WINTON

Southland Times, Issue 24180, 17 July 1940, Page 3

WINTON

TWO NOMINATIONS FOR MAYOR CR METZGER APPOINTED TO POSITION Two nominations for the office of Mayor were received at a special meeting of the Winton Borough Council. The Deputy-Mayor (Councillor N. Metzger) presided over Crs T. N. Eastlake, R. W. Goodall, W. H. J. Shaw, F. Tilley and G. W. Walters. The resignation of Mr T. Walker from the Mayoral position was accepted with regret. Cr Tilley moved that Cr N. Metzger be appointed to fill the vacancy, adding that it would be acknowledged that Cr Metzger had sacrificed a great deal of his time in the interests of the borough and had been responsible for many of the council schemes. His appointment would be a fitting reward for his long and outstanding service. Cr Goodall, in seconding the motion, said that Councillor Metzger had proved himself a suitable man for the position. These remarks' were endorsed by Cr Walters. Cr Shaw said that he desired to nominate Mr W. J. Bennett for the office of Mayor, and, while he endorsed the remarks about Cr Metzger’s work for the borough, there were other offices connected with the Mayoral position. Cr Eastlake seconded the nomination of Mr Bennett and added that, if Mr Bennett were appointed, Cr Metzger would still retain his office as chairman of the works committee, and there would be no vacancies in the council. He recognized Cr Metzger’s work in the interests of the borough. * It was mentioned that the Mayor should not necessarily be called upon to carry the burden of outside offices merely by reason of his official position.

Upon a vote being taken, Councillor Metzger was appointed to the office of Mayor by three votes to two. Councillor Metzger thanked the council for his appointment and said that he would do his utmost to uphold the position, which had been so ably filled in the past. He stated frankly that he could not assume all the offices which his predecessor had occupied in his Mayoral capacity, and the positions should be distributed.

The vacant seat on the council will be filled at the next meeting.

At a subsequent meeting of the council, the Winton Saleyards Co. Ltd. wrote drawing the attention of the council to the congestion of traffic on stock sale days and to the danger of accidents caused by ear owners parking their cars on both sides of Eglinton street. The company asked that the council prohibit the parking of cars on the south side of the street. It was decided to refer the matter to the traffic inspector for attention., The secretary of the Southland Museum wrote asking for an annual donation or grant to the museum funds. The request was held over in the meantime.

The Southland Hospital Board advised that the council’s quarterly instalment of the levy for 1940-41 was £lO5/14/7. Cr Shaw, chairman of the reserves committee, reported that attention was being given at present to the cleaning-up of sections in McKenzie street. Cr Eastlake, chairman of the lighting committee, reported that the street lights were now in satisfactory order. RATES FOR CURRENT YEAR The estimates for the year 1940-41 were tabled and disclosed an increase of .02d in the £ in the inner area and ,12d in the £ in the outer area of the borough. The expenditure estimated for the year was £2267. The town clerk’s salary was increased by £l5 to a total of £lBO because of additional duties. The hospital rate showed an increase of three-eighths of a penny in the £. The general rate is reduced by ;',d in the £ on last year, and the sanitary fees also show a reduction. The estimates were adopted. A comparison of the rates with last year is as follows: —

1940/41 1939/40 s. d. s. d. General 2>4 2/2 Electric lighting 9/16 9/16 Street improvement 15/16 15/16 Municipal building 7/16 J /2 Hospital 2/5 Sanitary service 27 6 31 Ash removal 1'5 17 6