PATEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 266, 13 November 1935, Page 3

PATEA

BOROUGH COUNCIL. LIBRARY FUNDS CRITICISED.

Criticism of the grants to the Patea J Public Library funds was made by seve eral councillors at the monthly meet- , ing of the Patea Borough Council last . Monday night. present were I the Mayor (Mr. F. Rams bottom), and . Councillors R. \V. Haddow, A H. Langslow, J). Roots, and F. J. McKenna. Besides the allocation of an annual grant to the Library Committee, it obtained the rents from the old library building without reduction at all, while the council allowed free electricity, both lighting and heating, for the librarv I building. In addition, the council undertook all repairs and maintenance, which was extensive, to the old library building, and the upkeep of the present lib rary. Councillors did not consider it right that besides giving so much each vear to the Library Committee, it also should be entirely responsible for the upkeep of the old building. At present a private committee principally, although there were council representatives on it, were administrating public funds. A likely suggestion appeared that a very small library rate be made on the ratepayers, and that the council administer the funds for the library which would then become municipal and would also be made a free circulating library. Further discussion resulted in the resolution being carried that first call or the, rent from the old building should be for its maintenance, the Library Committee to receive the balance. Lengthy correspondence from the Municipal Association was received in regard to the annual conference, and was deferred !'<>r discussion until a fully-attended meeting of the council. Several remits were suggested, one being the granting of permission to hawkers in the streets of a municipality. It was pointed -out that no shopkeeper or owner of property should I be able to give permission to hawkers Io sell on the pavement or street facing such property. A grant of two guineas was made to the X’ew Zealand Crippled Society through the Wanganui branch, in whose district the borough was situated:. As requested by the health inspector, a closing order was made on the house occupied by ,1. Gordon, and its demolish merit is to be undertaken. Jt was stated that Gordon was paying rates on it. but no rent, and it was too old to carry out repairs on it. T.B. in Milk. Letters wore received from the I’a tea branch of the I’lunket Society and the Patea Women’s Institute, asking the council to take steps to certify dairy , herds free from tuberculosis bacilli. The correspondence pointed out the alarming increase of bovine tuberculosis in the Dominion. The two in- . sfitutes asked that the council make a ( by-law or such steps as was thought , necessary to take to ascertain which t herds were free of t.b. bacilli. The town clerk (Mr. L. V/. Austin - stated that, he had spoken of the mat J ter with the health inspector (Mr. i Leroux i who stated that at present the only apparatus for the purpose of test < ing herds for tuberculosis was at Wei- f lington, which was so situated in re a gard to Patea. that tests taken at that f fiistam-e would be practically useless. (