BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXV, Issue 11648, 23 April 1913, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

COMMITTEE MEETING

The final committee meeting of the. present Council was held last evening. Cr Elliott, in.the absence of the Mayor, presided, there being also present, — Crs Temple, O'Leary, Candy, Flanagan, Pragnell. Donald and Prentice. An apology for absence was received from the Mayor.

Application for Increased Wages. Thirteen members of the Borough 1 outside staff applied for an increase of oue shilling por day rise in wages, as owing to the high prices of the necessaries of 'life, and a further rise in j rents, they were unable to make ends meet. Ten members of the gasworks stair also applied for an iucrease in

WAgeS. I Cr. Temple said that be sympathised with the luen in many ways, but he considered that these were matters for the new Council to deal with, lie moved that both matters be referred to the now Gouueil.

(Jr O'Leary said that he thought the. application of the gas workers should lie dealt with that night. "F am not out after votes," he said. "You know T speak my mind, and I say this, that 1 would sooner work at my trade for Ss per day than for l;1s a day at the gasworks. Cr Pragnell: ''Our gas men get !'s (id to 10s a day. Can you tell me any company which gives more , ?'' Cr Prentice: "Men working for private contractors get 10s. We should pay the same. Cr Flanagan said that he considered work at the gasworks very unpleasant, and he considered that the men employed there should get an additional Is per day. Cr O'Leary moved that the gasworks men get Is per day extra. Cr Flanagan seconded. On being put to the meeting the motion was carried, only Crs O'Leary and Flanagan voting for the amendment. Half Holiday Question. The Borough Council was servod with a copy of the proceedings which have been filed, claiming an injunction to restrain the taking of the poll on the question of the statutory half-holiday. The plaintiff was E. J. King, gunsmith, of Queen street, and the defendants the Mayor, councillors and burgesses of Masterton, and Richard Brown, returning officer. The injunction was to be applied for on the ground that it is not signed by at least one-tenth of the total number of the electors ou the roll of the Borough in force at the time the requisition was signed or presented. The Town Clerk stated that he considered that there were sufficient names on the petition. Crs Elliott and Temple stated that they did not feel disposed to spend ratepayers' money in defending the case. Cr Flanagan stated that he thought that the Council should have been supplied with a list of the names objected to, so that these could be considered. They were totally in the dark. lie complained of this protest being held back to the last moment. Cr O'Leary: "It's a bit of blufF right through, '' In reply 'to questions, the Town Clerk stated that about last Friday Mr HolJings came to him and obtained the petition, and subsequently returned it. No reasons for or names or persons objected to had been given. Cr Candy stated that it was elearlv the wish of the ratepayers that the poll should be taken, and'that the Council should go on with the taking of the poll. Cr Elliott said that he did not consider the Council was justified in spending £25 in defending the case. The court would look after the Council's interests. They should go on with the poll until they were stopped by an injunction of the Supreme Court. Cr Prentice agreed with Cr Elliott. Cr Candy moved that the poll be gone on with. Cr Temple thought that the Council should take legal advice and find out their position. _ After further discussion it was considered that there was no need for the Council to take any action, and it was decided that the papers in connection with the matter lie on the table. Cr Prentice: "It's a high-handed bit of work, anyway." Cr Elliott: "It is." Votes of Thanks. A vote of thanks was accorded to the staffs for the excellent manner in which they had carried out their <lutI ies. "We are indeed indebted to our officers for their work,'' said Cr Elliott. "■They have taken all the- trouble and

worry out of our hands. The last two years has been ,tho easiest time tho Council has ever had, and this is due in a very large measure to our splendid officers. " Other councillors spoke in a similar strain. • A vote of thanks was also passed to the press, on the motion of Cr. Temple. Gas Manager's Report. The gas manager reported inter alia as follows:— Since my last report the 4in. main in Pownall-street has been extended a further distance of 15 chains, picking up six new customers, with others to follow. A street lamp and post has been erected opposite the residence of Mr Leech, off the new main, also a lamp and post at the intersection of Kuri-puni-street aud Columba-road. The lamp opposite Mr McLeod's residence in Cole-street has been shifted about three chains towards Pownall-street, and a new lamp and post erected opposite Mr Graham's residence. Colestreet it now well-lighted. Plant and Machinery:—The setting of tho last arch of retorts is well under way, but at present stopped pending the arrival of material from the Fireclay Works. Tho connection pipes for the purifier box are to hand, and the box itself is on board the S.S. Euapehu, due about the end of this month. Ecsiduals: —The demand for Coke is very brisk, I have to refuse business offering from outside the borough. Tar sales are dropping off, as is usual at this time, when the weather becomes broken. Financial:— The cash revenue for. the month shows a small decrease of about nine pounds, the items showing increases being gas rates, £140; cookers, £11; the decreases being in residuals, £3(5; coal sold, £28; miscellaneosu receipts, £05. General:—Tho balance of the order for service pipes steam quality has been delivered, and the tubes have, .landed in first class order, they are from three different makers, the quality is 'superior to any of the brands obtainable in Wellington. In connection with handling and working of service aud fitting pipes, 1 would recommend that a screwing machine to take up to liiu. diameter tubes be purchased." Such a machine would save considerable labour and time in threading the larger diameter pipes, and also it would enable all short cut ends to be threaded and used as connecting pieces, long thread, etc. The cost indented would be about £25. As when the whole of the retorts are in use there will be little room to handle coke in the retort house, I have erected a wooden loading platform, twenty-four feet by thirty-feet at the south-end of the building. This is nearly completed, and is made from some of the old bridge material —very solid and substantial.