BOROUGH COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 20203, 14 June 1927, Page 8

BOROUGH COUNCIL

THE YEAR’S WORK OFFICIAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES RECORD OF SATISFACTORY PROGRESS Following is the text of the official report of the Borough Council for the year 1926-7. SPECIAL COMMITTEES. Two special committees were set up during the year one in connection with roadworks, and one to investigate the potentalities of the bores and wells at the waterworks. The special roads committee obtained areport from Mr A. J. Paterson, City Engineer of Wellington, and subsequently recommended the installation of an up-to-date Marshall Cummer British-made mixing plant, capable of turning out approximately 75 tons of hotmix bitumen concrete per hour. The contract price was £3,663. The special water committee obtained a report from Mr R. T. Stewart, of Dunedin, but no action was taken in regard to his recommendations. By a majority vote, the committee decided to recommend the council to proceed with the Dunsdale gravitation scheme right away. Keen controversy ensued during the 1927 election campaign between the advocates of pumping and of gravitation, as to the merits of the respective sources of supply, quantities available and cost of production. Meanwhile, the Dun.>.:ale water-shed was surveyed and an injunction has been obtained from the Government forbidding any alienation of Native Lands other than to the Crown for one year from April 13, 1927. As an emergency measure, Mr J. M. Stewart was employed to sink a new bore (No. 5). This cost approximately £1,345, and is situated at the extreme southern end of the Waterworks reserve. ELECTIONS AND POLLS. Councillor J. E. Winsloe resigned his seat on November 9, 1926, owing to his removing to Dunedin, but no by-election took place as the council resolved not to fill the vacancy pending the elections in the following April. Seven loan polls were submitted to the ratepayers on Wednesday, January 26, 1927, with the following results: Carried: Oreti Bridge and road to beach, Loan of £11,300 —For 850, Against 782, Informal 34. House and Other Improvements at Pilot Station, Loan of £1,500 —For 808, Against 805, Informal 50. Streets Formation, Construction and Improvements Loan of £60,000 —For 945, Against 683, Informal 35. Rejected: Electricity Loan No. 8 of £25,000 —For 726, Against 884, Informal 51. Library Loan No. 2 of £2o,ooo—For 480, Against 1133, Informal 49. Harbour Reclamation Loan No. 4 of £16,000 —For 589, Against 1025, Informal 51. Town Hall Extension Loan of £6,500 — For 399, Against 1208, Informal 57. OBITUARY. Votes of condolence and sympathy were passed in respect of the deaths of:— Councillor Cooper’s mother. Councillor Geddes’s father. Ex-Councillor William Martin. Lady Ward. R. A. Strang (Foreman of Works). STAFF CHANGES. Appointments: D. H. Dopson. —Records and Committee Clerk. Miss Elsie Domigan—Cashier and showroom attendant, Kelvin street office. E. Smith —Gasworks storekeeper and works clerk. J. A. McPherson —Curator, Public Gardens, Invercargill. Thomas Y. Clark —builder of Public Baths. E. A. Gumbley—Town Engineer. William Drake- Ranger. Miss Doris McNeil—junior typiste, Municipal Offices. B. B. Swinburn —Assistant Town Engineer. Mrs J. Strathearn —Matron at Rest House. W. G. Richards—Junior clerk at Municipal Offices. Resignations: E. F. Selby—Gasworks accountant. Miss Mona Race —Cashier and show-room attendant, Kelvin street office. F. J. Price —Gasworks storekeeper and works clerk. T. O. Fox-Town Engineer. Miss T. Humphries—Assistant cashier, Municipal offices. C. M. Lipscombe—Assistant Town Engineer. J. McMurdo —Ledger clerk, Municipal offices. Promotions: A. S. Thomson —Clerk in Public Works Department to be Gas Accountant in Kelvin street office. A. H. Ferguson —Ledger clerk in Municipal offices to be clerk in Public Works Department. J. McMurdo—Revenue clerk in Tramways Office to be ledger clerk in Municipal Offices. C. Hodgson —Junior clerk Tramways office to be revenue clerk in Tramways office. Miss M. Atherley—Senior typiste to be assistant cashier. Miss P. Thomson—Junior typiste to be senior typiste. SUPERANNUATION. The following shows the working of this scheme during the year ending March 31, 1927. Contributed by 74 employees £1,234 9 7 Contributed by Council .. 2,171 19 10 Total payments to fund £3,406 9 5 There are 74 active and 21 superannuated now in the scheme. Of these, 3 are receiving a pension for being medically unfit, 2 widows’ pensions and children’s allowance. The following retired on superannuation: W. Smith, Head Gardener. R. Lockhead, Public Works storekeeper. J. Merchant, Gasworks Department. J. Heatherington, Sanitary Department. The staff at March 31, numbered 325, the total salaries and wages for the year being £79,413 1/9, namely:— No. of Salaries and em- Wages ployees

The following are a few of the more notable events and transactions during the period commencing January 1, 1926, and ending March 31, 1927: OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS. Visit of T.R.H. the Duke and Duchess of York: Great disappointment was felt when it was announced that her Royal Highness, the Duchess of York, was not able, owing to indisposition, to accompany the Duke on his visit to Invercargill (March 22) t

Only one and a-half hours were allotted to Invercargill, which was felt to be alto gether inadequate for the occasion, and insufficient to permit our citizens having an opportunity to show their loyalty to the Crown in true Southland fashion. However, the authorities in Wellington could not be persuaded to extend the time. The chief feature of the programme consisted of a march past of 5,000 children including Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, in Victoria Park. This was organised by the Education Board, and proved a huge success in spite of the rain which during the morning threatened to compel recourse to the Drill shed. Fortunately, it held off sufficiently to enable the function to be carried through in the open air, and the Royal party entrained for Bluff with several minutes to snare before scheduled time. Civic receptions were tendered to Commissioner and Mrs Hay of the Salvation Army 8/10/26 and the visiting team of the Melbourne Cricket Club 7/3/27. NEW BY-LAWS. Abattoir Amendment 1926—Charges for housing and feeding. By-law No. 11—Standing vehicles opposite Town Hall. By-law No. 12—Water closets and connecting drains. By-law No. 13—Kerb petrol pumps, taxi stands and rubbish removal. By-law No. 14 —Gates and doors on street frontages. By-law' No. 15—Driving vehicles at intersections of streets. NEW LEGISLATION. The following is legislation embodied in the 1926 Statutes affecting this borough: Page 5 Local Authorities Empowering (Relief of Unemployment) Act, 1926—1 n force June 23, 1926 (No monies may be borrowed after 30/6/27). 23 Land and Income Tax (Annual) Act 1926—1 n force April 1, 1926. (Fixes rate of income tax payable by holders of municipal debentures i. 29 Fire Brigades Act, 1926—1 n force January 1, 1927 (consolidating previous Acts). . . . 57 Public Revenues Act, 1926—1 n force October 1, 1926. 91 (a) Part XIV deals with the audit of Local Authorities’ Accounts. 92 (b) Section 127 deals with the recovery of monies unlawfully spent by a Local Authority. 93 (c) Section 129 prescribes the limits of unauthorised expenditure. 94 (d) Sections 131 and 132 deal with the adoption and publication of audited balance sheets. 105 Local Bodies Loans Act, 1926—1 n force October 1, 1926 (consolidates previous Acts). 314 National Provident Fund Act, 1926 In force January 1, 1927. Repeals the National Provident Fund Amendment Act, 1914, on which our superannuation scheme was based and embodies it in this consolidating Act. 387 Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1926 —In force January 1, 1927 (is a consolidating Act). 444 Scenery Preservation Amendment Act, 1926—In force August 23, 1926 —Section 5 authorises local authorities to contribute toward cost of acquisition of land . and improvement of reserves. 448 Cemeteries Amendment Act, 1926 In force August 23, 1926 (relates to cremation). 458 Oil in Territorial Waters Act, 1926 In force April 1, 1927. (Affects the New River Harbour Board). 495 Lights on Vehicles Amendment Act, 1926—1 n force September 9, 1926. Relates to light on motor vehicles and the equipment of bicycles with red reflectors. 496 Electrical Wiremen’s Registration Amendment Act, 1926—1 n force September 9, 1926. 513 Local Elections and Polls Amendment Act, 1926—1 n force September 9, 1926. 520 Main Highways Amendment Act, 1926—1 n force September 9, 1926. 527 Finance Act, 1926 —In force September 9, 1926. 538 Section 42 authorises Invercargill Savings Bank Trustees to contribute £l,OOO towards erectian of a rest house for women and children. 561 Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act, 1926—1 n force January 1, 1927. Increases compensation payable in respect of injury resulting in death of worker, or in total or partial incapacity of worker. 562 Town Planning Act, 1926 —In force January 1, 1927. Local authorities must submit Town Planning Scheme before January 1, 1930. 623 Local Government Loans Board Act, 1926 —In force April 1, 1927. 627 Local Legislation Act, 1926—1 n force September 11, 1926. 638 (a) Section 21 authorises recreation reserve south of Spey street being subdivided for lease as sites for erection of Dangerous I Goods Stores, and vests the lands purchas- . ed for the extension of the Waihopai Scenic Reserve viz. 53 acres and thirty-one poles in the Corporation as a recreation reserve within the meaning of the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908. 658 Section 64 makes provision for in- i vestment etc., of Southland Radium Fund ’ and directs that one of the trustees shall be appointed by the Invercargill Borough Council. 714 Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, 1926 — In force November 1, 1926. 745 Valuation of Land Amendment Act, 1926—1 n force September 11, 1926. Section 3 relates to cases where land has been omitted from the Valuation Roll. CENSUS—I 926. —Population of Invercargill.—

Administrative and Clerical 47 Permanent Employees 171 Casual Employees . 107 12,535 16 11 42,450 10 7 24,426 14 3 325 £70,413 1 9 Analysis of salaries and wages: Municipal 3,739 2 7 Theatre 342 8 6 Sanitarv and Motor Ins. 2,718 3 6 Conveniences 486 18 5 Abattoirs 1,980 17 5 Harbour 1,134 15 10 Baths 2,453 4 9 Reserves, Cemetery etc., 5,049 13 4 Public Works 19,636 15 10 Waterworks 2,913 5 1 Quarry .. 3,431 14 5 Gasworks 10,467 10 11 Trams 13,935 18 6 Electricity 9,577 7 10 Public Library 1,106 19 0 Athenaeum alterations 438 5 10 Total £79,413 1 9

1926 Males 8,204 Females 8,966 1921 7,229 7,958 Totals 17,170 15,187 —Maoris.— Males .. 24 Females 4 17 Totals 17,189 15,204 —South Invercargill Borough.— Males 1,114 Females 1,154 902 932 Totals 2,268 1,834 —Subuftan Area. — Males 1,223 Females 1,201 1,067 1,095 Totals 2,424 2,162 —Greater Invercargill.— 9,198 9,985 Females 11,321 Totals 21,862 Maoris 28 19,183 17 Grand Totals .... 21,890 19,200 (To be continued daily.)