GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20058, 15 March 1935, Page 4

GERALDINE

TOWN CLERK TO ATTEND

At the monthly meeting of the Geraldine Borough Council on Wednesday evening, a letter was received inviting the Council to appoint a delegate to attend the annual conference of the Municipal Association to be held at Christchurch, and also asking the Council to permit the town clerk to attend the annual meeting of the Institute of Town Clerks, which would be held the day before the Association’s conference. Cr. J. R. Lack expressed the opinion that the town clerk (Mr B. Hayes) should attend both conferences. Mr Hayes had not attended a conference for some years, and, as he was the man to whom the Council looked for infomation, he thought Mr Hayes should be the Council’s delegate to the Municipal Conference. The Mayor (Mr B. R. Macdonald): It seems a strange thing that the Council should be represented by the town clerk. It has not been done before. Cr. Lack moved that the town clerk should attend the Town Clerks’ conference, and that he should also represent the Council at the Municipal Association’s conference. In reply to Cr. A. J. Bell, the Mayor remarked that he had no idea of the cost involved, as he had never been to a Municipal Association conference. Cr. Bell intimated that he agreed with Cr. Lack’s remarks. The Mayor: I do not think it looks well to send the town clerk to the Municipal conference. In reply to a question, Mr Hayes stated that at the last Municipal conference he had attended after the war a large number of the smaller boroughs had been represented either by the mayor or by the town clerk as sole delegate. The Mayor: Other places have evidently been represented by the town clerk. Well, that is all right. Cr. Bell seconded the motion. Cr. Lack (to the Mayor): Would you like to go? The Mayor remarked that he had never attended a municipal conference.

Cr. Lack: I think the town clerk should be the man to go. The Mayor: I grant you he will get the information. The motion is carried. The town clerk goes.

The town clerk was authorised to arrange for a substitute, who would attend to office matters, during his absence.

COUNCIL STAFF The chairman of the Works Committee (Cr. G. H. Patrick) reported to the Geraldine Borough Council on Wednesday evening that the commitI tee had considered the staffing arrangements, and recommended that the outI side work be in the hands ot the borough foreman (Mr H. Lord), that the town clerk arrange to pay unemployed wages every Saturday, and that the I Works Committee be in charge oi all outside work in conjunction with the | foreman and the town clerk, it required, and report to each meeting. Mr Patrick moved in that direction. Cr. A. J. Bell: Was not that supposed to be a recommendation to the incoming Council? Cr. G. H. Patrick: Yes. I meant to move that later. Cr. J. R. Lack: I do not see where we are. The Council then digressed and later, Cr. Patrick asked what was going to be done about his report. Cr. Lack remarked that he inferred Cr. Patrick’s idea was to relieve the town clerk of some of the outside work. It was a big question to go into, but he thought that at times there was too much for Mr Hayes to do in the office. Even the paying of accounts took time, and with people coming in and out the time soon went. In reply to a question Mr Hayes agreed that that often was the case. Cr. Patrick remarked that if the unemployed were paid on one particular day it would mean that all the men could come in at once, which would save a lot of time. The town clerk explained that he had paid out immediately as the unemployed' appreciated payment after they had done their respective number of days, and he knew that when earning such small amounts they needed the money to carry on. The Council agreed that the unemployed men be paid on Saturdays, when they would be informed of details of their work for the following week. On the motion of Cr. Patrick the recommendations in the Works Committee’s report were referred to the incoming Council. BOROUGH RE-VALUATION Arising from a notification from the Valuation Department that the valuation of property in the Geraldine Borough owned by the late Mr O. H. Tripp, had been reduced, the Mayor (Mr B. R. Macdonald) remarked at the meeting of the Council on Wednesday evening that there was some dissatisfaction in connection with the valuation of property, and. personally, he thought that there should be a revaluation. In reply to a question, the town clerk said that the last borough valuation had been carried out in 1932, when they had changed to rating on unimnroved value. The valuation had cost £67.

Cr. J. R. Lack remarked that a revaluation would probably cost the Council about £IOO. If the values were brought down, it would mean that the rates would have to go up. Cr. W. A. Sherratt pointed out that some property owners were quietly getting their land revalued, which was not fair to the other property owners. Cr. A. J. Bell remarked that those who were not objecting were evidently quite satisfied. It was decided that the matter of a revaluation should be left to the incoming Council. CHIEF SCOUT’S VISIT The Chief Scout and Chief Guide, Lord and Lady Baden Powell, who have been the guests of Miss Tripp, Orari Gorge, made a brief stop at Geraldine, while motoring to Timaru on Wednesday. in order to meet Scoutmaster J. S. Lorimer and Captain A. W. McArthur (hon. secretary) of the Geraldine Boy Scout Troop. The proceedings were informal, the Chief Scout showing a keen interest in the welfare of the movement in this district. Informed that at present there were only 12 Scouts in the Troop, the Chief Scout remarked that sometimes 12 were better than 20. He asked Scoutmaster Lorimer to convey to the boys the Chief Scout’s hope that they were carrying out the Scout law and playing the game. Scoutmaster Lorimer and Captain McArthur expressed appreciation of Lord and Ladv Baden Powell’s courtesy and kindly interest in breaking their journey to inquire after the welfare of Scouting in the district. SUCCESSFUL PLUNKET DAY The annual Plunket Dav appeal in the interests of the Geraldine Branch of the Plunket Society on Wednesday resulted in £92/8/11 being aised. In expressing pleasure at the response to the appeal, the president, Mrs J. W. Davison, remarked to the “Herald” representative yesterday that she and the members of the committee wished to thank the public for their loyal support. Mrs Davison added that she personally wished to express her appreciation to the stallholders, street collectors, and the helpers in the refreshment marquee for their splendid assistance, which had resulted in such a substantial sum being raised to further the Society’s valuable work. Various competitions resulted as folptaner. Mrs Morris Williams; doll. Mrs P. Crawley; child’s frock. Mrs G. Dennistoun: bowl. Mr c. Miller’ sheen. Mr H. W. W. Williamson; cake Mrs R. S. Walpole. BOROUGH COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Geraldine Borough Council; held on Wednesday evening, was attended bv the Mavor (Mr B. R. MacdonaMi. Os. J. R. Lack E. H. Logan. A. J. Bell. G. h' Patrick, and W. A. Sherratt. An apology was received from Cr. M. Campbell, who was also granted leave of absence from the April meeting. Cr Campbell intimated, through the Town Clerk (Mr B. Hayes), that he would not offer his services for the next Council.

The financial statement, presented by Cr. Lack, showed that receipts for the month totalled £989 8s Id. There was a credit balance at the bank of £123 11s lid, but after accounts amounting to £461 3s 8d had been paid, there would be a deficit of £329 Is lid Mr Lack explained that the position appeared better than at the March meeting last year. However, at October meeting there had been still a fortnight before the rate penalty was imposed, whereas in the present month there were only two days to go before the penalty was imposed. In the course of his report the Mayor intimated, that, on behalf of the Council, he had represented the Council at the informal farewell to "their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Bledisloe, at the Timaru railway-sta-tion on their journey north. During the month he had received a communication from the librarian of Timaru (Miss M. E. E. Culverwell) to the effect that the Dominion conference of librarians would be held at Timaru at the end of the month. Miss Culverwell had recalled that on a previous occasion, the then Mayor, Mr John Kennedy, had invited the delegates to Geraldine where they had been entertained at morning tea. Miss Culv&meirSHfsS', asked if the Council would be willing to. repeat the invitation. Probably about 30 or 40 delegates would attend the conference, and he supposed about 30 would come out to Geraldine.

Several councillors agreed that the visit would be a good advertisement for Geraldine, as the delegates would come from all parts of New Zealand, and It was decided to repeat the invitation. New Fire Engine In reporting on the recent purchase of a fire engine from the Timaru Fire Board, the Mayor complimented the chairman of the Finance Committee (Cr. Lack) and the committee members on the success of the negotiations. The Fire Board had given the Council every consideration and very satisfactory terms in connection with the purchase. As the Board had asked that the price of the engine be not divulged, the Mayor requested the press representatives not to publish the amount. A vote of thanks was extended to the Finance Committee in appreciation of their services. The chairman of the Works Committee reported on the alterations which would be necessary in order to house the engine at the station. Owing to the age of the building the wooden floor would not stand the weight, and it would be necessary to put in a concrete floor and to widen the entrance. The report was adopted. Wandering Stock Nuisance The ranger (Mr F. W. Grayburn) reported that he had impounded 11 cows and one horse since the last meeting. During the last few weeks he had had a number of complaints in regard to straying and grazing cows within the borough, and he would like a definite ruling from the Council about the matter. The practice of minding cows on the streets had been going on for years, but within the last few months the practice had grown. Unless the Council was prepared to stop the practice altogether, he could not see how the complaints could be stopped. Naturally he could not be in the town at all times; his other work took him out into the country every day and all day, and the offenders knew this quite well and took full advantage of it. Then again some said, when spoken to, that they were taking their cows to a distant section to graze; quite true, but they took a long time about it, except when he was on the watch, and then they kept their cows on the move. Personally, he thought the only thing to do was to stop any loitering of stock on any street within the borough, and to give the borough foreman, Mr Lord, the power to take action when the ranger was absent in the country. Several councillors expressed themselves strongly in regard to the nuisance created by cattle on the roads, and it was decided, on the motion of Councillors Patrick and Sherratt, that owing to the complaints received no stock be allowed to graze on the streets, and that, in the absence of the borough ranger, the foreman (Mr H. Lord) be granted authority to impound. Correspondence The secretary of the Geraldine District High School Committee (Mr F. E. Whiteley) advised that at the meeting of the committee on March 2 it had been resolved: “That your letter be received, and to extend to the Council this committee’s keen appreciation of the Council’s kindly acknowledgment that the committee was willing to help at the function. “Furthermore, that a donation of £l/1/-be granted towards defraying the cost of the flags supplied to the children. Sincere regret was expressed that the donation was small which had been entirely due to the state of the committee’s financial position. The clerk was instructed to write conveying the Council’s thanks to the committee. The Mayor reported that he had forwarded the following telegram to the Mayor of Auckland: “Appreciate Lord Nuffield’s magnificent gift, agree to open fund.” The Mayor’s action in opening a fund was confirmed.

Mr R. Upton, Temuka, wrote offerin j to supply street name plates.— Received.

Mr A. Titheridge offered £1 a year for the lease of Section No. 228 Wilson S -eet.—The offer was accepted for e~e year.

On the motion of Cr. Patrick it was decided to make the customary grant of £lB to the District Nurse Fund. The secretary of the Timaru Publicity Committee (Mr J. M. Jenkins) wrote that his committee was completing its advertising campaign with the New Zealand Railways Publicity Department. Part of the campaign consisted of 10,000 copies of a booklet. Arrangements were being made to provide for a photograph of Geraldine, and also for a write-up. He asked to be supplied with a suitable photograph of Geraldine. On the m'-Mon of Cr. Patrick it was decided to 1c ward a suitable photograph, Cr. Bell suggesting that a picture of the motor camp would be a good advertisement. The Christchurch City Council wrote aski -.g the Council to protest against the proposed Mortgage Corporation Bill which, it contended, would further increase the Council’s difficulties as it would apparently result in a very serious loss in rates. The Council had written to the Prime Minister protesting against the passing of any legislation which would have this effect. — It was decided to support the protest.

A circular letter was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs in regard to the annual fire prevention week. The Mayor remarked that the idea was to hold a “clean up" week, but it was not necessary to hold such a week in Geraldine. The letter was received.

A petition signed by approximately 250 electors was received requesting the Council to take the necessary steps rc (uired for a poll of the electors to determine the day of the week to be observed as the weekly half holiday under the Shops and Factories’ Act 1921-22.—The Council decided to hold a poll.

the municipal CONFERENCE