TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 119, 23 May 1932, Page 3

TAIHAPE

BOEOUGH AFFAIRS. The Taihape Borough Council met on Friday evening, the Mayor (Mr L. B. H. de Lautour) presiding over an attendance consisting of Crs. E. Loader, F. White, L. Butler, C. E. Darvill, G. Wilsher, and W. T. Alay. Leave of absenc 1 was granted Cr. A. AfcDonald. The application for consent to sub lease Read Bros, to Wah Sing, was granted.

The Railway Department forwarded for completion, an agree ”'t whereby the council undertook to supply the department with water for five years at 5Ad per thousand gallons.—Cr. Butler was authorised to complete the transaction on behalf of the council. I was resolved to make arrangements with the bank for an overdraft of £5OOO. Letters were i ived from ‘he Alinisti -■ of Finance, and Air. A. Stuart AI.P. relative to interest reductions.

Outdoor Staff. The Works Committee recommended that it be an instruction to ie borough engineer to reduce the working time of all members of ‘s staff, by one day per week of 8A hours, and that payment for time worked 1 made on the same basis as at present namely Is HAd per hour. Cr. Loader e .plained that the Works Committee 's reluctant to reduce wages oi dismiss any of tho staff although they really had one more man than they required. The committee suggested a rodue'ion in working hours to overcome the difficulty. A reduction of ono hour per day, was proposed. Cr. Wilsher: I think we intend to spend too much on roads and streets. Despite the decrease in revenue, the estimated expenditure is only $l6O less that last year. It is too drastic to ask five men to bear the braot of the falling revenue. Reducing working hours, is only another form of reducing wages, and if there is to be a cut it should be spread over£he whole of the council’s staff and not confined to the outdoor staff only, as suggested. Cr. Loader: We are not cutting wages. We have too many me. in proportion to the amount of wor’ to be done, and should really “sack” one man. I am oppos 1 to the ■’’smissing of one man, and advocate a reduction in tho working hours of tho staff as an alternative. Cr Butler: I will move that this

clause in the Works Committee’s report advocating a reduction in a Jrking hours be i 'ferred back to the com mittee concerned until such time as we receive more information concerning the removal of rubbish. The amendment was seconded by Cr. Wilsher, and on bein put to tho meeting was lost. Speaking further on the recommendation Cr. Butler : aggested that tho whole staff bo employed on full time for live days and have a holiday on Saturdays. He thought this arrangement was better thim a redae tio.. of an hour per day as suggested Other councillors concurred. Cr. Loader asked the meeting to gb. c the Works Committee’s proposal providing for a reduction of an hour per day, a trial for one ionth, and the council consented. The engineer was asked to submit a report ou lhe matter at the next meeting. New Camp Site. In reference to tho proposal to establish a new camp site on 'the old tennis grounds opposite the Anglican and Catholic Churches, the Domains Committee, made tho following recommendation:— “That with reference to the letters fro:.: tho president of the Automobile Association, Rev. Father D olnghty. Rev, 11. Harris, and Air. A. 11. Donne re proposed establishment of a camp site on section 42 of the scenic reserves, the matter be referred to a speci-' meeting of tho council to bo held on Friday, May 27, 1932, at 7.30 pm. for consideration, and that the Automobile A soeiation, St. Alary's Church parishioners, St. Alargaret’s Chucrh congreg ' : nn. Chamber of Commerce, and the . 'ors’ Association bo each invited to appoint three representatives to attend the meeting, together with Air. A. H. Donne.”

C-. White: Wo hope to solve the problem by holding a special meeting. Objections to the proposal boon made by the parties mentioned, ami we think that a conference is advisable so that the matter can uc fully discussed. Tho council proposes to impose restrictions in regard to the site, and the Domains Committee feels sure that when the ; >-ition is fully ex plained to those who arc objecting, tho objectors will b able to see the matter in a different light. Tho Afayor: We feel that a misunderstanding exists at present and that it will bo eliminated after* Friday’s conference.

Cr. Loader: Is a petition about the camp site being presented to the business people in Taihape, for signatures The Alayor: No there is no petition. The business people, however, are being Rod to give an expression of opinion, hut they arc not being asked to sign a petition.

Cr. Whits: As a matter of fact T have been asking the business people whether or not they are in favour of a new camp site on tho spot suggested. I have merely asked for a” xpression of opinion on the subject. There is no petition in existence. Cr. Loader: I think that if an expression of opinion is desired, the council should ask for it. Furthermore, 1 think that as this matter concerns tho town and district, all sections of the community should bo consulted, and not* only tho business people. The Mayor: The matter vitally con corns the business people. Tho d’ vs sion then lapsed and the recommendation to hold a special meeting was carried. General Business. Cr. Butler referred to the excellent condition of tho war memorial site, and complimented, tho caretaker (Mr. E. A. Abbott) on his excellent work. The beauty of the site, however, was marred by the unsightly will near it, and he suggested that the town clerk bo instructed to write, to the owners of the wall, statinr that it was an eyesore, and the council would be glad of its removal. The suggestion was adopted. Cr. Darvill drew attention to tho lifting of restrictions in regard to the purchase of explosives, statii.g that anybody could buy explosives now. without a police permit provided that they assured the seller that the explosives were required for blasting purposes. The council decided to write to the Afinister of Internatl Affairs relative to the matter. Domains Committee. The Domains Committee submitted the following report:— That steps be taken to have the cemetery by-laws amended by making provision for a permit fee of 5s to be charged for the erection of a fence, kerbing, stone, or tablet within the cemetery.

That with reference to the letter from the Returned Soldiers’ Associa tion i: forming the council of damage don to tho soldiers’ plots at the cemetery caused through ramc being crossed by a motor lorry, and also congratulating the council for the attention given to the triangle, the Returned Soldiers’ Association be thanked for their letter, and Air. McMinn of Levin, the owner of the motor lorry be communicated with and requested to give an explanation of his conduct in dam aging the soldiers’ plots and for rcmov ing tho gates from their hinges, and stating that the council r.-quired payment of £1 for (V age inc”-red. That the letter from the Under-Sccre tary of Lands advising that the coun cil’s applicatin p -r permission to in-

crease the number of days on which a charge may bo made for admission to tho Oval Domain, to the maw-num number of days allowable under tho Act was receiving consideration, be received.

That the application of the Taihape Hockey Sub-Association for n-'i-mission for permission to use numbers 1 and 2 grounds for the hockey tournament which it is proposed to hold on Thurs day May 26. 1932, and to make a charge of 6d for admission to the Oval on that occasion, bo granted subject to the usual condition. That a letter bo sent to the Taihape Hockey Sub-Association requesting their players to utilise the hockev ground for practices and to -'efrain from holding practices on No. 1 ground. That tho Taihape Rugby Union bo written to requesting them to refrain from playing more than two games on No. I ground, on Saturdays. That with reference to the letters fro • tho Director of State Forestry and the Commissioner of Unemployment., application be made for 250 each of two or throe year-old eucalyptus jack pine, and Scots pine trees for re servo planting. The report was adopted.

Hospital Matters. At the invitation of the council, Afr. H. I. Christensen, who represents Tai- i hape on the Wanganui Hospital Board, attended the meeting, and explained ■ the position in regard to his representative on tho board, ami also gave an interesting and instructive address on hospital administration, during which he strongly opposed Dr. Begg’s scheme for the centralisation of hospitals. A suggest of Air. Christensen’s that a sanatorium should be o. ‘ablished in Taihape, was received with approval. “I am here in response tc your invitation and I a:u glad to meet you on common ground and public duty some doubt has been expressed, as to whether I am still ‘ -jested in hospital administration. I in assure you that I am vitally interested in this matter. I don’t say that 1 have done everything that I should have done and left undone nothing Ciat I could possibly have done. According to a recent press report there appears to be ample evidence to tho contrary but I do say that. I have represented Taihape on the Wanganui Hospital Board to the best of my ability, and since leaving Taihape I have r.'tonded ca h and every monthly meeting of the board, and I can say that no request, of mine or Air. G. E. Anderson’s concerning Taihape, has been denied / the board,” declared Mr. Christensen, in his opening remarks. The speaker wont on to state that he had heard murmurings of dissatisfaction about, his representation. Ho thought that it was quite understood that although he lived in Palmerston North, he till represented Taihape on the Wanganui Hospital Board, and as previously ‘ stated ho had endeavoured to further Taihape’s interests to his utmost ability. “If there are any complaints concerning my representation, and any definite opinions expressed as to whether I am wanted or not. they will receive full consideration. I have cor Itcd Marton, and they are quite happy and told me to carry on. I am sorry to hoar of murmurings of dissatisfaction. I am sorry to see that Afr. G. E. An- ’ derson has relinquished his scat on the Wanganui Hospital Board. Ho has rendered excellent service. Ho will do good work on the local hospital committee. I hope that Taihape will nominate a suitable suceessor to Mr. Anderson, who was the Rangitikei County Council (northern area) representative on tho bor'-l,” declared Mr. Christenson, who explained that the nominee did not necessarily J zo to be a member of the Rangitikei County Council. Afr. Christensen outlined Dr. Begg’s scheme for hospital centralisation and declared that the Wanganui Hospital Board had boon unanimous in its opposition to tho which, the speaker declared, would ber^ r t tho cities, especially the large cities, to the detriment of the country towns. Advocat’ng the ostal ’’shment of a sanatorium at Taihape, Mr. Christensen said that, this town had a suitab’o climate and every facuPv in the way of natural requirements, for the establishment of such an institution. AfrChristen -n add ’ that tho Wanganui Hospital Board had spent a large amount of money in supporting its

patients in other institutions, and 1’ o founding of a sanatorium in Taihape might mutually benefit, the town and tho Wanganui Hospital Board.

The suggestion was received with approval, the Mayor and Crs. Loader and Butler speaking strongly favour of it. The Mayor thanked Mr. Christensen for attending the meeti g and stated that in regard to his rcprcsentatio on the Board, he (the Mayor) was prepared to leave the position as itFwas at present. Tt was advisable for Mr. Christensen to retain his seat, because in the event of his resigning, the representative for this district, which included Taihape, Marton, Huntervillc, Mangaweka and Bulls, wduld nrobably be a resident of Marton. What was the difference between a re -csentative at Marton and one in Palmerston North? The council was content i'- the meantime tn let matters stand as they I ”

were at present. Mr. Christensen would safeguard Taihapc’s interests. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The final screening of “Transatlantic” takes place at the Majestic to night. (Monday). This is a sea drama that is too good to miss. To-morrow (Tuesday) at 8 p.m. and Wednesday afternoon a 1 evening “East of Borneo” acclaimed as the most thrilling picture ever screened, will be the star attraction. Jungle beasts ill be much in evidence and thrills galore will be provided.