PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Patea Mail, Volume XLV, 24 May 1922, Page 2

PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

x SPECIAL MEETING

A special meeting of the Patea Borough Council was held on Monday nighty His Worship the Mayor presiding.

Crs Grainger, Williams, Horc, God. frey, Dunkley, Naismith, Finlayson, and Honeyfield were also present. An apology was received from Cr Watson for non.attendance, The Mayor explained that the chief business of the evening was to consid. er the question of the final tes* that had been taken of the newly installed plant at the hydro station. It was decided that the matter be discussed in committee.

On resuming it was reported that it had been decided to leave the matter of the tests, etc., of the plant in the hands of a special committee consisting of His Worship the Mayor, Crs Grainger, Naismith, and the Electrical Engineer, who arc to meet Mr Webb and report the result of their conference with him to the Council. The annual estimates and the Town Clerk’s .annual report and his repor f on the estimates were considered. The Finance Committee recommend, ed that the estimates as prepared be adopted with the exception that the Library vote of £25 be reduced to £l2/10/- and that the Band bo given a subsidy af £l2/10/- also, that the rate necessary to meet f he annual payment of the Council’s Antecedent Liabilities amounting to 1/S in the £ be struck, but that the meantime all necessary steps betaken to raise a loan to pay off the liabilities.

In moving the adoption of the report His Worship explained that it was the Council's intention to use every endeavour to raise a loan to liquidate the antecedent liability and that the striking of the rate of 1/8 was necessary to protect the Council in (the event of the loan nqt being successfully floated. Councillors, he said, must realise that it would be impossible for the Council to meet the annual payment of approximately £IOOO . required to pay off the sevea annual instalments of the ante, cedent liability out of revenue, and he trusted ithat although the rate was struckit would never have to be collect, ed. He hoped he had madie the matter clear.

The Mayor also stated tha* he intended calling a public meeting shortly when the whole question of the Council's finances would be laid before the ratepayers and he felt sure that once they realised the position in which the Council were placed they would assist by paying their rates promptly. Cr Honeyfield seconded the resolu-

tion. After a somewhat lengthy discussion particularly with regard to the - vote of £SCO for streets an amendment* was moved by Cr Dunkley and seconded by Cr Grainger pro forma that the Library vote of £25 be adhered to and that the Band subsidy be cut out altogether. After discussion the amendment was put and carried as follows: Ayes— Crs Naismith, Dunkley Pinlayson, Grainger and the Mayor. Noes— Crs Godfrey, Horc, Honeyfield and Williams. . The following further amendment was then moved by Cr. Dunkley and seconded <by Cr. Naismith: “That if finances permit at the end of the year the Band be granted a subsidy of £ls. The resolution was put and lost the voting Being a sfollows: — 1 Ayes— Crs Dunkley, Naismith, Pinlayson and the Mayor. jSoes— Crs Godfrey, Hore, Williams, Honeyfield and Grainger. The original resolution adopting the LsC mates as prepared was then put and carried. Xu connection with the recommendation of the Finance Committee regarding the raising of the antecedent lia. bility loan the following resolution was moved by Cr Grainger seconded by Cr Hore, viz: That the Town Clerk be instructed to circularise every Borough Council in New Zealand asking them to send representatives to a conference of Borough Councils to consider the question of pooling their antecedent lia. bilities and formulate a scheme for pooling and alloca+ing to each borough agreeing to the scheme its proportion of interest and sinking fund on a loan for the total amount, such loan to be floated in London if possible at a reasonable rate of interest, the security for such loan to be a special rate pledged by each borough to meet its proportion of interest and sinking fund and that a copy of this resolution be also sent to the secretary of the Mun. icipal Association. ‘ After a brief discussion the resolution was put and carried unanimously, the Town Clerk stating that he had communicated with the State lending departments without result. The Town Clerk's annual report was read and the balance sheet for the year ending March 31st, 1922 was laid on the table. The report and balance sheet were adopted on the motion of His Worship ■the Mayor seconded by Cr Honeyfield, the mover and seconder both complimenting the Town Clerk on the able •report submitted, which will be published in due course. Other Councillors also spoke and paid a tribute to the Town Clerk's work. This concluded the business of the special meeting of the Council. Before the Council dispersed the Town Clerk stated he had received a very handsome enlarged photograph of the Memorial Gateway to the Domain from Mr Arthur Jones. The Town Clerk was instructed tj convey the thanks of the Council !:■ Mr Jones for his handsome gift which would be hang in the Council Chambers. The request of the Municipal Band to hold a sacred concert in the Town Hall on the 28th inst was granted on condition that the programme was submitted to His Worship the Mayor be. forphand. 'The Council tthen rose.