MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 416, 17 March 1880, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary fortnightly meeting of the above to 3 held last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor and Councillors Gapper, Gray, Woodroofe, Perry, Vile, Bish, Russell, and Renall. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting wevo read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE.—INWARDS. From Education Department, re subsidy to Library, and stating that it had been paid to the'credit of the Borough,— From Immigration Department, re houso accommodation for unemployed,—From Public Works Department, re crossing on Railway near Bennington's line, and enclosing a tracing of same. OUTWARDS. . l|o Mr John King, re breach of> byelaws, by lighting a fire within the Borough. Tlie Mayor stated that ho had Replied to the letter from the Immigration foepart-

ment, stating that five Immigrants' Cottages were available. treasurer's report. Masterton, March 16, 1880. His Worship the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Masterton.. Sirs,—l have the honor to report the .receipt since.last meeting, of L 476 6s 1d,.. .. beine[ ; amount of subsidy due from the General Government. . The present over- ~' l draft, less amount collected since is L 319 63 4d.— I have, &c,,. . • . ■ R. Brows, Borough Treasurer. report of town clerk. His Worship the Mayor, &c. Sir,—l have the honor to report that the Assessment Court for the Borough was held on the sth inst,, when all appeals were decided in favor of the Council. The total amount of rateable property on the roll is L 21,814, which at a rate of Is in the pound will realise Ll'o9o 14s, and for the Library at Id in the pound, L9O 17s lOd. •. The Valuators may now be paid.— I have, &c., R. Brow, Town Clerk, SPECIAL MEETING. Councillor Gapper moved, seconded by the Mayor, that a special meeting be held on Friday, the 2nd April, for the purpose of striking a general rate of Is in the £ on all rateable property within the Borough for the year ending 31st March, -1881. The Mayor explained that special meetings of the Finance and Works Committees would be held this week, in order to frame their respective reports for the purpose of showing the proposed'expenditure for the year ending 31st March. •• 1881. Councillor Woodroofe said he had considered the matter now before them thoroughly, and pointed out that they were rated heavily by Government, as ; regards the Land Tax. The last valuation, in his opinion, was the most reasonable they had for years. He would propose that the rate be 9d in the fi, and thought it would press quite heavy enough on the public. The Government had laid down that they should not rate at more than Is in the £, but he believed that if they had laid down 10s in the £, the Council would have thought themselves justified in striking it. Councillor Vile seconded the amend- " ment of Councillor Woodroofe. In his opinion, while times were so' hard, they ought to make things lighter for the pub- 1 lie. Work'and money were scarce, and ' he believed ratepayers would find it hard even to pay 9d iu the £. Councillor Russell said 110 thought.in--'' ''' stead of making the rate lower they would • have to strike a special rate on some parts; ; of the Borough, and would therefore support the original resolution. Councillor Bish endorsed Councillor Russell's views. The Mayor hoped the original motion would be: carried, as 9d }n the £ would " only give them- about LBOO, and as they had lost the Government subsidies the Council would be at a standstill. He was of opinion they should make the rates payable in halfyearly instalments, as this would make the rates come easier on the '■ public. The amendraeut was put and lost, the original motion being carried. Councillor Bish proposed that the Library rate be Id in the £ 011 all rateable property within the Borough. He pointed out that the Library Committee were, 1 " short of funds,-and they should not crip- V / pie them by making the rate smaller this W year. Councillor Russell seconded the resolution, as he did not consider the rate a heavy one on the ratepayers considering the object for which it was struck. Councillor Gapper moved as an amendment that the rate be |d in the £. He thought good roads were a much better object to strike a rate for than the Library. Councillor Woodroofe seconded the amendment, He had never known a well managed library in Masterton, and we would never have it managed properly while nominees were appointed to the Committee. '. Ratepayers had not the same advantages, as non-ratepayers, as a non-ratepayer could take out two books while a ratepayer could only take one, and this was a manifest injustice to those persons who supported it by paying rates. He had known the Library from its infancy, and could not see, as it was constituted at present, that it was any boon to the public, Ho thought it was a blessing that the hard times had come upon them, as it was the only one thing that would teach them prudence. Councillor Russell said that Councillor Woodroofe complained that the Library was not well supplied with literature and yet he was now proposing to take 50 per cent, of income from them. He would like to ask whether Councillor Woodroofe was right in saying a non-ratepayer could take out more books than a ratepayer. Councillor Vile said Councillor Woodroofe was in error in stating that such was the case. ' Councillor Russell continued his remarks by saying that ho did not believe in the library obtaining too many yellowbacked books, as. they, tended to lower the moral tone of;the community. Councillor Vile was in favor of the Id rate. lii supporting the original motion he was. considering both the public and his own' pocket. The Mayor said it appeared strange to him the tone the arguments had taken that evening. One Councillor had upbraided the Committee as a whole, another had said the books were not moral enough, and,another had said something about the Committee erecting such a building as they had. What they wanted was funds and some willing helpers, and books .to suit all classes would be placed on the shelves, In reducing the rate they would also reduce the subsidy to the same. Councillor Reiiall said, as a member of the Library Committee he should like to say a few words. They had had an ex- v cellent Secretary in Mr Teakle, and if ] the sum spent on books had been small, the Council must not forget the sum j placed at their disposal had been small. He had picked up his knowledge himself, % and if he saw a paragraph in a newspaper of any value he tried to impress it on his memory, and if other Councillors would do the same they would not make the blunders they did. The amendment was put and lost, the original motion being upheld. Continuation of report in next issue,