LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 68, Issue 5944, 17 May 1944, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Position Clarified In order to avoid confusion it is stated that it is Mr W. S. Germann who is seeking election to the Waipa County Council. Re-election Sought In the forthcoming Borough Council elections there are two cases of candidates each bearing the same name. Both Mr G. S. Clarke and Mr A. H. Roberts, who are members of the retiring Council, are seeking reelection. Attention to Footpaths At Monday evening’s meeting of Te Awamutu Borough Council Cr E. Hopping, in referring to footpaths, said a number of them needed attention, especially the footpath in Bridgman’s Road. On his motion it was decided to recommend the incoming Council to pay attention to the footpaths needing such. Empire Day A copy of Lord Bledisloe’s message in connection with Empire Day (May 24) was before the Te Awamutu Borough Council at its meeting on Monday night. The Mayor, Mr L. G. Armstrong, was authorised to read the message to the school children at a time and place to be arranged. On the motion of Cr G. S. Clarke it was decided that as many Councillors as possible should attend. Visit of Town Planner Mr J. W. Mawson, director of town planning, has advised Te Awamutu Borough Council that he would visit Te Awamutu at a date to suit the convenience of the Council. At an earlier meeting of the Council Mr Mawson intimated that he proposed to visit Te Awamutu this month, but the Council informed him that owing to the pending elections it would be appreciated if he would postpone his visit until after the new Council was installed in office. Empire Ball What promises to be the social event of the year is the Empire Ball, to be held in the Town Hall on Empire Day, May 24. The Te Awamutu Red Cross Society, who are sponsoring this function, have very complete arrangements in hand to ensure that patrons will have an enjoyable time. The takings will go to help that worthy body in the excellent patriotic work they are doing. Those who attend will have the added pleasure of knowing that they are assisting the Red Cross to carry on their work.

Good Example Set The Mayor, Mr L. G. Armstrong, informed the Council on Monday night that he had received a cheque for £25 from the Farmers’ Trading Company as a donation towards the Patriotic Funds. It was a voluntary donation and was a recognition that the branches of the Farmers’ Trading Company were expected to take part in their own local affairs. It was a pleasing gesture and one that could be followed with credit by other chain stores. The cheque had been handed to the secretary of the Patriotic Society.

In Committee When a councillor at Monday evening’s meeting of Te Awamutu Borough Council complained that a matter taken in committee had been the subject of knowledge and discussion as early as 10 a.m. on the following day by outsiders, Cr V. A. De Coek outlined the necessary procedure of taking matters in committee. The particular matter referred to was not taken in committee. In order to go into committee a resolution to do so had to be moved and carried. Members of local bodies often said “ This is in committee,” and while the press usually took cognisance of the request it did not constitute being in committee. In order to preserve secrecy at local body meetings members should go into committee by resolution. Hire of Town Hall A decision that in future all parties outside the local patriotic zone engaging the Town Hall shall be charged 50 per cent of the proceeds in addition to the usual rent of the hall was reached at Monday night’s meeting of the Te Awamutu Borough Council. The matter was brought up by Cr F. Parsons who referred to one or two parties running dances and taking money out of the town. One of them had advertised a full orchestra, and on the night of the dance there were only three instruments. Another advertised that supper would be served, and the supper consisted of raspberry drinks and biscuits. The worst feature 'was the fact that money was being taken out of the town away from the Patriotic Funds. There was general agreement in the decision arrived at, the Mayor remarking that the two parties concerned did so well that Te Awamutu would probably be the happy hunting ground for others.