CITY COUNCIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19843, 18 May 1927, Page 11

CITY COUNCIL

WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED COMMITTEES’ REPORTS The Wanganui City Council met last evening. There were present: The Mayor (Mr AV. J. Rogers), councillor! J. W. M. Luxford, J. Siddells, J. Cal ver, C. H. Burnett, C. W. Poynter, A. H. Rogers, W. M. Falconer, 11. p. Horsley, S. E. Read, J. T. Werry, A. i.. Halligan, and John .Morrison. Committees’ Reports The Tramway Committee reported that it had authorised Councillor Halligan to make such investigation as he thinks desirable into the workings and finances of the lyepartment, with a view to reporting to the committee in the direction of endeavouring to improve the financial position. The Reserve Committee reported that the Rugby Union’s application for conveniences to be provided at Williams Park had been held over for consideration when the estimates were framed. The committee harlj obtained a report from the City Valuer as to the rental value of the old Gas Department of fices in Ridgway Street by lease for three terms of seven years, and it recommended that the rentals suggested by him be fixed as the upsets.

Councillor Burnett moved an amendment that the matter be referred to the committee with idjrection that the rental for the first term be fixed at a reasonable rental and those for the subsequent periods by arbitration. The land in Ridgway Street was likely to greatly increase in value, he said, and the city should have the benefit of any increase.

The amendment was lost. The Finance Committee reported that it had considered an application from a firm of brokers to take up the whole of the £25,000 loan, and after going into the conditions imposed by them it recommended’ that the offer be declined, and that the Council endeavour to dispose of the debentures on the local market without the aid of agents. The committee recommended that the legal and financial arrangements be made as soon as possible for proceeding with the Taylorville Bank work and for raising the money to meet the cost of the same. The recommendations of the committees were adopted. Cook’s Gardens Gates In accordance with notice given, the Mayor moved that the Council’s previous resolution to permanently close all private gates into Cook’s Gardens be rescinded on the grounds of hardship. One woman of whom he knew, an invalid, had been accustomed to go out into the gardens every day and it would mean a great deal more for her to have to go to a main gate. The Council had an excellent caretaker, and there was nothing to prevent the gates being locked when sports were held. The motion was seconded by Councillor Falconer and carried. For the Unemployed The city engineer (Mr N. Crofton Staveley) presented a schedule of work which could be put in hand at am early date to relieve unemployment. The amount subject to survey, was about £5OOO. The schedule was adopted and the Mayor was authorised to go to Wellington to arrange for a subsidy.