WAITARA BOROUGH RATES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 3

WAITARA BOROUGH RATES

DECISION FOR COLLECTION MATTER OF UNLICENSED PEDLARS. the inspector and his duties. The Waitara Borough Council met last night, the Mayor (Mr. J. Hine) presiding. Others present were Councillors W. B. Glasgow, E. A. George, H. Wakely, T. C. Wilson, W. J. Reeves, H. Spurdie and W. Middleton. That the list of unpaid rates be placed in the solicitor’s hands for collection was a resolution adopted on the motion of Cr. Glasgow., No-one liked pressing people for money in times like the present, he said, but the council was charged with certain duties and, under present circumstances the accounts outstanding could neither be collected nor written off, said .Cr. Glasgow. It was stated that the total amount outstanding was between £3OO and £4OO and Cr. Glasgow remarked that it was the large number of individual ratepayers owing various sums that was really disturbing. He felt there was no doubt that some people were taking advantage of the times. HAWKERS AND SPEEDING. A large number of hawkers and itinerant traders had been operating in the borough, and with one exception they were unlicensed, stated a letter from the Traders’ Progressive Association. It was contended that considerable trade was taken from the retailers of the town, and the opinion was expressed that the council should protect the business people by strictly enforcing the conditions regarding pedlars, hawkers and itinerant traders. The Mayor said the inspector had been instructed to prosecute unlicensed hawkers but that seemed to have done little good.

Cr. George said that at least one hawker who had been unable to pay his license fee had left the town. It was decided to advise, the Traders’ Association that the inspector had been instructed to prosecute all unlicensed hawkers.

A question was then asked concerning the action taken regarding speeding motorists, two recent glaring cases being mentioned. Cr. Middleton referred to the practice of cutttag comers. Some discussion ensued as to the manner in which the inspector (Mr. L. T. Kendrick) carried out his duties, Cr. Glasgow remarking that the time was coming when the inspector, who is also the waterworks overseer, would have to be employed as a waterworks labourer at £3 a week and another inspector appointed in his place. LETTER FOR INSPECTOR. He had told the inspector previously of the hawkers and speeding motorists, remarked the Mayor. Mr. Kendrick had been told that if he could not do the work someone else would have to be appointed. The Mayor was instructed to interview the inspector, and the council decided to write asking him if he could conscientiously say he had not seen speeding motorists and, if he had seen them, why no-one had been prosecuted as instructed. . '

The works committee reported on the road complained of by Mr. C. Barnitt and adhered to its original decision that Mr. Barnitt had no just grounds .for complaint. Regarding his communication on the dividing fence between his property and the cemetery it was stated that there was a strip of Crown land there and only a portion of the cemetery adjoined the property. The exact cemetery boundary was to be defined. The proposed work of improving the grade to the Camp Reserve had been considered and it was recommended that grades dnd levels be taken. The Nelson Park improvement could be done but it entailed carting spoil some distance. It was recommended that Warre Street be sealed and that Queen Street from McLean Street to Paris Street be partly recoated with metal and sealed. That work would cost approximately £l6O. OTHER REPORTS. The overseer (Mr. L.-T. Kendrick) reported that inspection had revealed the intake tunnel to be satisfactory. General cleaning work was in progress. Motor driving licenses issued numbered 126, making a total of 237. The electric light committee reported that some plaster was required for an outside wall of the power house. The electrical engineer (Mr. G. O. Smith) reported that the units registered during the month numbered 40,997, against 38,076 for June, 1932. The system of monthly meter-reading would satisfy most consumers after it had had a good trial. The foreman reported that the usual street maintenance work had been carried out. Relief workers had been engaged in work at the cemetery and in quarrying at the pit as well as at the seaside. _

Clearing work had been proceeding at the cemetery, stated the report of that committee. As soon as the portion under work was cleared grass seed and shrubs would be required. A new path would also’ be necessary. It was hoped the work would be completed as, soon as possible. It was decided to carry out the work recommended, but the question of the new path was deferred. Cr. Middleton was appointed to the waterworks committee.