TEMUKA DEPUTY-MAYOR

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22486, 22 January 1943, Page 3

TEMUKA DEPUTY-MAYOR

Cr. D. C. Clark Appointed “Plenty Of Work Ahead” Following the resignation of Or. J. M. A. Ritchie as deputy-Mayor and chairman of the Works Committee, Cr. D. C. Clark was unanimously elected to the position at the monthly meeting of the Temuka Borough Council. Tile nomination of Cr. C. D. Hayhurst was withdrawn at his own request. Cr. Hayhurst was appointed to a vacancy on the Works Committee. "Wartime conditions place a lot more work on the executive officers of the Council,” said the Mayor (Mr W. H. McMillan), "and I warn you that the services of the deputy-Mayor will be used. There is plenty of work ahead.” Upkeep of Roads "We can’t have our roads cut up,” said Cr. P. H. Lynch, when discussion took place on a letter received from the Public Works, Christchurch, seeking an opinion on the use of traction engines and waggons to transport farm produce to railway stations. "It would be fatal to our tar-sealed roads and detrimental to our light shingle roads.” It was agreed to reply that the Coun - oil was not in favour of the idea. "We have the bare minimum of staff to continue to provide the present service,” said the Town Clerk (Mr F. W. McDonald), when a suggestion by the Municipal Association to have municipal work declared an essential industry was being considered. The Mayor: If municipal work were declared an essential industry, it would not stop employees being called up for military service. It would prevent them throwing up their employment without permission. Cr. Lynch: Men used on maintaining roads should be brought under the essential industry classification list. Tire Mayor: It does not affect us so much as the larger centres. Cr. Hayhurst: The female staff could be taken from us and called to an essential Industry. Cr. Lynch: For the protection of our employees we should support the Municipal Association. The Mayor: The whole of our civil life depends on the maintenance of an efficient staff, and I do not think they would be taken. Cr. Hayhurst: We could prevent it by having the work declared an essential industry. It was agreed that the Council support the Municipal Association in its suggestion. Scheme 13 Workers The National Service Department advised that notification had been received from the Controller of Manpower that a subsidy at the rate of £4 per man for three men to work on Borough streets and footpaths had been approved. These men were to be transferred from the 19 workers at present employed on the reserves. The subsidy was granted on the condition that they were not employed on any street or road carrying a Main Highway’s Board subsidy. The number of men authorised for work on reserves is now reduced to 16.

The Borough foreman (Mr T. Devine) reported that the men had been started this week.

“We have still the balance of the rates to come in before March 9,” said the Mayor, “so the'financial position may be considered satisfactory.” The foreman (Mr T. Devine) reported that owing to the reduced amount of labour available, the usual seasonal clean up of streets had to be curtailed, and efforts had been made to maintain the central portions of the Borough. Work was still in progress on various streets. The water level at Orari intake remained satisfactory. The standby pump had been on continuous trial and defects appeared to have been removed. Quantities of waste paper had been collected and stored for packing. A further collection would be taken on Wednesday.

PERSONAL Reference to the death of Captain P. Norris, M.C., son of Canon A. H. Norris, of Geraldine, was made at the monthly meeting of the Temuka Borough Council by the Mayor (Mr W. H. McMillan) and a motion of sympathy was carried. Mr Peter Hopkinson left yesterday for Tuakau, Auckland, where he will complete his education as a Marlst Brother. Mrs D. Hopkinson is spending a few days in Christchurch. Mr and Mrs Owen King left yesterday for Auckland. Miss G. Weaver is spending a holiday in Christchurch. POSTAL OFFICIAL HONOURED Members ol the staff of the Temuka Post Office assembled to say farewell to Mr Arnold Burgess prior to his taking up military service. The Postmaster (Mr S. G. Heffernan) spoke in appreciative terms of the long service to the Department rendered by Mr Burgess and the efficiency and conscientiousness displayed by him in his work. “Mr Burgess,” said the Postmaster, “has a very sound grip of all the encyclopaedic knowledge required by a. modern senior postal official, and his place will be hard to fil!.” Mr Heffernan wished Mr Burgess the best of luck and a safe and speedy return to Temuka. The Supervisor (Mr H. Grocott) and several members of the staff endorsed the remarks of the Postmaster. Mr Burgess suitably replied. DANCE There was an excellent attendance at St. Joseph's Tennis Club dance held in St. Joseph’s Hall. "Monte Carlo” waltzes were won by Miss N. Devine and Mr R. Fisher, Miss Harvey and Mr L. Allen. Extras were played by Miss M. Coffey and Mr R. Boston. Mr W. Seeler acted as M.C. BOWLING Tire following are the results in the bowling matches played on Tuesday:— A grade singles: A. S. Mclnnes beat G. Pierce and J. B. Davis beat T. Harvey. In the B grade singles. E. Turner beat T. Pitt and W. C. Wisdom beat R. Lee. F. J. Chapman beat C. Smith by default.