BOROUGH COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20493, 11 August 1936, Page 11

BOROUGH COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING COMMITTEE REPORTS The ordinary meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr P. C. Vinnell), Councillors P. B. Foote, W. G. Tweedy, H. J. Mathers, A. G. Foster, F. B. Hawkey, M. H. Richards and A. S. Kinsman. Second Hand Buses The Mayor made reference to the offer to the Council of a fleet of second-hand buses from England, and said that he would not like to see the matter go any further. He did not think it was in the interests of the town to purchase second-hand buses. Other councillors spoke in similar terms, and it was agreed to take no action in the matter. Works Committee The Works Committee reported as follows: Stock in Scenic Reserve. —Resaved that Mr Lang, foreman in charts of the unemployment works, be instructed to take any necessary action in regard to wandering stock during working hours. Gardeners’ award. —The question of. the rate of pay, which was referred back, was further considered, and it was resolved that the curator be instructed to ask for power to negotiate with the men on the basis of the 1931 wages. Tree planting—The future policy c_' tree planting in streets arising out of the report of the Works Committee of July 27 was held over until next meeting. Baker Street Petition.—Report of Borough Engineer was considered and it was resolved that the matter of the sealing of the roads and footpaths be deferred until next year’s estimates when it was recommended that favourable consideration be given. Chapel Street. —Petition from residents that the street be tar sealed was considered, and it was resolved that the matter be referred to next year’s estimates for favourable consideration. Timaru Airport.—Advice from the Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, that he would arrange for Mr Gibson to visit Timaru for the purpost of discussing the lay-out during his next tour of the South Island, in approximately a fortnight’s time. The report was adopted. Bay Viaduct The Town Clerk submitted the following report in regard to traffic at the Bay Viaduct.: “Members of the Council accompanied by the Town Clerk, Borough Engineer and Omnibus Engineer and Traffic Inspector met representatives of the Automobile Association at the Bay Viaduct. It was agreed (Cr. Hart dissenting) that a fence of galvanised piping extending 42 feet from the north end of the ’bus shelter to the crossing in line with the path in Wai-iti Road and of a length of 72 feet south from the shelter to the crossing to Shewan’s comer should be erected with a gap of 6 feet wide for omnibus passengers. The chairman and Borough Engineer decided that netting be used to prevent children getting through the fence.” Travel Association Cr. A. G. Foster submitted a report in reference to the South Island Travel Association, which was held in Christchurch. Cr. Foster, who deputised for the Mayor said that the business of affirming the proposal of a South Island Travel Association caused considerable discussion, and, after much talk and delay, was approved. It very soon became apparent that the conference was large and unwieldy with considerable differences of opinion among the delegates. The trouble seemed to be that many of the members could not hear plainly the opinions that were expressed and were handicapped as much as the builders of the tower of Babel. Considerable difficulty was Experienced electing a small committee to examine the draft constitution, and who, when elected, were only able to deal with 18 of the 59 clauses. Their work was confirmed by the conference, and the remaining clauses were referred to a small committee and referred to the Provincial Executive. The proposed principle of control seemed to be that a conference of delegates will elect a general committee who in turn would appoint permanent officers and an executive committee. The constitution provides for the appointment of secretary, organiser and director as the executive committee. The financial proposals were left to the provincial committee to determine which would consist of donations from affiliated bodies, such as chambers of commerce, etc., with the counties and boroughs being required to subscribe 2d or 6d. per thousand pounds of their capital or unimproved value, whichever was the basis of their rating. Harbour boards to contribute 6d or 1/- per thousand pounds of their revenue with also a subsidy from the Government. In this respect it is interesting to note that 2d on capital value with 6d from harbour boards would realise £1,889/13/4, while 6d from boroughs and 1/- from harbour boards would give £5,270 of a revenue. The proposals of the South Island Travel Association were to cooperate with the Tourist Department to encourage tourists to visit the South Island. This seemed to be largely a matter of advertisement, a large amount of which was already done by the Toursit Department. It was a question of deciding whether this proposed organisation with its machinery and permanent officers, and the cost of maintenance, could accomplish more in the matter of advertising. In this connection the Finance Committee rejjprted as follows: South Island Travel Association.— Cr. Foster’s report was considered, and the Committee was of opinion that whilst favouring the formation of a Travel Association It was considered that the proposed fees for membership were too high in the first place and that the proposed subscription should be very much reduced to meet the expenses of a preliminary committee to formulate definite proposals, when an increase in the subscription could then be considered. Scenic Reserve The Council received the following letter from Mr G. Hardie: “I have some land adjoining the Scenic Reserve and in the future it is highly probable you will require an entrance to this reserve via Chaucer Street. So I now offer about half an acre more or less as a free gift to the Council. The only

stipulation attached to this offer is that the Council pay all necessary expenses in connection with the transfer and also fence the boundary between the rest of my land and this section. I would much appreciate if the Council would put in a few trees in odd corners of this section and thereby add to the beauty of their property should they accept it. I would be pleased to show the proposed land to any councillors desiring to see it. On the recommendation of the Works Committee, it was decided to view the land before accepting it. The Mayor said that he hoped the Council would inspect the land offered by Mr Hardie. When a citizen was sufficiently interested to make an offer to the Council, they should at least view the land. Cr. Foote supported the Mayor, and suggested that they should make an immediate inspection. It was agreed to view the locality this afternoon.