CITY COUNCIL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 273, 22 December 1914, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. Brevity had a narrow escape of being the distinguishing characteristic of the meeting of the City Council last evening. The City Fathers took their seats ' at 7.30 p.m., and had a chance of finishing in twenty minutes. However, they \ igot at loggerheads over the Orchestral Society's Sunday evening concerts, and debated that subject for an hour. There were present:- —he Mayor (Mr 11. Holland), Crs W. H. Cooper, J. R. Hayward, J. G. Scott, H. Hunter, F. Burgoyne, J. W. Beanland, A. Williams, H. J. Otley, A. S. Taylor, H.B. SoreijBon, and W. Millar. ADDINGTON BAND ROTUNDA. The Mayor stated that the contractor liad been instructed to proceed with the band rotunda at the Jerrold Street re- , serve. - N • CABBIES'FEES. A petition was received from thirtyfive cab drivers of the city asking for a Reduction in the council's liceiige fees for cabs and drivers. The petitioners alleged that the fees in Cliristchurch " were higher than in any other city in Zealand, the local fees being £1 for cab and 10/- for driver, whereas in other cities the fees are—"Wellington, cab 15/-, driver 5/-; Auckland, cab 12/6, driver 10/-; Dunedin, cab 10/-, driver 5/.-. The petitioners also pointed out that owing to competition of trams and taxi cabs, and the city regulations, the ' cabmen were unable to increase their charges, but in the meantime the coat of living and the cost of horse feed had inCreased. This was referred to the By-laws Committee to report. In seconding the motion, Cr Hunter said that a nominal fee only should be charged to men who had to earn their living at this occupation, and had to work long hours. The fees imposed an undue hardship. One shilling was quite enough. Cries: No, no. * Cr Hunter: These men should not liave to pay for an inspector, and that's what it comes to. Cr Cooper favoured a reduction in the case of the cabmen, whose occupation was in danger of sharing the fate of Othello's. One cabbie had told him that he had taken nothing on one. day, and one had taken half-a-crown. MUSIC. The Bands and Qrgan Committee reported: — Sunday Evening Orchestral Concerts. *—The committee had informed the Orchestral Society that the following conditions must be observed "in connection with the' Sunday Evening Concerts - (1) The doors are not to be opened 8.10 p.m., and the concerts must not commence before 8.30 p.m.; (2) admission must be by voluntary contribution only; (3) only music appropriate to the day must be rendered;~(4) permission to give Sunday concerts only extends until the commencement of the Municipal Organ Recitals, which it is expected will be about the second or third Sunday in February next. Tuning City Orgau. : —The committee reported that it had made arrangements with Mr H. Brett for the tuning and general up-keep of the city organ for the sum of £BO per annujn. This sum included the expenses of an assistant for any Sunday attendances which might be necessary, and for the personal attendance of Mr Brett at every recital given by the city organist or any recital arranged by the council to be given by any other organist. . C In regard to the orchestral concerts, Cr Hayward said that he would move 1 that permission be given to hold the concerts fortnightly. On Sunday night hundreds of people, owing to the rush, went in without having the opportunity to contribute to the collection. The Concerts were very popular, and no member of the society, personally, would make any profit out of the concerts. He (the speaker) was a democrat, and he objected to the council trying to-estab-lish a monopoly on Sunday nights in favour of its organ recitals. The committee had done its best in running the organ recitals, but he was not with them when they tried to get a monopoly. Cr Hunter said that the first condition should be opposed. Cr Otley said that there was not one clause in the conditions which he agreed with. If the organ recitals could not stand on their own bottom it was time they were discontinued. He believed that the doors at the organ recital were opened at a quarter to eight, and if that were so it was a disgrace that the council should reserve more for itself than it would give to anyone else. The council could trust the society to give good and suitable music. Cr Cooper said that there was a tremendous crush at the concert. The idea of the committee in holding

doors till 8.10 was to assist the church, but there were 2000 people outside at 7.30, who could not possibly have gone to church. The organ recitals had been a huge failure, and he believed that the ratepayers would be better suited. if they closed up the recitals, and gave the Orchestral Society the right to have concerts throughout the year. Cr Reynolds said that he was opposed., to the first condition. Permission ;might be given to hold the concerts on alternate nights with the recitals. Cr Burgoyne said that the council should proceed carefully, or it would have applications from the picture shows and theatres for permission to give Sunday evening entertainments. Cr Sorensen supported the committee's'report. . Cr Millar said that the council should know what it was doing before it granted a monopoly to any particular society. He thought the council should have a and run the whole show, pictures and all. (Laughter.) He supported the committee. Cr Scott said that 8.10 p.m. was quite early enough to open the doors. Otherwise, church-goers would be shut out of the concerts.

Cr Taylor said that the doors should be open as early as the doors at the organ recitals. He moved the substitution of 7.45 p.m. for 8.10 p.m. in the first clause. This was seconded by Cr Hunter. Cr Williams said that the Orchestral Society could not have any Idea that this debate tv;as to take place. The society had distinctly stated that it did not wish to clash with the organ recitals. The committee 1 had receieved a strong protest from the Churches in reference to these concerts, and in deference to that the Committee fixed the time. The organ recitals could only be giVen Sunday evenings, but the Orchestr&l Society could give a concert on any evening. He never thought, when permission was granted to hold the concert, that it would involve extra labour to tramway and railway, men. There was a very widespread impression that the concert last night was in aid of the Belgian Fund, and hundreds of people went on that account. The Mayor said that the society had got all it asked for. The discussion was quite premature. The deputation had clearly stated that it did not wish the concerts to clash with the organ recitals. He was strongly opposed to allowing a charge to be made, as that would shut out the poorer people. Cr Taylor 'a - amendment, fixing the time of opening the door at 7.45 was lost by 8 to 6. > Cr Beanland moved a further amendment that doors open at 8 p.m. This was seconded by Cr Hay ward. The council subsidised the bands, so why not the Orchestral Society? The Mayor: They get permission to take up a colleetion,,and the bands do not. ! This was lost on the casting vote of the Mayor. ' j ELECTRICITY. | Proposed Rates for Light and Power. —The committee had requested the electrical engineer, in conjunction with the town clerk, to look into the question of the proposed rates for light and power, and to recommend such alterations as lie deemed advisable. Electrically-driven Motor Waggon.— The committee's attention has been drawn to a recently imported storage battery electrically-driven motor waggon.. With a view to encouraging the use of electricity for delivery motor cars, the electrical engineer recommended that the current be supplied free of charge for demonstration purposes, and to the first purchaser for a period of six months, and the committee had agreed to this' course. The current could be supplied from midnight to 7 a.m., and should the use of these vehicles become general, a demand would be created for current at the period when there was a small demand for power otherwise. Pole Line Distributing System.— There were about 156 instances where the council's lines interfere with the telegraph and telephone lines, and many alterations would be required which would involve the changing of poles, mostly at street corners and line crossings. In most cases these alterations would affect the spacings of the poles in the streets. This matter was now receiving the attention of the' electrical engineer.

Lighting band rotundas by electricity. —The electrical engineer had been instructed to put this work in hand as soon as possible. Supply of electrical current to outside local bodies. —The question of the supply of electrical current to the adjoining local bodies had been referred to the electrical engineer to make a recommendation, and the committee hoped that some arrangement acceptable to the local bodies would be come to early in the New Year. WATER SUPPLY.

The Water Supply Committee reported:— New Wells.—The engineer reported that the new wells had been connected

up to the suction tank, and that 2,000,000 gallons per day could be obtained at Bft 6in below the static head.

Crossley Producers. —The two Crossley producers had been repaired, and the charging arrangements improved. They were giving excellent results. Demand for "Water.—The demand for water had been very great, and up to 2,000,000 gallons per day had been pumped. WORKS. The Works and Sanitary Committee reported:— Track Round River Between Fisher Street and Sandwich Road. —The Bec-kenham-Fisherton Residents' Association wrote asking that a track be formed round the river between Fisher Street • and Sandwich Road, to enable school children to reach the Beckenham - School by the shortest route. The com- ! mitteo had replied stating that the road, reserve in ,this locality was full of swamps and sjjrings, and it would be a very costly matter. to make even a track which would be safe for children to use. The city surveyor, however, had made arrangements with the owner of land lying between Fisher Street and the Park to allow children to cross his land, and it'was intended to erect stiles 011 the park fences prior,to the opening of the school. By this njeans the children will be able to use this short route. THE BATHS. Cr Taylor suggested that the City Baths shouid be open until 10 a.m. at least on holidays, such as Christinas Day and Box-i ing Day. j Cr Burgoyne said that the couucil j should not deprive the attendants of their usual holidays. Cr Otley said that the baths were run in the interests of the public, not in the interests of the attendants. Cr-Hunter said that several matters in connection with the baths wanted looking into. He believed that on one occasion water was let out of the baths before 9 p.m., and a man who dived in nearly broke his neck.

Cr Burgoyne said that this had been fixed up, and would not happen again. The Mayor said that the baths had an efficient and conscientious custodian. If the council would give the Bath Committee £2OO it would reduce the risks which had to be taken. It took nine hours to empty and fill the baths, so a start had to be made promptly at 9 p.m. to empty them. Cr Sorensen said that it was impossible to spare £2OO this year. The Baths Committee was .requested to consider;the various questiohs raised. THE CURIOSITY SHOP. Cr Hayward informed the council that the old. building at the corner of High Street and Fitzgerald Avenue was being renovated and repaired, instead of being pulled down. It was a disgrace to the city that such » thing was possible. . Cr Sorensen said that the matter was in the hands of the Health Department, and the City Council could do nothing. COMPLIMENTS.^ Several formal matters were dealt with, and the Mayor wished councillors the compliments of the season, which were heartily reciprocated.