LEVIN BOROUGH COUNCIL

Chronicle (Levin), 21 January 1947, Page 4

LEVIN BOROUGH COUNCIL

First Meeting M Year HeM Presided over by ihe Deputy Mayo'r, Cr. F. E. Parker, the Levin Borough Council held its first meeting of the year last night. Present wepe Crs. H, E. Bowen, A-' O. Powell, "C. H. Cockrell, W. Telford, F. ,D. 'Chai.ney and C. .Sherwood. Also the town clerk, Mr. H. L. Jenkiris, and ehgineer, Mr. K. W. Sandford. Cr. Parker referred briefly to the recent illness -of the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, whom he said .was now convalescing, and had been able to take a short walk that day. The Mayor intimated that .* he would like to thank all thdse who had taken the trouble to visit Mm during his confinement in hospitai. Since the last meeting of the council the gas committee had found it necessary to issue a warning to consume-rs to economise as much as possible in the use of gas, said Cr. Parker. Coal stocks at the gasworks had never been worse. The council had .been compelled to purchase bituminous coal again, continued Cr. Parker. He said he did not consider this economic, but in view of the present serious coal shortage there was no a-lternative. An application by the Horowhenua Marching Association for permission to use the Levin Park Domain on the afternoon and evening of Saturday, March 22, was received, the association stating that they wished to use the ground for the Wellington Provincial marching championships, if permission were granted by -the parent body. It was agreed that, providing the association came to a Satisfactory agreement w'ith the cricket autfiorities regarding the sharing of the ground on that date, the council would raise no objection. A circular letter from the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. G.^L. Laurenson, expressed appr.eciation I oi the co-operation shown by localj bodies in the compilation'of a -cen-j tral register of motor drivers' j licenses. The council's attention was drawn by the Labour Department J to the faet that it was called upon j to hold a special meeting during j January to decide what working ! day in the week would be I the statutory half-holiday for shops in the district. Commenting on this letter, Cr. Parker said he saw no reason why the department continued to send; these circulars out. If any change ; was required by a local body, application could be made accordingly to the department, thus saving considerable work by the army of j clerks which would have . to be ! employed in sending out these circulars every year. The council agreed that the suggestion should be passed on to the department. Fg,1.' the information of the council, the Department of Health forwarded a copy of the Health Foodj Afnending Regulations, 1946, covering the wrapping of bread and labelling of meat pickling preparations. These were received without comment. An application for permission to erect a smoke house 4 feet by 6 feet in brick and concrete at the rear of his premises in Oxford Street was received from Mr. I. Glucina, of the Olympic Cafe. This was agreed to, providing the building was properly constructed and controlled. Approval to a plan of proposed sub-division of a further portion of 'Mr. K. L. Read's property, Kawiu Road, was sought by Messrs. Park and Bertram. The council decided that approval would have to be Withheld till a full sub-divisional plan had been submitted. Mr. C. W. Foster submitted an amended plan of sub-division on behalf of Mr. G: Maugham, Hing's Drive, and asked for tlie councirs approval. This was granted by the approved. A proposed plan of sub-division for Mr. H. J. Ashworth, Winchester Street, forwarded by Mr. Foster for the council's consent was also apprved. A further sub-divisional plan was submitted by Mr. Foster for approval. It related to the property oi Mrs. M. D. G. Quinn, Queen Street and followed on the lines -of a previously approved sub-division. After considerable discussion it was decided that the plan be first referred to the town planning committee. , A recommendation that the women's convenience in the Levin Public Library be closed to the public, and reserved for members of the staff only, was made by Cr. Bowen, who said that she had inspected the conveniences reeently and found them to be in a "shocking state." Now that sadequate' conveniences had been erected next to the library buiiding, she said she saw no reason for' the continued use of the convenience in the library. The council agreed that Cr. Bowen's recommendation be approved and put into effect. Seven residents in Winchester and Roosevelt Streets wrote complaining of the state of the water race skirting those streets. The letter stated that the race was dangerous to pedestrians, and its frequent fiooding endangered residences in its proximity. Tlie council agreed that the matter required urgent attention. The -race in question had been giving trouble for some years. It was d,ecided that the complaint be investigated by the works committee. , A . suggestion that instead of burning the grass obtained from the edges of borough streets, it be stacked when green and tnrned : into compost, was made by Cr.

Parker during the reading of the engineer's report on the progress of the removal of the grass from the sides of the streets. Cr. Parker said he thought the grass not good enough for hay, yet too god to burn. It was a pity -.to see it wasted when it- could perhaps be put to some use. He considered it would make good compost and might be a source of revenue. The suggestion found favour with louncillors, and it was agreed that /his should be further investigated next Ǥeason. Considerable satisfaction at the result of the visit to Dannevirke vas also expressed by Cr. Parker. He said he had been very impressed by the experiment in waste disposal that was being cart'ied out by the engineer of the Dannevirke Borough Council. Not mly was the waste being saved to le returned to the land, but the mterprise would show a good finanual return. Cr. Sherwood said the Dannevirke engineer was doing the :own a serviee. He-was an enthus'astic worker and sound engineer. Dther councillors agreed that such r scheme would be an asset to Levin. The engineer, Mr. Sandford, said it might be wise to wait .or six montlis before taking any ?teps in the matter. The council igreed that further study of the scheme was necessary. On the suggestion 'of Cr. Telford, it was decided that a letter P'v tent to Watts Motors, Ltd., intinr lting the councirs satisfaction at the inauguration of the local bus serviee, which it considered a valuable asset to the comm'unity, particularly the mothers and elderiy people who lived out of town.