BALCLUTHA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25394, 27 November 1943, Page 7

BALCLUTHA

Borough Council.—The monthly meeting of the Balclutha Borough Council, held on Wednesday night, was attended by the Mayor (Mr J. R. Copland) and Crs H. Bower, J. T. Walter, W. Kean, James Wood, J. L. Gormaek, D. Lattimore, Ivan Jenkins, D. Hastings, and A. W. Hall.—Five applications to erect buildings were granted subject to the usual conditions. —The treasurer reported that the receipts for the financial year so far were £3930 18s 9d, and expenditure £5955 2s lOd. The district fund showed a debit balance of £2291 17s 6d. The report was adopted, and accounts amounting to £440 16s 3d were passed for payment.—Cr Walter moved that the resolution passed by the council on October 27 recognising the Resthouse Committee as being the controlling authority of the Resthouse be rescinded. Cr Walter traversed the history of the Harvey Hall, and the joint occupation by the Rest.house Committee and the Plunket Society. Cr Walter said the control of the building was in the hands of the council. A meeting was called cl all those concerned, he added, and the Plunket Society was invited to alter the plan for an extended building to include their rooms. The war intervened, and the plan had to be abandoned. Now that the parties had disagreed, it was left to the council to decide. It was a pity something could not be done so that the two societies might work in amity. The building should be run by representatives of the two societies and the council. The Plunket Society had received notice to leave the building by the end of. December. The Mayor: " You mean the Plunket Society should run it.” There was no seconder, and the motion lapsed. Cr Kean said that in 1922 the council had handed control over to the Resthouse Committee. Cr Walter: “A change took place in 1939.” The Mayor: “No, there is nothing in the minutes.” Cr Wood moved that the council write to the Resthouse Committee asking it to make an amicable arrangement whereby the Plunket Society could use the rooms until such time as the building was extended. Cr Walter seconded the motion. Cr Lattimore said an agreement had been made between the two societies, and the Plunket Society had broken that agreement. Cr Wood: “What is to become of the money raised at the time of the centenary?” The Mayor: It will be spent on improvements to the Resthouse when the proper time arrives. The motion was defeated, only three voting for it. A further motion, proposed by Cr Walter and seconded by Cr Wood, that the advice of the borough solicitor be taken, was also defeated.— Correspondence was received in connection with the annual Municipal Conference, to be held in Napier in February, and the Mayor and the town clerk were appointed to attend.