Cr Silverstone, who said that for the week ended October 20 a total of 795 men had been employed by the council on unemployment schemes. Of these, 710 had received full time rates. The number grouped who had not been employed was 109, and the total number of registered unemployed in the city was 1909. He was sorry to say that the number did not show the decrease which was to be expected at this time of the year. The council had paid out £406 Is 6d in subsidiary wages for the period. The number of men on sustenance was 787.

Cr M'Millan said that when people came to the corporation offices to discuss financial matters with members of the staff they had to do so in the open in front of members of the public. He wondered if it would be possible to make a room available in which such people could carry on their discussions with the accountant. He also Rsked if it would be possible to alter the hours of the Town Hall employees to conform with those of Government offices, so that younger members of the staff would be able to get away earlier to sport. He

further asked if it would be possible to give a ; few pounds to the Eoslyh District Nursing Association. Cr Batchelor asked if the unemployed could bo paid in a special room instead of being kept waiting in a line outside, sometimes in the rain. Cr Jones stated that he had been asked if the council could see its way to pay the men on the job. Ci Silverstone, in reply, said that in connection with Cr M'Millan's first request he would bring down a report for the next meeting. Regarding the question of hours of employment, he said that the matter was discussed last year and the council could not see its way to make any alteration. The whole question of supporting bodies like the Roslyn District Nursing Association would be considered with next year's estimates. The matter raised by Cr Batchelor would be gone into, and he thought it could easily be arranged. Speaking of the payment of men on the job, he said that it had been shown conclusively that it would be costly and impracticable. If the council ever thought it could stand the extra heavy cost it might make ''he change, but in the meantime such a step would not be justified. The report was adopted. OTHER COMMITTEES The reports of the Ros<-rv(>s. Tramways, Electric Power and Lighting, rnd Water Committees were adopted without discussion. TENDERS ACCEPTED .The tender of the National Mortgage ' and Agency Company of-New Zealand, Ltd.. at £740 ss, for the supply and delivery of 150 Tasmanian hardwood Doles was accepted. The tender of Messrs J. J. Niven :..d Co. for refrigerating plant for the abbatoirs at £707 was accepted. . ;