BOROUGH COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21677, 11 June 1940, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCIL

Ordinary Meeting Committee Reports An ordinary meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr W. G. Tweedy), Councillors J. R. Hart, J. S. Satterthwaite, W. H. Hall, H. J. Mathers, P. B. Foote, F. B. Hawkey, M. H. Richards and A. S. Kinsman. Finance Committee The Finance Committee reported as follows: Women's Community Centre. —Letter from Townswomen’s Guild in connection with signs. The Borough Engineer was instructed to take the necessary action, and that a sign board be attached to the lattice fence, the wording to be approved by the Mayor, indicating the purpose of the building. Resolved that no action should be taken as regards complaint from the Guild as to the rent to the Plunket Society being free. Centennial celebrity concert. —Letter from the general secretary Centennial Branch Internal Affairs Department stating that any profits might be paid into the Centennial Account and used for centennial projects, in which case the usual subsidy of £1 for £3 will be forthcoming. Resolved that the proceeds be devoted to the Centennial Memorial in order to obtain subsidy. Referring to the Women’s Community Centre, Cr. Hall said that the Plunket Society did not actually receive their rooms rent free. The position was that the Society did not now receive the Council grant of £25, and in additon they paid for heating, lighting, servicing, etc. Actually they were making a greater contribution to the Community Centre than any other hirer. The Council made a small charge for the room upstairs, and provided a nurse for the creche, whereas the Plunket Society provided its own nurses. He thought that these facts should be made clear to the Townswomen’s Guild. The report was adopted. Reserves Committee The Reserves Committe reported as follows: Trees at Park.—Letter from the South End Ratepayers’ Association stating that whilst the association agreed that the trees had a certain amount of beauty, they regarded the matter from the danger point of view, and asked the Council to re-consider the question. The Curator having reported that in his opinion the trees were reasonably safe, it was resolved that no action be taken at present. Children’s playground, Council section, Memorial Avenue and Princess Street.—The South End Ratepayers’ Association suggested that this section be made a children’s playing area. If this was done the association might help to keep it more tidy. Resolved to reply that the Council proposes to fill in and lease the section and, therefore, no action in the direction indicated would be taken more particularly as there was sufficient area in the locality already available for playing ground. Supply of trees free to private persons.—Letters from Messrs J. Bone and Sons, J. G. Granger and the Horticultural Trades Association protesting against the supply of free trees for planting in the gardens of householders. Resolved that the writers be informed that there was no intention ,of supplying trees for general planting in gardens, but only on the front of the main approaches to the town, and that no other trees would be dealt with without the authority of the Council. Position of Gardener. —Applications for this position, which were held over from the previous meeting were considered and it was resolved that no appointment be made in the meantime in view of war conditions. The report was adopted.

Works Committee The report of the Works Committee included the following:— Testing fee for drivers’ licences, Levels County Council. —At present the fee charged is 3/6, of which the Levels County Council is required to hand one third of the licence fee of 5/- to the Transport Department, resulting in a loss of 2d on a licence. Resolved that a reduction to 3/- be approved. Service Car Parking area Strathallan Street.—Request for parking place by New Zealand Railways in Strathallan Street during certain hours was approved subject to payment of the usual fee of £1 a year, the Department to pay for the marking of the street the hours during which the area was reserved. Smoke nuisance railway yard.—Letter was received from the acting locomotive foreman stating that every endeavour was made to avoid any nuisance, and that smokeless fuels were used for banking and lighting up purposes. In view, however, of the complaints the attention of the staff at Timaru had been drawn to the matter and it was hoped that there would be no further cause for complaint. Letter from secretary, Timaru Trades Council, New Zealand Federation of Labour was considered asking the Council’s support in the request to the Minister of Justice to undertake the rebuilding of the Police Station and Court House. Resolved that in view of war conditions the Council would not support the recommendation. The report was adopted.