WESTOWN INTERESTS

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1935, Page 3

WESTOWN INTERESTS

PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION.' REQUESTS TO THE COUNCIL. There was an attendance of about 30 members at the annual meeting of the Westown Progressive Association last night. Mr. L. T. Aylward presided. The fifth annual report stated that although the association had received very meagre support from the residents the executive committee had in an important way managed to keep the interests of the suburb to the forefront and had been instrumental in having the maintenance of the streets and footpaths at Westown. > properly attended to by the local authority. As in past years the committee had where possible co-operated with the beautifying committee of the Borough Council, and had been interested in several street-widening works which had been or were in the process of being carried, out. All requests made by the association to the Borough Council had been reasonable ones, and recognising the council’s obligations to keep expenditure within well defined limits during the past difficult financial years the association had. not made any demands for works involving heavy capital expenditure. The association expressed its gratitude to the council and to its officers for the very courteous manner in which all requests had been dealt with and. generally for the response given to the requests. It was felt, however, that the association, could in the future achieve much greater success if the residents of the district took a much greater interest in its ac- • tivities. The present executive was composed entirely of men whose time was very fully occupied with work on many local, educational, civic and sporting bodies, and the introduction of fresh, blood into the association and its committee would undoubtedly result in the association functioning with greater success than in the past. The committee had no apologies to make, said the chairman in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, for 'it had worked quietly and unostentatiously during the year, but he thought it had worked effectively. However, it appeared as though the time was now arriving when the association should be prepared to take action. Apparently the long-looked-for corner had been turned at last and it was therefore necessary that the association should see that the interests of the suburb were safeguarded and improvements effected. During the past few years there had been an acute depression and the executive had been, very particular not to harrass the council unnecessary, and so had decided to go quietly. He considered there was a glorious opportunity for the association to do something for the suburb, for if the town extended as all hoped it would the association must do everything possible to see that its end was kept up. Mr. R. J. Dea re expressed the opinion that in the circumstance the executive had done very well. He considered, however, it. was time that much more was done in connection with the streets, and he would move a motion on the subject later. The following executive was elected:— Messrs. L. T. Aylward, V. C. Davies, W. J. Ewart, E. W. Deacon, R. G. HoweU, A. H. Coad, G. W. Turnbull, A. E. Reesby and L. Harris. The danger to children going to school caused by stock being driven through the suburb was stressed by Mr. Howell, who said that at times children had difficulty in getting past stock. The work of preparing the stock route should be speeded up to remove the menace as soon as possible. Members agreed that something should be done, and it was unanimously decided on the motion of Messrs. Howell and H. V. Leighton to request the council to bring into use as soon as possible that portion of the stock route now completed with a view to minimising the nuisance owing to cattle being driven through a thickly populated suburban street, and that until such time as the road is brought into use stock be not driven through the suburb after 7.30 a.m. Mr. Deare drew attention to the necessity for improving Wallace Place, the road in wet weather being in one place almost a quagmire. It was decided to make representations to the council with a view to having Wallace Place from Cutfield Road to Dorset Avenue improved. Appreciation of the action of the council in widening and improving Tukapo Street from David Street up, also improving the corners of other roads, is to be expressed. Appreciation of the services of the retiring members of the executive was placed on record. At a subsequent meeting of the executive the following officers were elected: President, Mr. Aylward; vice-president, tylr. Davies; joint honorary secretaries, Messrs. Howell and Ewart.