CITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25756, 30 January 1945, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING INCREASED RATEABLE VALUE The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night, and was attended by the Mayor, Mr D. C. Cameron, Crs R. Walls, P. G. Connolly, M.P., J. McCrae, D. G. McMillan, J. W. Munro. M.P., L. J. Ireland, R. F. Barr, L. M. Wright, M. Connelly, M.L.C., and M. F. Blain. Property Values Increases in both the rateable and the unrateable value of city property were reported by the city valuer, Mr R. C. T. Evans. The rateable value for the year 1945-46 was £1,487,304, compared with £1,443,970 for the year 1944-45, an increase of £38,334. The non-rateable value for 1945-46 was £226,352, compared with £214,570 for 1944-45, an increase £11,782. Laxity of Pedestrians Cr Walls asked if any steps were being taken to educate the public in the proper use ot pedestrian crossings, which, he said, were a considerable expense to paint and keep in order. The public, he .added, largely ignored the crossings.—Cr M, Connelly said that this was an important matter to which consideration would be given by the committee responsible. Baths Attendant A suggestion was macie by Cr Wright that a man should be constantly in attendance watching swimmers at the Municipal Baths. He mentioned the case of a boy who had fallen from the high-dive steps and had remained lying on the ground for four or five minutes before receiving attention.The chairman of the General Committee said that he would look into the matter. Tramway Concession Tickets Moving the adoption of the Transport Committee’s report, Cr McCrae said that it recommended the issue of a four-section concession ticket on the trams. In the past, he slated, those using a three-section concession ticket were given the privilege of paying Id extra for the additional fourth section, but the new arrangement would be much more convenient for conductors and members of the public. Cr Ireland said that, in view of the recommendation, he would ask the committee to give consideration to the possibility of producing a ticket which would enable a passenger to travel as many sections as he might wish. If he desired to travel six sections, why should not a ticket be provided to enable him to do so? Cr Ireland added that he had been asked by a Kew resident if it would be possible to provide better travel facilities for workers in the Kew and Corstorphine district about 5 p.m. Cr McCrae, in reply, said that eight one-section rides were provided for Is, 10 two-section rides for 2s, and 10 three-section rides for 2s 6d. It- was now proposed to give nine four-sec-tion rides for 3s. He added that the committee had done a good deal. to meet the needs of the Corstorphine district and that a great deal more would be done in the future. The report was adopted. Stock Routes

The council was asked to confirm a resolution, to operate as a special order, making a by-law in regard. to the routes prescribed for the driving of cattle. An objection to the confirmation of the resolution, which was passed by the council at a special meeting on December 18, was lodged by Messrs Baylee and Brunton, on behalf of -farmers and drovers in the Upper Leith area. » A formal motion to confirm the resolution was moved by Cr Ireland, and seconded by Cr Barr, and it was pointed out that if the resolution were not now confirmed it would lapse, and the whole matter would have to be further considered by the General Committee. ‘ Councillors were in agreement that the matter should be deferred until the farmers had had an opportunity of stating their case. The motion was put to the meeting, and the council voted against it in toto, the Mayor declaring it “lost unanimously.” Tender Accepted The tender of the Love Construction Company for the erection of a new ceiling and the carrying out of renovations to the city treasurer's-depart-ment in the- Municipal Chambers-was accepted, the price being £682. Work at Waipori Tenders for the work of facing the causeway slopes and the construction of a rock toe on the approaches to the Edgar E. Stark bridges at Lake Mahinerangi, Waipori, \yere referred to the Electricity Committee. T