Shannon Borough Matters

Chronicle (Levin), 4 June 1948, Page 3

Shannon Borough Matters

The fortnightly meeting - of the Shannon Borough Cou'ncil' was hexd on Tuesday evening, when the Deputy-Mayor, Cr. B. Clayton, -pre-; sided over Crs. V. J. Bateman, H. L. Norris, R. S. Downes- and H. Aitchison. Apolog'ies . for absence Iwere received from the Iviayor (Mr. D. A. Fitzgerald), Crs: G. M. Cronquest, L. G. Sayer and C. G. Wi'shart. Among the inward correspondence was a letter from the secretary of the Wanganui Eiectors' Association, forwarding the foilowing resoiutions passed by his association: That this meeting records its emphatic protest against the action of the Municipal Association conference seeking to thwart an elementary principai of democracy by way of an attempt to have local bodies empowered to raise loans without a poll of the people, the alleged safeguard being practicaliy worthless; that this meeting strongly objects to the raising of the rating limit, as requested of the Government by the Municipal Association, and would urgently recommend the Government to reconsider the suggestion as expressed in the result of a referendum conducte'd by the Wanganui Eiectors' Association that local bodies should 'get their loan accommodation' from the Reserve Bank at one per cent. The two requests made to- the Government by the Municipal Association obviously result from the unhappy financial position of a considerabie number of local bodies in New Zealand, stated the secretary of the association. It seemed inevitable that they must be given power to collect a larger volume of rates, or else that they be provided with loan finance at a' mucli lower rate of interest than at present. The letter pointed out. that ratepayters are beginning to look askance at new loan proposals, because they fear. further increases in rates, which have already reached a hlgh level. It was also pointed out that the total local body debit is over £63,000,000, the records being taken from the Local Authorities Handbook 1944-45, of which over £51,000,000 is domiciled in New Zealand, the annual interest bill being £2,493,601 and - an average interest rate being 3.96 per cent. The interest bill at one per cent. would ' be £630,067, a reduc'tion of £1,863,534. The council was asked to protest against the most undemocratic proposal to' raise loans without polls, and also against the raising of the rating limit. Also to study the proposals for the financing of local bodies by the Reserve Bank at one per cent. and to give the proposal its support if the idea seemed sound. Cbnsideration to the .matter was left over to "the next meeting of the council. Two sub-divisions came before the meeting and were. appro'ved. They ' Were from Mr. and Mrs. Speranza to the Horowhenua Electric Power Board, an area of 32 perches 'in Stafford Street, and Sub-division of part lot 236 Ballance Street on behalf of Messrs. David Jones, Ltd. Authority was given to have a pedestrian crossing painted at the school entrance. Cr. Clayton, reporting on the domain, stated that a lock from one of the domain buildings had been stolen. This would be replaeed and the keys given to Mr. T. Bell. Metal was required in several places and on the motion of Cr. Aitchison, authority was given for. this work to be carried out. Cr. j Clayton also reported that the j cemetery grounds had received j attention and he would bring down l a report to a later meeting on the j question of grazing a portion of the i area. ] Cr. Bateman, chairman of the building committee, tabled three | building permits. One was for per- ; mission to shift a shed from onej paddock to another, the original i material to be used. Mr. A. W. Truman sought permission to erectl a bathroom and wash-house, whilej Messrs. David Jones, Ltd., request- ! ed permission to construct a flat at j rthe rear of their shop in Ballance i [street, the work involving internal! materials only. Permission was l granted in each case, subject to the! work being carried out in accordance with the borough by-laws. Mr. W. S. Gardner waited on the i meeting and pointed out that in | heavy rain the water from the Stout Street area was flowing on to his property. This was due to drains being blocked. He also asked that repairs be carried out to a fence on his property in Bryce Street, caused through a fire started by a borough employee. The Deputy-Mayor infonned Mr. Gardner that attention would be given 'to both cases immediately. Mr. A. R. Mills also waited on the council and asked for the council's co-operation in having the stretch of road from the Otaru Bridge toKingston Road put in order. Mr. Mills stated that the road was in a shocking state and full of bumps and depressions. He understood that the road was under the control of the Main Highways Board. The council promised support to the suggestion and the town clerk; Mr. J. T. Bovis, was directed to bring the matter before the contiblling authority. ! On the motion of Cr. Aitchison, iaccounts amounting to £230 12s 10'd were passed for payment.