CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23058, 8 December 1936, Page 6

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 P. Neilson, MP., F. W. Mitchell, A. H. Allen, D. C. Cameron, W. Begg, W. A. Scott. J. W. Munro, MP., M. Silverstone, W. W. Batchelor, D. G. M'Millan and W.'H. Shepherd. TRAMWAYS COMMITTEE Cr Mitchell moved the adoption of the Tramways Committee's report. He said that the car depot was getting too small to accommodate the trams and buses, and it was recommended that tenders be called for an extension to the depot. Under the proposal the old building known as the Globe Hotel would be nulled down. In answer to a question, Cr Mitchell said that the committee would look into the question of modernising the front of the building. The report was adopted. RESERVES COMMITTEE

Cr Batchelor moved the adoption of the Reserves Committee's report. Cr Cameron said that he had not yet had a satisfactory reply to a question he had asked at the previous council meeting On that occasion he had reluctantly agreed to leave the matter over till the present meeting They had had some suggestion then about sore heads and aching hearts, and he was going to take the risk of causing this state of affairs. Cr Cameron said he desired information on the question why, when it had been decided by the committee that the guns should not be buried on the reserves, the barrels had been buried there. He thought that the committee and the council should be told why this had been done against the decision of the committee. , . . A Cr Allen said he wished to dissociate himself from those who had agreed to the burial of the ; guns in the reserves. The committee had had no knowledge of what was done. There had been a good many letters in the press objecting to the removal of the guns, and he thought the citizens should know that the' burial of the barrels was done without the concurrence of the Reserves Committee. Cr Batchelor, in reply, said that, as all the world knew, the council had decided to get rid of the ugly monstrosities in the reserves. The barrels had had a decent burial. The decision to remove the guns had been come to by the council about six months ago. The Mayor: Nine months. Cr Batchelor said that some of the councillors against the Labour members of the council had been putting up a bluff, and he had called their bluff. That was all there is —- A councillor: A most uncalled-for expression. Cr Allen: That is not correct. Cr Batchelor: Yes it is. They were, he said, having the guns removed free of cost, and otherwise it would have cost the council £7O. Some people said that the guns were going, to Japan, and would be used later against them. "Well," said Cr Batchelor, "what have they to growl about? We would get them back for nothing. —(Laughter). They would notice that people had spoken of the sickness and weakness of Cr Batchelor's stomach. He might have a weak stomach, and it made him sick to read the letters in the papers, written by people who were ashamed of their parents' names. He thought that should make every citizen in Dunedin sick. " The Fascists on the other side." concluded Cr Batchelor, "put up a bluff, and I called it. and that is all there is about The motion was then put and carried. WORKS COMMITTEE

Cr Munro moved and explained the Works Committee's report. Cr Allen drew attention to the clause stating that authority had been given to repair the I grass side margin on the eastern side of Cumberland street, between Water street and Anderson's Bay road, at a cost of £2BO. He said that some time ago the General Committee had gone into the question of tar-sealing the whole width of the road, and this would mean the taking of the grass margin. There was also the question of relieving the parking of cars in Crawford and Bond streets by making provision for parking in Cumberland street. Cr Allen said that he hardly thought it wise to spend £2BO on a temporary work such as that proposed. He would formally move that the clause be referred back to the committee. Cr Munro said that he had no objection to the clause' going back, and it was agreed to refer it back. Cr Begg said it was not a matter under the jurisdiction of the Works Committee, but he thought something should be done to have the spouting on overhanging verandas inspected, as on the occasion of heavy rams the spoutings filled and the water streamed over into the streets.

The report was adopted. WATER COMMITTEE

Cr Begg moved the adoption of the Water Committee's report. He said that it was an offence against the city by-laws for any person to use garden water sprinklers. Cr Begg stated that they had not got water to give away. The additional millions of water to be brought into the city from Deep Creek might not permit them to meet all the demands which might be made. They had sufficient water, but he would ask citizens not to use the supply lavishly and waste it. So far as applications from outside bodies was concerned their wants could only be dealt with by application to the town clerk.

The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT Cr Silverstone moved the adoption of the Finance Committee's report. He said that as from January 9 next the Town Hall offices were to be closed to the public on Saturdays. The speaker referred to the proposal to purchase some 20 acres of land, the property of the late Mr P. C. Neill, for recreation purposes at a cost of £3OOO. The considerable amount of expense incurred in the formation of the existing street in Ainslee place and drainage work —in all amounting to £B40 — would have to he borne by the Drainage Board in any circumstances. A grant of £25 was to be made to the Corpora'-on and Drainage Board employees' picnic without any conditions

The return of the labour under the No. 5 scheme to December 5 showed that the cost to the council was £136 12s lOd, in addition to the Government grant. The number of men employed was 598—228 by the Public Works Department and 330 by the Reserves Department. Cr Allen drew attention to the fact that the North-East Valley playground proposal concerning the Neill estate originated with the Reserves Committee, which had been given no credit for it in the scheme laid before the council. Crs Munro. Begg, and Cameron spoke in congratulatory terms with respect to the proposal, and specially mentioned the chairman of the Reserves Committee and the chairman of the Finance Committee. The report was adopted. OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS The other committee reports were adopted without discussion. TENDERS The following tenders were accepted:— Scrap Cast Iron. —Messrs A. and T. Burt, at £3 10s per ton. Three Tons of Scrap Copper.—J. D. Brodie and Co., Ltd. (Wellington), £4l per ton. Motor Car for the Tramways Department.—Otago Motors, Ltd., 14 h.p. Vauxhall, £320. less £7O for a trade-in car.

Plastering at Lake Mahinerangi Dam.—G. M'Donald, £348 15s.