Gore THE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23001, 22 September 1936, Page 4

Gore THE BOROUGH COUNCIL

LAST NIGHT’S MEETING

The fortnightly meeting of the Gore Borough Council was held last night and was attended by the Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman) and Councillors J. A. Wright, J. A. Baldey, R. L. Reid, N. Robson, T. Sim, F. S. Graham, A. McLachlan, J. A. S. Aitken, G. C. Hamilton, W. T. Trusler and R. S. Green. The Secretary of the Department of Labour advised that the council’s application for a subsidy from the Employment Promotion Fund towards the wages cost of men to be employed on kerbing, channelling and footpaths within the borough had been declined as all the money required for the work was available.

The Mayor said that a representative of the Labour Department had given an assurance that the subsidy would be available for the footpath work. Due to the Government’s recent legislation the money available would only do about four-fifths of the work on the schedule. He considered that a further application should be made to the dev partment. This course was adopted. A letter was received from the Southland Employers’ Association inviting the council to become a member of the association. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee.

The Main Highways Board’s representative on the No. 18 District Highways Council (Mr W. G. Pearce) advised that the board had arranged to take over the maintenance of the roadway at all level railway crossings on main highways and where the highway was under the control of a local authority that authority was expected to maintain the crossing with the usual subsidy of £3 for £l. The council was therefore required to maintain the level crossing in Medway street. Traffic Bridge.

Mr D. McDougall, M.P., forwarded a letter from the chairman of the Main Highways Board stating that after urgent repairs had been completed in 1934 it was estimated that the Gore traffic bridge would last for another five to seven years. It was not considered advisable, however, to delay too long with the new structure and the preparation of plans would probably be put in hand during the current year. The board was at the present time dealing with a heavy programme of renewals of bridges with a shorter life than the Gore bridge, and by the time the renewal of this bridge could be started no doubt the whole responsibility for it would have passed to the Government under the proposed State Highways legislation. The Salvation Army was granted permission to hold a street day and a stall on Friday, October 16. Mr W. G. Pearce, assistant engineer, advised on behalf of the Main Highways Board that the following items concerning the council appeared in the board’s estimates for the year:—Dun-edin-Invercargill road, piping open drain, £lOO at £2 for £1: general maintenance, £l5O at £3 for £1; Gore-Te Anau road, general maintenance, £75 at £3 for £1; Gore-Waiporu road, general maintenance, £6O at £3 for £l. , ~ , “I notice that it has been decided _ to give the foreman in charge definite instructions that no loafing or abuse of the No. 5 scheme is to be allowed,” wrote Mr D. McDougall, M.P., in acknowledging a letter from the council advising what steps had been taken to discipline relief workers who did not give satisfactory work. “It is no use giving those instructions unless you give the foreman the right to suspend any man guilty under this heading, for without this authority the men would merely laugh at him,” he continued. “I should be glad to hear whether this is being done.” It was decided to advise Mr McDougall what action had been A letter was received from Mr G. B. Smith, branch secretary of the Southland General Labourers’ Union, who stated that under the. compulsory unionism legislation the onus was placed equally on employers and employees to ensure that workers were members of a union. Some of _ the council’s employees had failed to join. Relief workers were casual employees of the council and were therefore brought within the scope of the Act also. If any of the employees failed to join the matter would be referred to the officer-in-charge of the Labour Department. , , The Town Clerk said the letter had been referred to the Labour Department. It was decided to await the department’s reply. An application for permission to screen specially selected film programmes at the St. James and Regent Theatres on Christmas Day was declined. Works Committee. The Works Committee reported that instructions had been given to begin the work of constructing a concrete kerb, channel and footpath, on the south side of Onslow street. It had been decided to carry out the footpath on the north side of William street next. The committee would draw up a further schedule for submission to the council on the first meeting in October. The foreman of works had been instructed to carry out the work of levelling Canning street and Main street south and to procure the necessary took and wheelbarrows.

Notice having been given by the stock inspector of the Department of Agriculture for the destruction of rabbits at Croydon Domain with poisoned pollard, the ranger had been instructed to procure the pollard and poison the rabbits. ELECTRICITY CHARGES At the meeting of the Gore Borough Council last night the Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman) reported that an agreement had been prepared and approved by the Finance Committee concerning the details of arbitration on the dispute between the council and the Southland Electric Power Board on electricity charges. Owing to the members of the board being very busy at the present time with the referendum they had insisted on , the argument being confined to the solicitors for each side. The agreement would be binding on the Government in the event of control of the power scheme passing to the Government.

The agreement was approved for execution by the council. It was stated that Mr F. B. Adams, of Dunedin, had been appointed arbitrator.

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD The monthly meeting of the Gore High School Board of Governors was held yesterday, when there were present: Messrs E. C. Smith (chairman), S. Rice, J. Clarke, H. C. Mac Gibbon, Hugh Smith, R. L. Byars and Henry Smith. A circular from the Auckland Gram-

mar School Board concerning the unification of primary and secondary education boards was read, and it was decided to support the contention that it was not desirable that post-primary schools should come under the control of education boards as they were at present constituted.

The report of the rector (Mr E. H. W. Rowntree) stated that the roll now stood at 227, a decrease of seven as compared with the last term. All of these pupils had either secured positions or had been required to assist in their homes. Two staff conferences had been held and he considered that the board was fortunate in having as a staff a body of men and women which was keenly interested in the welfare of the school. “I consider the site of the school and buildings to be most unsuitable,” stated the rector “and suggest that only imperative repairs be carried out and that the board use all its energies in pressing for a new school.” After a full discussion with the staff and the prefects it had been decided to institute a house system for all sports and other competitions, stated the report. It was suggested that the four houses be named after men prominent in the early history of the town or school.

The report dealt with proposed alterations in the curriculum, the establishment of a school farm and workshops' with a full course in woodwork, metal work and engineering and art and applied art rooms, and suggested alterations to the hostel. Tire report also dealt with the prospectus and the need for expanding the courses in the school.