CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3655, 1 April 1924, Page 9

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night and was attended by the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley) and Crs T. W. Mitchell, W. A. Scott, J. Wilson, W. B. Taverner, E. Sincock, J. B. Shacklock, J. J, Clark, W. Begg, H. Halliday, J. H. Hancock, J. S. Douglas, and J. E. MacManus.

Commodore Beal, of 11.M.5. Chatham, wrote on behalf of the officers and men of the Chatham expressing their great appreciation of the wonderful kindness and hospitality shown to them during their visit to Dunedin. WOODHAUGH AND LEITH VALLEY. A large deputation was received from the Dunedin North and Leith Amenities Society in reference to the matter of trams or other conveyance to the Leith Valley. The deputation was the result of a public meeting held at the George Street School on March 19.

Air J. Gray said the deputation came with what they considered a reasonable request. They were representing a considerable section of residents in the north end, and they were of opinion that Woodhaugh and Leith Valley should receive some consideration in regard to public conveyances. They were of opinion that their district had been neglected in the past, both in the matter of trams and other things. He wished to congratulate the council, however, on the excellent manner in which the work of cleaning out the bed of the Leith had been carried out. lie believed the chief cause of the delay in carrying out necessary works was a natural reticence on the part of the people in his part of the town. Briefly, they asked that the roads in their district should be put in order so that some conveyance could be put on them and used with reasonable comfort. They might use the ordinary tramway, the raiiless bus, or the ordinary bus. If such conveyances were introduced there would be an increase in the number of houses in the localities which would be served. The residents he represented claimed that the conveyances asked for were a necessity. They also considered their claims were so sound that they had justification for actually demanding that something should be done.— (Applause.l Mr A. E-. Usherwood said that he was representing the residents of Woodhaugh and Leith Valley. They did not say what kind of conveyance the council should put on. That was a matter for the council, j-here were about 343 residential houses oetween Duke street and tne school house and something like 203 between Duke street and the paper mills. It was 40 years since a public conveyance was asked for Woodhaugh. The speaker also referred to the section of road which had to be traversed on the Woodhaugh road, and said he agreed with Mr Gray that there was a certain menace to women and girls who had to walk this section at night time.—(Applause.) The Mayor said that while they could not make any promises at the present time he could assure the deputation that their request would receive the council’s serious consideration. The matter would no doubt be referred to the Tramways Committee. They realised that the society was doing good work. It was decided to refer the matters brought forward by the deputation to the Tramways, Public Works, and Finance Committees respectively. - LOGAN PARK AND HIGHWAY. Cr Wilson moved the adoption of the Works Committee’s report, the main clause of which detailed the offer of the Harbour Board with regard to Lake Logan and the proposed highway. The committee estimated that this would involve the council in an expenditure of £650,000, and recommended that the offer be not entertained in its present form. Cr Wilson said that whether the council took over Lake Logan or not, the question of draining from the Opoho Creek was a matter for the Harbour Board. They were fully aware that a roadwav of some description would have to go through to the lake area some time or other. Cr Hancock seconded the motion. Cr Mitchell said he thought the committee had looked at. the matter in a narrow way. He thought, regardless of the Harbour Board or the Exhibition, that the question of a roadway was one which should receive the favourable consideration of the council. As a council he thought they should affirm the desirableness of forming the roadway. He would move as an amendment l —- “That this council affirms the desirableness of the construction of a highway on the lines proposed, and it is prepared to recommend the ratepayers to approve of a loan on those lines, and expresses the conviction that every effort should be made’ to arrange amicably and equitably with the Harbour Board for the construction of so obvious an improvement to the city.” Cr Halliday seconded the amendment pro forma. Cr Clark said Cr Mitchell’s amendment was a nice bit of platitude. The question was whether they were justified in asking the ratepayers to pay the whole cost of the highway. The Mayor said he approved of the highway, but as custodians of the public purse they could not recommend the ratepayers to accept the terms. The Harbour Board should have to pay half the cost of the roadway. In this instance the Harbour Board were asking that they should pay nothing, but should also receive compensation. Now, this was quite unfair to the ratepayers. Personally, he thought this matter could go to the Harbour Board—the alternative offer which had been made and they could then further consider the position.

Cr MacManus said that Cr Mitchell had simply set out a principle to be adopted—he did not mention what sum should be paid.

Cr Begg: He simply asks for a blank cheque'

Cr MacManus denied that Cr Mitchell had done anything of the sort. .Cr Begg: How do you know ?

Cr MacManus, continuing, asked if they vvould be justified in putting an obstable in the proposal put forward by Cr Mitchell. He did not think the council, however would be justified in agreeing to the full terms of the Harbour Board.

Cr Taverner said that the proposition put forward by the Harbour Board was not a fair one. The eyes of the land had been given away by the Harbour Board He thought the lease should be of 999 years instead of 79. It would then be something in the life of the city. Cr Douglas suggested that the clause was ao important that another conference should

be held with the Harbour Board in an effort to come to some arrangement. Cr Hancock: It would be a waste of time.

'Che Mayor: The council considers that Harbour Board should pay half cost. Cr Wilson said if they had not been in favour of a highway the committee would not have brought forward the report. In any event the committee was not going to lose sight of a highway, and the engineer had been instructed, to watch this matter when the subdivision of land in the locality was dealt with. As a result of the actions of the Harbour Board £5500 which would have been spent by the corporation in the Harbour Board area had been transferred to work in other places. Some £II,OOO had therefore been unexpended—that was, under the arrangement whereby the city and Harbour Board paid half costs for the particular work. The amendment was lost, only Crs Mitchell and MacManus voting for it. In answer to questions, Cr Wilson said there would be no more paving in Crawford street this summer, because no material was available. The material they were using was not coming out here, as America was utilising all the bitumen, and no supplies could be obtained. 'They could rest assured, however, that the carrying out of the paving right along Crawford street to the Anderson’s Bay road would be in the next summer’s work. The report was adopted. GOLF ON SUNDAY. The adoption of the Reserves Committee’s report was moved by Cr Hancock. Gr Begg’ said he regretted to see those links laid down at public expense on public land being used for tile playing of golf on Sundays. They knew how well the footballers had respected their wishes in this matter, and tne same thing applied to other sports like tenuis and bowling. The golf players were setting a very bad example to the young people. During this week we had heard much of the great heritage handed down to us by the pioneers and it was our part to see that this heritage was kept intact. Personally, he had no objection to golf on Sunday so long as it was carried on on private grounds, where it did not give offence. He asked tile com mittee to see that the golf players were brought into line with tennis players, cricketers, and bowlers Cr Sincock was beginning to discuss Cr Begg’s statement when Cr Shaddock raised the point or order that a councillor could not discuss anything not in the report. Cr Sincock said he had been informed that there was no clause in the agreement with the Golf Club to prevent golf being played on Sunday. ' Cr Clark pressed the point of order that Cr Sincock could not discuss a question asked by Cr Begg. The Mayor said if they were going to press that, point then nothing outside the Order Paper would be discussed. Councillors: That is what we want! Cr Sincock asked that the Mayor obtain a showing the cost of the golf links. The Mayor said he would lake a vote on the question whether they wished the Standing Orders observed to the letter, and nothing outside the Order Paper discussed, or whether they wished the latitude that had been customary to be still given. He wanted to know where they stood. Cr Douglas said the matter was left entirely in the hands of the Mayor. Crs Scott and Taverner expressed the view that there was. no occasion for the Mayor to take a vote on this question. Cr Sincock asked if the Mayor would furnish the council with the cost of constructing the Roslyn golf links, and whether any payments had been made to the City Corporation by the people responsible. Cr Hancock said he had twice answered that question to Or Sincock in committee. The corporation did not pay the cost of constructing the golf links. He was with Cr Begg when he said that rdav on the golf links on Sunday was undesirable, but the cost of these had been met by the people concerned. With regard to the question of Sunday play, it was a matter for the council. If Cr Begg cared to move a. resolution to deal with it he would be very glad to support it. The report was adopted. ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHT. The adoption of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee’s report was moved by Cr Shaddock. He said that an agreement as to wages and conditions had been accepted by the general labourers at Waipori,. and it was now necessary for the council to conclude it. Very shortly a second tunnel would have to be put in to bring the water down to the machines for the increased load that would be demanded when, the council had to supply the power for the Government high-tension lines. Ever since they had had Waipori they had occasionally looked at a site recommended by many experienced men. The engineer was of opinion that this was the opportune time when the conditions of that site should be thoroughly gone into. The only thing they were committed to was a thorough investigation of the proposal. When this investigation was completed the whole, matter would be put before the council for decision. He referred to the fact that, like the Water Department, the Electric Power and Lighting Department was suffering severely from the continuous drought. They were drawing on their stored water at the rate of 30 heads. He reported the outcome of the meeting with manufacturers that afternoon, and asked the chairman of the Tramways Committee to go into the question of cutting clown their requirements by a third. He appealed to the chairmen of the Gas Committee and other committees to endeavour to do the same.

O Mitchell said he was surprised that Cr Shacklock had not told them anythin "• about the breakdown of the Diesel engine. Councillors: That belongs to the trams.

Cr MacManus spoke on the development of Waipori till checked by the Mayor for traversing matters outside the report. Cr Begg referred to the restrictions to be imposed, and asked if the same restrictions would be applied to the supply of power to the country districts. Cr Douglas expressed appreciation of the service rendered by the Mayor and other representatives of the council in the negotiations at Waipori.

Cr Shacklock said that the Diesel engine broke down unfortunately last Sunday, Repairs had been pushed on speedily, and they hoped to have it running again by next Tuesday. The restrictions would go on the country just as much a? on the town. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Cr Taverner moved the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report He said that

they would notice they had a credit balance. (“Hear, hear.” In regard to the loan money, it was still coming in in a satisfactory manner. They had received or booked £125,000, and they required only another £19,000. This amount, thev hoped at the present rate of progress, they would get very soon. The report was adopted. TENDERS. The tender of the State Coal Company for the supply of 11,000 tons of coal at the schedule prices (38s 3d and 39s 3d) was accepted. There were seven other tenders.