General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 164, 17 July 1946, Page 4

General News

Election Preparations Preparations for the forthcoming Parliamentary election are getting under way at Karioi. An inquiry from a resident there on the availability of the Karioi School for meetings was considered by the Wanganui Education Board yesterday. As there was no other hall in the district the board agreed that it could be used for meetings, subject to a committee being set up to control its use. Preference for Returned Men Preference for a returned serviceman was given by the Wanganui Education Board yesterday in leasing the Awahuri School site. The present, tenant proposed to terminate his tenancy, and two applications for it were received, each offering the same rental. When it- was explained that one of the applicants was a returned serviceman, the board unanimously agreed to let. him have it. Portable Classrooms. A scheme of erecting portable classrooms at smaller schools at this time of building shortages found favour at yesterday's meeting of the Wanganui Education Board. Approval for the erection of such a classroom at Whakaporo was given, and a departmental grant approved. These classrooms are prefabricated at the board’s workshops and erected at the desired site. Okehu Watershed. Opposition to rights for opossum trapping being granted for the Okehu watershed reserve was expressed by the Works Committee of the Wanganui City Council in a report adopted at the meeting last night. Recommending that an application for these rights be declined, the committee stated that the council had previously decided against opossum trapping in this area. The Mayor, Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C., said that it was not right that ’.raps should be set in reserves used by children.

Tramways Complaint. It was a fixed rule of the Tramways Department that any complaint against members of the running staff must be made in writing and forwarded to the engineer and manager (Mr. L. F. Row) in time to reach him within 48 hours of the alleged occurlence, stated the Tramways Committee in a report to the Wanganui City Council at Its monthly meeting last night. A person had complained that a car did not run to Taupo Quay, as : | eduled, but 11 days bad elapsed before the complaint was received, and in spite of the fullest inquiry, no information could be obtained. Wanganui City Debt.

The result of the referendum heid by the Wanganui Electors’ Association rega: ding the Bank of New Zealand taking over the city’s debt was before the City Council at its monthly meeting la.M.’night, when it was stated that 2304 voted for the proposal, and 113 against it. On the motion of the Mayor, Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C., the council decided to support the referendum and refer it to the Government. Mr. J. B. Cotterill, M.P., had given an assurance of his support and would take the question up with the Government, the Mayor said.

Another (?ement Worry That the department should make the grant for concreting work at the Maxwell and Owhango schools and the board do the worrying about the securing of the cement, was the view of the Wanganui Education Board yesterday when a letter from the department stated that in view of cement shortage it is inadvisable at pre-

sent: to represent ground improvement proposals to the Building Controller, and that the board should renew its application at a more favourable time. Members held that the work was urgent, it being said that the grounds were insanitary at the present time.

School Transport. The number of groups of primary pupils who are conveyeyd to school by rail could be counted on the lingers of one hand, stated the secretary of the Wanganui Education Bqard, Mr. Geo. N. Bolton, at yesterday’s meeting. He had reported on temporary arrangements made for the conveyance of children from Waiouru, on mornings only, during the period of restricted train services. The suggestion was made by Mr. J. C Batt, that the board, in future, should try and have all school transport services made by road vehicles, as generally many hours were lost, by children having to travel in slow trains. Dublin Street Bridge.

A request that the Wanganui City Council erect a guard fence along the whole length of the Dublin Street Bridge, thus separating the main traffic a:ea from the pedestrian section, was received by the council recently from the Automobile Association (Wanganui). On the recommendation of the Works Committee, however, the council decided to take no action as this would be w >rk of A major nature. The association also requested that improvements be carric l out at the corner of No. 1 Line and Airpoit Road, but the Works Committee stated that as the Wanganui County Council has jurisdiction over the road in question, the City Council was powerless Io act.