MANUREWA TOWN BOARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 734, 6 August 1929, Page 7

MANUREWA TOWN BOARD

The Manurewa Town Board held its fortnightly meeting last evening, the chairman, Mr. Geo. Gallaher, presiding. The clerk Mr. H. Kay, reported that it was the Power Boards intention to install a light of less power in place of the present light at the corner of Hall and Great South Roads, this constituting a trial preparatory to altering the other lights in the district. The clerk reported that the earthquake relief fund had been closed at £39 3s 6d. This amount had been forwarded to the Mayor’s Fund. In accordance with notice of motion. Mr. G. A. Osborne moved that the local Public Library be closed as from September 30. He pointed out that its membership had dwindled from 30 to 19 within the period that the district’s population had doubled. Last year the institution was run at a loss of about £l4. He attributed its decline to the fact that three other lending libraries were now operating in the district. The motion was approved in a modified form, namely, that the library he suspended from the suggested date, and be reopened when such action is considered advisable. The recommendations put forward by the outer-suburban conference relating to the speed of service-cars were adopted. Referring to the Highway Board’s formal acknowledgment of the board’s application for a subsidy on the cost of maintaining a. traffic inspector, Mr. C. A. Fawcett suggested that the inspector should be withdrawn as no consideration in this respect was forthcoming from the Highways Board. Mr. W. Ferguson remarked that if this were done the vacancy would be filled by the Highways Board. It was agreed to take further action if the Board failed to move in the matter prior to the next meeting. Mr. Fawcett reported that a representative had been appointed to confer with the Manurewa Town Board relative to the improving of the approaches to the overhead railway bridge. Messrs. Fawcett and Ferguson were appointed to act on behalf of the board. The chairman was appointed to fill the vacancy on the Great South Road Beautifying Council caused by the resignation of Mr. Sexton. Mr. Fawcett referred to the recent Parliamentary discussions relative to retrospective subsidies on Great South Road con ✓ruction work. He considered this was “drawing a red herring across the scent.’’ The dispute, “concrete versus bitumen.” had been abandoned long ago by the Hi gs ways Board, which was now advocating several miles of concrete highway through Franklin County. The gi'eatest point lit issue was the heavy interest account with which the outer-suburban districts were burdened, and it was relief in this direction which was urgently required. The chairman and Mr. Fawcett were deputed to interview Mr. J. X. Massey (member for Franklin) and Mr. A. W. Hall (Hauraki) with a view to ui'ging a definite course of action in the desired direction. Mr. G. A. Osborne drew attention to the State Advances Department’s attitude in refusing to grant loans in the Manurewa district. It was decided to ask the Department for full details relative to (government loan dwellings at present unoccupied in the district.