RELAXATION OF BY-LAW

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1931, Page 8

RELAXATION OF BY-LAW

COUNCIL ALTERS ITS RULING. BUILDING IN BRICK AREA. The relaxation of the Hawera borough by-law imposing restrictions on building in the brick area was again discussed by the council last night. At the previous meeting an application by G. R. Horsburgh for the relaxation of the by-law to permit the erection of a storehouse at the rear of his premises was refused on the casting vote of the Mayor (Mr. E. A. Pacey). Last night the council rescinded the resolution and granted the relaxation, provided certain conditions to minimise fire risk were complied with. In accordance with notice already given Cr. J. B. Laurenson moved that the resolution be rescinded, saying that when the by-laws had been adopted it -had been a time of prosperity. They could now well do with £3OO spent in the town, but they were turning it away to catch £3OOO in some years’ time. The proposed building was good enough for a town the size of Hawera. They wanted to have elaborate buildings that the town could not afford. That was what was killing the town —making rents too high. Cr. A. K. North is seconding the motion said the by-laws were good to have. In certain towns the main streets were littered with series of tin sheds and he was certainly against relaxing the by-law where a permanent building on the main street was concerned. The bylaw was only to eliminate fire risk but also to preserve a good appearance. In this case they had a man leasing property at the rear of his premises and with no security of tenure beyond the lease. As long as the building did not increase the fire risk it would be all right. Cr. E. Morrissey recalled the- burning of 17 Hawera buildings in the disastrous Hawera fire. Obviously they must have a brick area to protect the town from fire. At one time insurance companies had threatened to withdraw their covers on High Street properties. Cr. R. Mortlock did not think the risk of fire greater than in other cases where a relaxation had been granted. Cr. W. G. Strange mentioned that within a few yards of this point the council had compelled others to comply with the by-law. ■Cr. W. Page thought there was not sufficient fire risk to justify the previous meeting’s resolution. The Mayor expressed himself against the relaxation.

Cr. Laurenson’s motion was carried on the voices.

On a motion to grant the relaxation Cr. Morrissey called for a division. The Mayor and Crs. Laurenson, Bayley, North, Mortlock and Page voted for the motion and Crs. Morrissey, Strange and ■Butler against. The Mayor stated that he had altered his vote to fall in with the majority. The librarian (Miss H. C. Carson) reported that there were 592 subscribers in November, as against 517 in the November of 1930. Receipts last month were £37. The clerk (Mr. H. S. Elliott) reported that two bullocks, 69 cows, 26 heifers, 355 sheep, ®S lambs, four calves and 56 pigs had been slaughtered at the abattoirs during November, when receipts had totalled £7O. Fees for the current financial year were £24 more than for the same period of the previous year. The ranger (Mr. G. H. Blackwell) reported finding five cows wandering during the month. The treasurer reported that all accounts except the cemetery account were in credit.

PATEA SCHOOL AFFAIRS. CLINIC CHARGE'S ENFORCED. Mr. R. E. Moore presided at the monthly meeting of the Patea School Committee, when the secretary (Rev. C. Aker) reported that only £8 9s had been so far received of the required total of £23 10s for dental clinic treatment. Every appeal had been made to parents, but the time had apparently come when parents should be compelled to contribute as inquired by the Department of Dental Hygiene. The charge was 5s per child per annum. Whilst regretting the position, said the chairman, he felt that Pa,tea, the •base school, was not doing its share. The charge required by the department would .have to be made and parents must pay the contribution or treatment could not be given. It was resolved that contributions must be paid before January 1, 1932, or children would not be treated, and once pupils were struck off the roll for treatment they would not be reinstated. In connection with the recent successful concert eulogistic reference was made to the work of the staff, and Miss M. Hansard, and the hearty co-operation of the theatre management. Mr. C. V. Whittington’s party's presentation of the farce, “A Happy 'Family,” had proved very entertaining, the funds profiting by almost £2O. The sum of £5 was earmarked for the tarring of a 'basketball court on the terrace. An appreciation of her work will be tendered Miss Fullarton, who leaves the Patea School at the end of the term. GENERAL ITEMS. The death took place at Hawera yesterday of Mrs. George Syme, wife of a well-known resident of the town. Expenditure by the Hawera Borough •Council up to £2OO for the jubilee celebrations has been approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs. While riding a motor-cycle towards Normanby A. Newman, Okaiawa, collided with a motor-car driven by a man named Mason on Saturday night and was admitted to hospital with leg injuries. He was reported yesteiday to be progressing favourably. Preliminary arrangements in connection with the choral music to be performed at the Hawera borough jubilee celebrations were made at a meeting attended by between 30 and 40 at Hawera last night. Practices were arranged and a committee was appointed consisting of Mrs. W. A. Quin, Miss D. Goodchap, Messrs G. H. Buckeridge and J. Mills (representing the church choirs), Messrs H. C. A. Fox, C. Lamb and Herbert Webb (choirmasters) and Mr. J. Champion (secretary).

High Street, Hawera, from Victoria Street to Princes Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Christinas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Two building permits to a total value of £B7 were issued, in Hawera last month. .> The Hawera Borough Council is contributing £lO to the cost of illuminating the borough during the holidays. BUSINESS NOTICES. Retail shops in Hawera will be open all day to-morrow and on December 30, and until 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

HAWERA UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF. GIFTS OF LAMB FOR FAMILIES. . The Unemployment Board’s grant for the relief of Hawera unemployment this week amounted to £2lB l'6s, an amount sufficient to provide 3} days’ work for the 4-day men, and 2-J days for the 3-day men. There still being a portion of the £5O Christmas grant in hand, the 3-day men were given an extra halfday’s work. Allocations for the week were: Normanby. Town Board 15, Hawera County Council 23, Hawera Borough Council 66, Matapu School Committee 3, South Committee Park Board 1, Ararata 'School Committee 1, Hawera Mam School Committee 1. The decision of the Hawera Savage Club to provide the married men with a roast of lamb for Christmas, to be paid for out of the club’s Christmas cheer fund, was applauded when Mr. Campbell announced it at the committee meeting. Mr. W. G. Simpson had undertaken to cut the lamb and distribute the roasts to the men on receipt of a chit signed by Mr. Campbell. The distribution ■would take place on Wednesday and the supply to each man would be in accordance With the size of his family. RED CROSS SOCIETY WORK. COMPETITIONS IN SCHOOLS. Under the auspices of the South Taranaki Council of the Red Cross Society a competition was arranged and recently tok place among the junior Red Cross circles in the schools of the district. Questions were set covering I the work of home nursing instructed by

Sister Ingles during the past year. This competition was the cause of keen interest among the young people, nine entries being received. The judges had a difficult task to award the points as all the papers showed a good knowledge of the work covered. In the smaller schools Te. Kiri and Whareroa tied for first place. These papers were especially good, with neatness and conforming to the rules a feature of their work. Okaiawa and Opunake tied for first place in the larger schools. The work of these circles was noticeable for the all-round, knowledge shown, and some of the papers were outstanding. Sister Ingles is to be congratulated on the result of her tuition and the Red Cross Society on having such youthful enthusiasm in its various branches. After the holidays the council will award a book to each of the winning circles for the use of their respective school libraries. FIRST AIR MAIL SERVICE. HAWERA AS LANDING PLACE. Following representations by the Hawera Chamber of Commerce and the Hawera Aero. Club the Christmas air mail plane flying under the auspices of the Dominion Air Leagtfe will land at Hawera on Thursday morning when en route to New Plymouth and Auckland. Mails null close at the Hawera post office at 10 a.m. and the plane is expected to leave Dunlop Field 20 minutes later. When it was ascertained that Hawera had not been included in the. landing places for mail collection the presi dent of the Chamber of Commerce, M