CIVIC AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23945, 21 October 1939, Page 7

CIVIC AFFAIRS

ACTIVITIES OF COUNCIL POINTS FROM REPORTS Interesting points from tl)e reports of committees to be presented to the City Council on Tuesday night include the following;— Tree-planting A report by the superintendent of reserves states that during the winter 2680 trees and shrubs were planted on the town belt and city reserves. Of this number, half were natives. Women's Best Room At the request of the Women’s Advisory Committee, the General Committee will recommend the council to take a. lease for five years of premises at 307 George street, just north of Frederick street.: for use as a women's rest room. The premises are to be furnished by the Women S Committee.. . , «•„ .'

V Cleaning ol Water Mains - Authority has been granted to call tenders for the scraping and of approximately 18 chains of 4in, 3i phains, of 7in and 47J chains of 51n water, main irt the Bond street area. Provision: for the necessary expenditure has been provided in, the current year’s allocations. --v > Traffic Returns The transport manager’s statement of the traffic receipts for the fortnightly period ended October 7 shows a total inr crease in revenue of £1366, compared with the corresponding period last year.. The position from April 1 to October 7 (27 weeks), compared with the same: period last year, shows an increase of £1729, equal to 1.74 per cent. Since the increased cost of concession tickets and up till the time of the petrol restrictions the revenue has been rising at a higher rate than that estimated, while since, the petrol restrictions the increase has been .raised still further. Public Library During the past month the reference library was attended by 2640 people, compared with 3470 in the same month last year, 3781 books were consulted, compared with 5504, and there were 900 inquiries. as against 1399 last year. In the lending library 26,308 adult tickets and 3017 juvenile had been issued to September 30, compared with 23,730 and 1976 respectively last year. The number of books issued for home reading was 42,455 at an average rate of 1633 a day. The stock of books at September 30 was 80,880. Band Performances Advice has been received from the Tramways Band that it has decided to suspend activities temporarily owing to the outbreak of war. and will therefore be unable to fulfil its engagements on the subsidised band schedule for the current year. This will leave a number of vacant dates on the schedule, together with an unallotted subsidy of £SO, and the Reserves Committee recommends that the application of the St. Joseph’s Orphanage Band to take up the vacant dates on the schedule be granted, and that the subsidy of £SO be allotted to the band. This will be a temporary arrangement, and will apply to the current year only. m , Leith Improvement Works

The improvement works at the Water of Leith at the University are now approaching completion, and there are three and a-half small weirs yet to be constructed. Although the original estimated cost of the whole work has been expended owing to wage increases since the estimate was prepared, and although the University Council has no further funds available for the work, it has been possible to authorise completion, as the Government has agreed to pay a full wage subsidy as from October 2, 1939 The balance of the cost is to be taken from the Water of Leith and Lindsay’s Creek vote.

Green Island Aerodrome Site

The question of the future use of the area at Green Island, which was presented to the city by Mr Charles Todd for the purpose of a city aerodrome, has been considered by the Finance Committee in conjunction with the donor. Mr Todd agrees that It will not now be necessary to retain this site as an aerodrome In view of the fact that the Taieri has been definitely chosen for the permanent city aerodrome. He now Intimates that he desires to cancel the conditions under which the city took over, the area, and wishes the city to accept it free of all conditions. The committee recommends that Mr Todd’s offer be accepted.

Corporation Motor Vehicles

Consideration has been given by the Finance Committee to the question of the more efficient control of motor vehicles owned by the council, particularly of those vehicles not used for the carriage of goods, and the town clerk has been instructed to prepare suitable regulations governing their use similar to those at present in force in the Government service. Similar steps will also be taken In respect of those vehicles owned by employees who, for the use of which, receive a mileage allowance from the council. The regulations are intended to ensure that an adequate measure of check and control with respect to the use and operation of the vehicles is provided.