TE AWAMUTU NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21039, 15 February 1940, Page 5

TE AWAMUTU NEWS

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RESTRICTIONS ON PETROL SUGGESTED AMENDMENT (Special to Times) TE AWAMUTU, Wednesday At the monthly meeting of the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce last night it was decided to advise the South Auckland parent body that unless there were any matter of real urgency for consideration, the chamber felt that the annual conference which was fixed for Paeroa should be postponed. Mr G. A. Gibbs presided at the meeting. The Borough Council advised that it could not see its way to make any alteration at the junction of Bank and Teasdale Streets as suggested by the chamber. Members expressed the opinion that school buses found the corner difficult and that the cutting off of the corner cr a by-pass through the reserve would facilitate matters. It was decided to ask the council to reconsider the matter. The question of the proposed new street to connect Alexandra and Mahoe streets at a point opposite the Regent Theatre appeared to have made some progress and then been shelved, said Mr A. G. Warburton in reply to the president. It was pointed out that delay might result in the disposal of some of the land which would be required and new owners might not be prepared to sell. Further inquiry will be made from the Borough Council. The Hon. W. Nash. Minister of Finance, acknowledged the chamber's letter relating to the earlier allocation of sterling in respect of import licenses and stated that the Reserve Bank was making every effort and it hud been found practicable in a number of cases to revise allocations and special arrangements had been made for the immediate supply of certain nationally essential goods which were in short supply. Borough Valuation The new valuation of the borough was mentioned by Mr F. W. Bevin, who said that last year rates had been increased to provide compensation in connection with the widening of Sloane Street. Since then part had been paid by the Highways Board and it was reasonable to expect that the rates to be struck would be lower this year. The town clerk, Mr D. Bockett, said that the council would not consider the estimates until the new valuations were available and this would be some time for the reason that the Assessment Court would have to deal with objections.

Mr Warburton suggested that the Chamber appoint a small committee

to make a bread review of the valuations with the idea that the chamber appeal to the court if necessary. Private appeals meant that the man who took the trouble to do so and was successful paid less in rates than the man who was careless. Uniformity was wanted so that there would be an even spread

of rate liability. The town clerk said that the existing valuations

were made in 1928. It was decided to instruct the council of the chamber to review the new roll as soon as it became available. Petrol Restrictions The question of petrol coupons came in for some discussion when a suggestion was made that the authorities be asked to amend the regulations to provide for the issue of additional coupons for private cars, as distinct from commercial vehicles, at a premium over the standard issue. Mr A. G. Warburton moveu that representations be made to the Oil Fuel Controller to consider the point. There would be no loss of revenue to the State and it would facilitate the obtaining of coupons in j case of need and obviate trafficking. • Mr A. H. Laybourn, postmaster at J Te Awamutu, said that there was provision to meet emergency cases, but where it was possible to travel by rail, good reasons would have to be advanced to obtain the advantage of the regulations. He understood that the restrictions had been imposed at the request of the Imperial Government. Mr Warburton considered that a premium would prevent abuse because the applicant would pay so much more a gallon for petrol required in excess of his normal allocation. The motion was carried. HIGH SCHOOL AFFAIRS BOROUGH CHARGE FOR WATER Present at the monthly meeting of | the Te Awamutu District High School I Committee were Messrs G. B. Mel- | rose (chairman), A. S. Wyllie, J. A. 1 Johnson, G. Donaldson, L. E. Day, G. | Hall, J. G. Wynyard (secretary), and W. G. S. Smith (headmaster). The Education Board advised that Mr P. H. Jordan would be on the staff as relieving teacher from February 12, pending the appointment of a permanent assistant ■ master. The Department advised that a j swimming capitation of one shilling j a head for forms 1 and 2 scholars was ! available. Mr Smith said that 96 j children in those forms could not yet swim 33 yards and thus £4 16s ; would be available towards the cost : of hiring the baths. He reported ; that the baths had been cleaned and i chlorinated and any danger of infec- I tion had been removed. Supply of Water The chairman reported that the Borough Council had decided to make i a charge for water used on the basis 1 of Gd per 1000 gallons in excess of j 250,000 gallons per annum. He admitted that there had been wastage , due to use of a suction pump while ' the school was in course of erection, { but there was very little wasted in j school use. Comparative figures I were quoted showing that at Te | Aroha no charge is made, at Te j Kuiti a meter charge of 3d per 1000 i gallons is made; at Cambridge both ! schools pay £5 per annum and at \ Oterohanga an annual fee of £4 13s 9d is levied. Further inquiries are to be made.

The headmaster's report showed ! that the roll had increased to ap- j proximately 345 pupils and this en- , titled the school to another teacher j in the secondary department. J