WAIMATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20852, 7 October 1937, Page 3

WAIMATE

BOROUGH COUNCIL FORTNIGHTLY MEETING The Waimate Borough Council met on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr G. Dash), Crs. W. G. Paul, S. I. Fitch, G. R. Watters, A. sawell, P. Berry, J. Atwill, J. T. Hay, R. H. White. The borough solicitor (Mr T. A. Wilson) wrote advising that a property in Mortimer Street was liable for sale for non-payment of rates.—lt was decided to proceed with the sale. The librarian (Miss I. Strong) reported that during September ten subscribers had resigned and two had enrolled, leaving the total number at 297. Books issued totalled 1869 and fees collected amounted to £5/14/-. The Salvation Army authorities wrote offering to sell a section in Stewart Street for £soo.—The offer was declined. The Transport Department wrote asking the Council to approve the removal of the 30 miles an hour speed in the borough, on the Waimate—McNamara’s Corner highway from Dobson Street to the borough boundary and on the Deep Creek—Waihao Downs —Wright’s Bridge main highway from the southern boundary to the junction of Massey Street and Fore Street.— Agreed to. WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED COUNCIL’S STIPULATION The Waimate Borough council at a meeting on Tuesday evening decided to accede to the Government’s request to employ subsidised relief labour only on condition that the men could be employed on schedule borough works. Under the scheme workers’ wages are subsidised to the extent of £4, and the local body is required to pay 8/4. Cr. W. G. Paul commented that the scheme was an excellent one. The Mayor: On the face of it it is a wonderful offer. The Government pays £4 and we pay 8/4 a man. But when the offer is made to a borough which is employing more men now than at the beginning of the depression and which has twice raised its rates it puts us in a position of not being able to take advantage of it as we should like. Cr. P. Berry: If we use these men, what are we going to do with the permanent men? The Mayor: That is one of the stickers. We have never put off our men. We increased our staff during the slump. A motion to offer employment to eight men was approved. STATE HOUSES COUNCIL’S REQUEST A decision to request the Government to build houses under the State Housing Scheme in the southern end of the town and on the vacant sections surrounding the police station rather than in the northern area was made at a meeting of the Borough Council on Tuesday evening. The discussion arose when a letter was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands asking the Council to quote for land near the Bell Tower Memorial at the corner of Manse Street and Belt Street. “I feel we should again urge the Government to take the huge vacant area in the town surrounding the police station,” said the Mayor (Mr G. Dash). The section was an eyesore and would provide adequate housing for the police. Mr Dash also referred to a State-owned block in Lower High Street which, he said, should be built on before privately owned land was bought. After a discussion it was resolved to offer the sections inquired for to the Government at a price to be determined by the Mayor and Town Clerk, and also to draw attention to the alternative building sites mentioned. WATER SUPPLY An indication that a major extension of the borough water supply involving the raising of a loan was under contemplation was given by the Mayor (Mr G. Dash) at a meeting of the Borough Council. A report on the water supply system would shortly be placed before the Council, said Mr Dash, and a loan poll would probably be held in conjunction with the Council election.