TEMUKA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20217, 19 September 1935, Page 3

TEMUKA

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETS GENERAL BUSINESS The Temuka Borough Council held its monthly meeting last evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr A. W. Buzan) and Crs. W. F. Evans, C. D. Hayhurst, M. Giles, J. Gourley, I. W. T. Baxter, P. H. Lynch, J. Burns, J. King and W. H. McMillan. Before the business commenced the Mayor referred to the death of Mrs E. Pye and Messrs G, Oliver and W. Gray and a motion or sympathy with the relatives was passed. The Postmaster (Mr L. W. Parrant) wrote inviting the Council to appoint two delegates to a meeting of the Health Stamp Week Committee and inquiring if the use of the Council Chambers could be secured for the meeting. The Mayor was appointed to represent the Council and the use of the Council Chamber was granted. The Geraldine County Council advised that Mr G. A. Radburnd had been appointed poundkeeper and ranger for the Temuka Riding of the County and that it was presumed that the Council would appoint him to similar positions in the Borough.—lt was decided that Mr Radburnd be appointed dog tax collector, poundkeeper and hawkers’ license inspector. Mr E. C. Johanson wrote stating that a clause in the Glasgow leases provided for the cost of dividing fences to be borne by the lessees. In the event of adjoining sections to his not being taken up, would the Council pay half the cost of the work. —The Council agreed to meet the request. Mr T. H. Washington wrote asking for his license for the pie-cart to be transferred to Mr P. J. Morish. The transfer was granted. The Temuka Plunket Society wrote asking for the valuation of the Plunket room and rest room, which were shared equally by the Society and W.C.T.U., and wishing to know the ownership of the land on which the building stands. The Town Clerk said that it was not a question that the Council could answer easily. Cr. Evans said that the land was vested in three people. It would not be easy to assess the value of their portion of the building. The Mayor explained that £250 had been granted from the Council and a further £250 from the Hobson Trust towards the provision of a Plunket room and rest room. That £SOO had been paid into the general building fund and had been spent in the building generally. The borough had a direct interest in the rooms to the extent of £250. The library committee was asking the Society and Union !6 pay the rates on their portion of the building. It was decided to refer the Tociety to the Valuation Department. The Finance Committee reported, through Cr. Evans, that receipts for the month totalled £3176/8/3, rates having returned £1739/1/2, licenses £22 11/6, outside water charges £36/16/2, and unemployed wages refund £l3lß 10/7. The accounts to be passed for payment totalled £1856/1/-. Rates levied totalled £4076, and the amount paid by the discount date was £1654, as compared with £1557 for the previous year. The amount of discount allowed had been 2i per cent, and the percentage of discount to rates levied amounted to 1 per cent. Arrears of rates collected to August 31 amounted to £2lO as against £l3l for the same period of last year, an improvement of £79, the figures giving an indication that the financial conditions were improving. The Works Committee, in its report, recommended that 1000 gallons of tar for top-dressing streets and footpaths be purchased at a price of 6)d a gallon on trucks at Sockburn, and that the reserve at the corner of Denmark and Maude Streets be used as a horse paddock from March 31 next. In accordance with notice of motion the Mayor moved that under the Glasgow lease, lessees be required to paint their buildings every five years instead of every three. He also moved an additional clause to the lease ensuring that where a building is burnt down it must be rebuilt within 12 months to the satisfaction of the Council.—The two notices were carried. FIRE BRIGADE BALL Further reference to the behaviour of people at the Fire Brigade’s ball was made in a letter from the W.C.T.U., which was read at the meeting 6f the Borough Council last evening. In reply to the Council’s inquiry for a fuller explanation of the reason for the resolution requesting the Council to take action in connection with behaviour at the Fire Brigade’s ball, the Union stated that it was not its policy to publish statements which might prove detrimental to any individual, but to draw the attention of responsible people to conditions which were a menace to the morals of the town. The motive for the resolution had been fully explained in a newspaper and privately to the Mayor. In its report the Works Committee stated that it had considered the complaint from the Union, but that as no instances of unseemly conduct had been submitted the committee had no recommendations to make other than that no intoxicating liquor be allowed on the hall premises and that no cars be allowed in the hall grounds.

Cr. M. Sides: I’ll move that the letter be received, Mr Mayor. Cr. P. H. Lynch: I’ll second that. The motion was carried. AN ITINERANT TRADER? Arising out of a decision of the last meeting of the Council to write to Mr W. H. Kirk, of Geraldine, requesting him for the itinerant trader’s license of £5 in view of the fact that he had opened a business in Temuka, a letter was received from Mr Kirk at last evening’s meeting of the Council expressing indignation at having been classed as an itinerant trader. In accordance with the by-law the town clerk had written stating that it was necessary for a person not usually resident in or carrying on business within the borough to pay the fee. If the person remainded in business for six months, the fee was refunded. Mr Kirk replied stating that he was not an itinerant trader. He had been in business 12 years in Geraldine and wished to extend his business to Temuha. He had not been able to secure a lease for his shop because it was the habit of the landlord not to lease any of his shops. The manageress of the shop was to reside permanently in the town, and he had started the season with complete new stocks. He keenly felt being classed as an itinerant trader, and he thought it would have been tactful and courteous of the Council to have first ascertained what his intentions were. There were a number of empty shops in the town and the Council’s action was not one likely to encourage new business people to settle in the town. He was a genuine business man and wished the Council to reconsider its request. The town clerk reported that he had

replied advising that the facts stated in Mr Kirk’s letter did not exclude him from being an itinerant trader. Once before the Council had decided not to enforce the charge on genuine traders, but it was difficult to determine when a man was genuine. Cr. Evans said he did not think that the Council was justified in classing the man as an itinerant trader. He was a reputable business man and os such was entitled to open a business in the town. Cr. McMillan said that the law should be administered in its broad sense. Cr. Hayhurst said that that was hard for the town clerk. How was he to enforce the by-laws under the way suggested. The Mayor said that the letter from Mr Kirk was not called for. There was no need for him to quote his qualifications and the clerk was fully justified in approaching Mr Kirk. Cr. Gourley said that the Council had definitely decided to enforce the by-laws. For two Councillors to speak in the strain that they had was inexplicable, and it was only possible for the Council to enforce the by-laws. Cr. Evans reiterated that the treatment meted out to Mr Kirk had been too hard. He had not been at the last meeting of the Council but probably would have taken up the same view if he had been present. It would have been much better if enquiries had been made before the fee was asked for. He asked if any other people opening businesses in the town had been requested for the fee. The Mayor said that they had not been charged, with the exception of two to whom the fee was refunded for some reason. He moved, and Cr. Gourley seconded, that the by-law be enforced. After some further discussion the motion was carried by 8 votes to 2, Crs. Evans and McMillan voting against it. CHARITY BALL Further arrangements for the Cinema Coster Fancy Masked Ball were made at a meeting of the organising committee on Tuesday evening, Dr F. A. Scannel presided. The decorations committee reported that it was intended to decorate the hall with streamers and panels r i paper with mirrors at intervals around the walls. Quotations for the supply of saveloys and sandwiches for supper were received from local tradespeople. In addition to newspaper advertising it was decided to issue 200 posters for display in all South Canterbury centres. Mr M. Giles reported that the sashes for first prizes for the fancy costumes had been purchased, and that Mr E. Blackmore had made the committee a gift of the ribbon for the second prizes. It was decided to forward Mr Blackmore a letter of thanks. It was decided to invite Mesdames S. Cooper, W. F. Evans and E. Blackmore to judge the dresses in the fancy and coster section and Messrs Earl Fuller, R. T. Taylor and C. C. Knight to judge the cinema costumes. For the judging, it w~.s decided to have a dais in the middle of the hall, the lights to be extinguished with the exception of one over the dais, and the entrants to be asked to pass over the stage for the judges' consideration. GOLF Yesterday afternoon a women’s medal round was played, the best cards returned being:— Mrs Hughes 100 30 70 Miss Twentyman 107 34 73 Miss Hanifin .. 89 14 75 Mrs Mclnnes 96 19 77 Mrs Shand 108 30 78 GENERAL NEWS The affairs of the Temuka Athletic Club for the past season were woundup at a meeting of the committee on Tuesday evening, in prenaration for the annual meeting shortly. The Mayor stated yesterday that arrangements for the visit of the boys’ band from the Institute for the Blind had been satisfactorily advanced. A concert is to be given in the theatre during October and the assistance >f people willing to billet the boys would be appreciated. Procter's', the Premier Opticians Jhristchurch. will be making their next irofessional visit to Temuka. on Wednesday. 2nd October, when they may oe consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Crown Hotel Appointments can now be made by ringing the U.F.S Dispensary ’Phnnp 940 M *...