CITY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 21729, 15 June 1932, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. There were present at the ordinary meeting of the Invercargill City Council last evening his Worship the Mayor (Mr John Miller) and Councillors N. D. McKenzie, J. Robertson, J. H. Tattersfield, A. J. Ball, J. G. Imlay, C. B. Tapley, C. J. Brodrick, J. Gilkison, A. C. Ford, G. J. Reed and H. J. Macalister. Leave of absence for three months was granted Councillor Sheehan on account of ill-health, a resolution of sympathy with him being carried. W. Sycamore, on behalf of the City Taxis, wrote drawing attention to the water channel along Don street from the telephone box to the drain opposite Dalgety’s, the request being made that the channel be attended to as the water that collected made it very inconvenient to get into cars. The letter was referred to the Works Committee. L. Hurrell wrote drawing attention to the condition of the approach to the footpath at the corner of Ythan and William streets. The matter was referred to the engineer. Reports of Committees. Clauses of public interest in the reports of committees as adopted by the council were as follows: Reserves. Shelter on Lake Hawkins: With regard to the letter from the Invercargill Gun Club stating that the ducks on Lake Hawkins were at the present time exposed to the ravages of hawks and asking that the council provide suitable shelter for them, recommend that it be left to the chairman and the superintendent of reserves to arrange for the planting of suitable willows, veronicas, etc., in such a manner as not to spoil the scenic value of the lake in future and at a cost not exceeding £2. Drainage, Invercargill Tennis Club: Having received a letter from the Invercargill Tennis Club advising that the drains from the tennis courts on Queen’s Park required lifting, cleaning and relaying and suggesting that unemployed labour under the Unemployment Board’s Scheme No. 5 be utilized for the purpose. The club also suggested that unemployed labour might be used to resurface the courts. Recommend that no action be taken regarding the resurfacing of the tennis courts; that the drainage work being on similar lines to that recently done at Queen’s Park be carried out with No. 5 Scheme labour provided the approval of the Unemployment Committee is obtained. Works. Taxi Stand Rentals: Having considered the request of the deputation of taxi proprietors for a reduction in the rents charged for special street stands. Recommend that the rentals for all special street stands occupied by taxis be reduced by 15 per cent, as from July 1, 1932. Abattoir Charges: Having received a report from the city inspector stating that it was necessary to obtain full information regarding the number _ of carcasses sold by the local freezing companies to butchers and hawkers in order that abattoir charges might be collected. The council had no power to demand such information and the city inspector suggested that an endeavour be made to obtain the information voluntarily from the companies. Failing that, he suggested soliciting the co-operation of the Agricultural Department, whose officers have power to demand the required information. Recommend that the suggestion of the city inspector be adopted. Local Bodies Labourers’ Award: Having received advice from the Southland Employers’ Association, that the award under which the council’s labourers are working expired in November last and that it was necessary that a new award be applied for. The association suggested that any action taken should be in conformity with the general policy of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation. Recommend that the Employers’ Association be instructed to take the necessary steps to file an application for a new award. Scavenging of Streets: Having no recommendation to make regarding the suggestion referred to the committee by the special meeting of the council held to consider' economies, that the scavenging of the streets be done by contract. Works Department Labourers: Having received a letter from the Southland District Labour Council stating that should the council’s estimates for the current year be reduced, the men working in the Works Department would be asked to shoulder further liabilities. They asked that the council endeavour to retain its present employees by providing further streets works, etc. Many of the men were receiving only £1 19/4 per week (dry time) and if they lost time through wet weather their earnings were further reduced. The average rent was 18/- per week and the rates, insurance, fuel, lighting, food and clothing had to be found out of 21/4 per week. Many employees who have been working for the council for years had lost their homes owing to being unable to keep up the payments and they maintained that not one per cent, of the ratepayers would object to the council increasing the earnings of the men by providing more work—especially when there was work being left undone which should be done. The footpaths were in a deplorable condition and if let go further, would cost the ratepayers more than double the amount to recondition them, and while this was going on many of the dependents of the loyal workers, who had been good citizens for years, were in want. Recommend that the District Labour Council be advised that the council is doing everything possible to meet their wishes. Gravel Supplies: Recommend that tenders be called for the supply of 2500 cubic yards of gravel in accordance with the conditions governing the previous contract and that it be made clear that the successful tenderer may secure a license to remove gravel from the council’s areas on Sandy Point Domain if required. Trading. Abattoir Fees: Regarding the application of the Invercargill Master Butchers’ Association for a reduction in abattoir fees and the council’s reply to the representations of the deputation which waited on the Trading Committee, that the question would be fully considered when the estimates for the current financial year were under consideration, having considered the estimates of receipts and expenditure for the abattoir account for the year 1932-33. Recommend that the Invercargill Master Butchers’ Association be informed that the council regrets its inability to make any reduction in the abattoir fees and that the Town Clerk be requested to forward to Mr Adamson, secretary of the association, a copy of the abattoir account for the year ended March 31, 1932, and of the estimates for the year 1932-33. Tramway Undertaking, Mr M. Cable’s Report: Having further considered the recommendation made by Mr M. Cable regarding curtailment of tramway services and expenditure on car maintenance. Recommend that as a curtailment of the tram service has already taken place, the expenditure on car maintenance be kept as low as possible. Finance. Proposed Reduction of Theatre Rent: (a) Having considered the question of reducing the scale of charges for hire of the Civic Theatre and Victoria Hall

and having received from the Town | Clerk a report showing the present charges and the charges less 20 per cent. Your committee cannot recommend that any reduction be made, (b) Having received a letter from the secretary of the Southland Boxing Association stating that in view of the council’s recent decision to reduce its charge for the Civic Theatre by 20 per cent, for the proposed Moisiewitsch and Galli Curci recitals, the association had instructed him to apply for a similar reduction for its forthcoming professional contests on June 3 and 25, and its amateur contests in July, 1932. Having no recommendation to make. Sewerage No. 1 Redemption Loan, 1932: Having received a letter from the Bank of New Zealand that it had received advice from its London Office that the whole of the council’s sewerage No. 1 loan of £31,000 was held by assurance companies which definitely required repayment. Having received a letter from the local Government Loans Board advising that it was prepared to entertain the council’s application to have the sewerage No. 1 redemption loan of £22,150 increased by the sum of £2OOO, being the estimated cost of transmitting the loan moneys for repayment of the loan in London, and asking that the board be notified if the council decided to raise the money in New Zealand, in order that the sanctioning of the additional £2OOO might be dealt with. Having received a report from the Town Clerk requesting authority to take steps to raise the redemption loan. Recommend that the local Government Loans Board be advised that the council proposes to raise the money in New Zealand and the Town Clerk be authorized to take steps to raise the necessary renewal loan of £24,150 at a rate of interest of 5J per cent, per annum. Road Through East End Estate: Regarding a recommendation from the council that the committee ascertain fro mthe trustees in the estate of the late J. T. Thomson the conditions under which they would be prepared to arrange with the council to have a road constructed through the East End Estate from East Road to Oteramika Road, having authorized the Town Clerk to communicate with the trustees accordingly. Invercargill Chamber of Commerce: Having received a letter from the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce advising that its affiliation with the Associated Chambers of Commerce carried with it a responsibility to meet its share of the Central Executive’s expenses and in this connection a demand had been made on the Invercargill Association for £lOO for the year 1931. The executive had agreed to the payment for last year and asked all members to assist by voluntary contributions, thereby re-establishing the executive funds. Recommend that the council grant the sum of £5.