BOROUGH COUNCIL

Wairarapa Daily Times, 17 April 1935, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTH T Y MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening, there being present: —The Mayor (Mr T. Jordan), Crs. Low, Beetham, Rogers, Anderson, Kemp, White, Judd, Peacock, Free, Russell and Barr. A license was granted to L. B. Maunsell for the manufacture of cordials, etc. An invitation from the Wairarapa Returned Soldiers’ Association to attend the Anzac Day service was accepted. A letter was received from the Beautifying Society relative to the Allan Memorial bridge. Attention was drawn to the fact that tho engineer’s estimate had been exceeded, and that the society felt that tho increased cost for' the bridge it had in view was not justified; also expressing the society’s disappointment at the lack of co-operation concerning the matter, and asking the Council to proceed with the metalling of the walk between Queen Street and tho bridge as soon as possible, as the .society desired to have an opening ceremony at an early date. Cr. Free said that he felt, surprise and a certain amount of resentment at the letter. He explained what had taken,place, stating that the estimate was based on the work being done by unemployed labour. There were then six unemployed carpenters in Masterton on tho unemployed register, and it was intended to engage these men. An earthquake intervened, with the result that no suitable tradesmen were available. There the matter stood for some time till it was thought that a start should be made with the work. Certain unemployed and members of the borough staff were 'engaged for the work. Tho Beautifying Society protested at the additional expense, and tho work came to a stop. It was eventually decided that the work proceed by labour which added to the cost, the additional expense to bo deducted from the Council’s grant to the Society. The accusation of lack of co-operation on the part of the Borough Council was unfair, to say the least. There \vere several occasions "when the Beautifying Society’s representatives on the Park Committee were not present at the latter committee’s deliberations. The borough engineer stated that he had always done his best to assist the Society in the erection of the bridge. The metalling was actually under wav when tho Society’s letter had been written, while he had scoured round in various directions to obtain the required timber for the bridge. He gave details in connection with the extra cost. ■ ■ . , The Mayor said that it was to be hoped that the matter would be straightened out. The charge of lack of co-operation w r as not quite right. He read a list of the attendances ot the Beautifying Society’s representatives at the meeting of the Park Committee, and said that had these co-opted members been more punctual in their attendance, the position wmuld have been such that the letter would not have been written. He thought that steps should be taken to straighten out the position to the benefit of all concerned. Cr. Low said that it should be made clear that the Council was not accepting the statements in the letter, and that the fault did not lie with the Cr. Barr stated that the metalling had already been completed. _ • It was decided on the motion of the Mayor that “wo express our regret that the letter should have been written, and our belief that if the representatives of tho Society could find it possible to attend tho Park Committee s meetings it would facilitate the co-oper-ation that we all desire.” PARK AND LIBRARY COMMITTEE. The Park, Hall and Library Committee reported, inter alia, as follows. The committee recommend ,£is follows: That the application from the Salvation Army for permission to use the Park on Easter Sunday, with the right _ to take up a collection, be granted, subject to them keeping well away from the entrance gates with their collecting boxes. An application was received from the Returned Soldiers’ Association for permission to hold a public memorial service in the Park on Anzac Day, or, it the iveather is unfavourable, to have the use of the Town Hall for the service rent free. The application was granted. That the Masterton Harrier Club be granted the use of the Park dressing shed for the coming harrier season as in the past. That the application from the Football Association for the use of the oval for football fox the coming season be granted on the same conditions as last yeai. FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The Works and Finance Committee reported, inter alia, as follows:—-It was decided that the applications for billiard room licenses from H. W. Horne, W. D. Darvill and H. W. Clark be granted] That the following applications for taxi licenses be granted, viz., Frank McKenzie, H. T. Byrn, H. E. Kempson J McKenzie, G. Watson, W. Innes, and two E. J. Garratt; that the seal of the borough be affixed to the survey plan certifying that public monies have been spent on Worksop Eoad, and that tllc name Eoss Street be changed to Worksop Eoad. A letter was received from the borough solicitor, asking whether the Council desired him to take action to recover the amount of the judgment obtained for rent owing on a council cottage. It was decided that no further action be taken. Mr W. J. Fitz\vater wrote asking that his application for a taxi license (refused by the Council at their last meeting) be reconsidered. It was decided that we see no reason for altering our previous decision. A letter was received-from Mr A, Norman, applying for the preparation of an urban farm land list, etc. It was decided that Mr Norman be requested to supplv us with substantiating his claim for relief under the Farm Lands Eating Act. It was decided that Mr A. W. Ecynolds letter of the 27th ult. re flood damage be received That the Council cottage in Hope Street be offered to a borough employee; that the question of date lor closing the baths bo left in the hands of the Mayor and town Clerk, fhat the engineer bo authorised to make a new water connection to Solway College, the College to pay the cost ot same. GAS COMMITTEE. The Gas and Abattoir Committee reported, inter alia, as follows:—It was decided that the motor shed at. the abattoirs be purchased at the price of £6 and that the same be made available for use by the abattoir manager. Two letters were received from the Hospital Board, enquiring re gas furnaces, etc. It was decided to reply that the information be made available

as soon as possible, and that tho Board be informed that a gas sub-committee would like the opportunity of meeting tho Hospital Board Committee, when these matters come up for consideration. In reply to a letter from the State Coal Depot re the supply of coal, it was decided that we enter into a contract with the State* Coal Depot for tho supply of 2000 tons of Liverpool unscreened coal for delivery during the twelve months ending 31st March, 1936, as per their letter of the 29th ult., conditionally on the coal being up to a standard required by the gas manager. In the matter of £3OO rent paid by the Gas Department to the general account during the last financial year toward the annual charges in connection with the buildings loan interest account, it was decided that a refund of £IOO be made to the Gas Department. It was decided that two gas accounts owing in connection with (1) cooking for children of unemployed; (2) school museum, amounting to £8 0s 4d and £4 4s, respectively, be written off.