BOROUGH COUNCIL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4232, 17 January 1940, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. GENERAL BUSINESS. His Worship the Mayor, Mr G. Spinley, presided at the monthly meeting of the Te Awamutu Borough Council on Monday evening, and also present were Crs J. C. Montefiore (deputy Mayor), W. J. North, A. C. Brookes, C. J. Spiers, J. Sterritt, J. A. Maxwell and L. S. Armstrong. The town clerk, Mr D. Bockett, and borough engineer, Mr R. P. Worley, were in attendance. PROTECTION OF PROPERTY. Mr J. W. Heenan, Under Secretary to the Department of Internal Affairs, wrote re the question of the protection of public utilities under the control of local authorities. The Minister desired him to ascertain the nature and extent of the arrangements now in operation with respect to the protection of, and prevention of unlawful entry into, public utilities under the Council’s juricdiction. He desired information as to waterworks, electricity plants and other utilities of a public character controlled by the Council. The town clerk was instructed to reply that such matters are in the hands of the local Emergency Precautions Committee, and that the waterworks are not guarded at present. SKATING. Mr J. W. Hutson, Hamilton, proprietor of a chain of roller skating rings, asked for tenure of the Town Hall on one night per week for twelve months at a rental of 30s per night. It was stated the hall had been let for several months past for one night per week at £2 per night for skating, and the tenant had always given satisfaction. Inquiry is to be made from the present tenant as to his intentions for the future. METHOD OF .PAYING RATES. An inquiry was received from the Hamilton office of the Labour Department as to the Council’s method of paying its outdoor staff, and pointing out the provisions of the award. The Mayor explained the provisions of the award, and the men’s claim that having been employed at least 12 months, they were entitled to a full week’s holiday annually, plus statutory holidays. He found that the men were being paid slightly in excess of stipulated wages. It was suggested that no change be made during the current financial year. To Cr Spiers, the town clerk quoted the award to show that the men should be paid 2s 5d per hour on a 40 hour week, £4 lls 4d per week. Act - ually they were paid £4 13s 4d. Cr Brookes said that at the hourly wage the men would not be paid for statutory holidays. It was decided to pay the men as usual, at £4 13s 4d per week. ROAD SEALING. Mr W. Hall-Jones, resident engineer for the Public Works Department, wrote re the Te Awamutu-Ngutuaui main highway, and the widening of the sealed road in the Te Awamutu borough division, near the new school. He said the Council’s proposals generally were satisfactory and were approved. Reporting on the sketch plan. Mr Worley said it shows the kerb scaled at five inches deep. The matter was referred to the engineer. To Cr Armstrong, it was stated that the proposed widening is from College Street to Goodfellow Street, and would be from kerb to kerb. FIRE PREVENTION. The secretary, Te Awamutu Fire Board, wrote drawing attention to the fact that there are no fire plug notices in Wynyard and Totara Streets, and that other fire plugs in the borough need repainting. The Council was thanked for completing the laying down of water mains in Albert Park. The Mayor said that on New Year’s Eve several fire plugs had been wantonly damaged thus constituting a danger in the event of an outbreak o fire. The matter was referred to the Works Committee. EDUCATION RESERVE. The Auckland Board of Educe.t’’on secretary forwarded a lengthy letter from the headmaster of the Te Awamutu primary school, in regard to the Council’s claim for rates (over £5) on the head teacher’s residence section in Alexandra Street. He pointed out that, in view of the ruling from the Treasury Department, head teachers are still required to pay such rates on teachers’ residences. He, however, asked if the Council could see its way to reduce the water supply charge. It was suggested that the valuation of the property is far too high. The Mayor pointed out that the residential area is approximately one acre, and is valuable. General rate is not charged, but water and rubbish collection charges are levied. It was decided to take no action. PEDESTRIAN CROSSING. The secretary, Te Awamutu District High School Committee, wrote re the proposed pedestrian crossing near the school entrance in Alexandra Street, and expressing a preference for the crossing place to be marked from the corner of Tawhiao Street to the corner of College Street. This was the safest and most convenient place for a pedestrian crossing. To Cr Armstrong, Cr Brookes said the new T traffic regulations required that the pedestrian crossings should not be within 20ft of a corner. The Mayor said the Works Committee had carefully considered all the circumstances and was convinced the crossing should be right opposite the school entrance. Crs Brookes and Spiers expressed agreement with this view’. It was decided to advise the School Committee* to this effect. STATE HOUSES. .

The Works Committee recommended that the tow'n clerk be instructed to notify the State Housing Depart-

ment to instal a water meter to each and every house erected on sections supplied with borough water. The Mayor explained that the State houses in Wynyard Street were all on one section and the water rate work* ed out at approximately 3s per house per annum.. This, he thought, was far too cheap. There were other places in the borough somewhat similarly affected. LIBRARY MATTERS. The Mayor reminded the Council that the annual meeting of the Public Library was to be held in February, and it was desirable that the Council should be represented on the Library Committee by three members. Cr Maxwell’s removal to Auckland recently caused him to resign from the committee. He suggested that a resident councillor be appointed in his stead.—Cr L. S. Armstrong was appointed to the vacancy. DOG REGISTRATION. The Council’s attention was directed to the Dog Registration Act, and the Government’s requirements for dosing all dogs with arecolene as a preventive of hydatids. Supplies were available to local bodies on application. Registration of dogs must be effected before February Ist. The Mayor commented that last year some dogs became ill after being dosed, and this caused other owners to refrain from carrying out the instructions. It was decided to impose the annual dog tax on the same basis as last year. Regarding the widening of Sloane Street, Mr Hall-Jones said that the estimated cost, £ll6, of the work to be done by the Council’s staff, was approved.