BOROUGH BREVITIES

Chronicle (Levin), 23 March 1949, Page 6

BOROUGH BREVITIES

Council Had " Gallery " For First Time In Years J For the first time in rnany years, the prooeedings of the Levin Borough Council, at its meeting on Monday nigfet, were observed from the publkrbench providied in the Council iChamlbers. Of late years few ratepayers have exercisedfthis right of being able to hear firsthandf therdeib§ting of their administratbisi | iff 4 • /Last eVening two members of the public were present. Observing the rules in such cases, they maintained strict silence, and listened carefully to each debate, but when the council resolved itself into committee and the ' Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekih, requestecL them to withdraw, ian awkward situation arose. One of them, Mr. W. G. Bishop, politely protested1 against the order, but withd'rew. On re-entering the room when the council resumed in open meeting, Mr. Bishop, addressinig the Mayor, said he und'erstood that in Parliament the puiblic gal.leries were not cleared during committee stages. He thought there was a danger of the council going into committee continually, and thus denying the ratepayers their right. The council had been asked not to reveal certain information about matters connected with the proposed' sanatorium andi these had accordingly been discussed in committee that night, said Mr. Burdekin. He understood that when the council went into committee members of the puiblic had to leave, but he wias not sure of the position. He would, however, endeavour to find out definitely and in the meantime would request the members of the oublic present to abide iby his ruling. * -K * Complaihing of a 'smoke nuisance arising from the burning of shavings and rubbish at a nearby planing mih, eight residents of Weraroa petitioned the Council. The building inspector, Mr. H.' T. Tilyard, said he had inspected the area and could not see how the firm could burn the shavings there without creating a nuisance. He had obtained an assurace, however, that they would be burned elsewhere. * * * That an increase in the offi.ee staff appearedvi^ecessary to him, was mentioned 'by Cr. A. J, H. Allen, who said that the present staff was being overworked. The Mayor said that he agreed it was time that the council went; into the question of an increased staff and also increased office! space. The matter was left over' to the finance committee to dis-j cuss. -K -K -K Fifteen residents of Winchester Street wrote seeking the formation. of a footpath adg'acent to their : residences. The matter was referred; to the . works committee for consideratfon. - i -K -k * Applications for permission to: instal kerbside petrol pumps were' made by Milne's garage, Oxford S.tfeet, andi Mc-Minn's garage, Queen Street. It was decided that no' objection would be raised provided' the installations met with the approval of the district traffic inspector. -K -K -k An application for permission to alter a sinai! shed in the yard of the Arcadia Hotel building and fronting Bath Street, to provide for a gliass frontage, was allowed. It was stated that the premises would be used for boot repairing. * * * Mr. A. J. Gray, proprietor of a dairy in Queen Street, was granted permission to erect a bicycle stand, outside the shop. -K -K -k " The expending of £74, being an estimate for repairs to the plaster on the walls of the Regent Hall,

was .approved; ititfoeing stated that this work wouldjbe necessary befpre the major tenovations could be do.ne..', ; , V " " t •¥' -K "A request from the Levin Caled'ohiah Mafching Team- for financiki dssistance in regard'- to the eipenses of the 'team, which" took part in. the N.Z.- championships on Saturdiay, was declined. The Mayor, Mr. H... B, Bur(|e^in, said he consid'ered. that ..this^was a matter ,'f qr councillors persbnally. 1 -K -K -K The Mid'dle Districts Aero Club was .given permission to carr.y out a.leaflet raid over Levin on April 4. It is to advertise an "air carni--val. .aJ=.,mdtter^5Which. -fthe • council had decided long ago, and djae publicity had been given to it5 said the Mayor when a letter was -received from the Levin Ratepayers' Association asking that grass strips fronting houses be put in order by the council wherever it was found that ratepavers were prepared to maintain them. A second point raised by the association was that the council provide sealed entrances to gateways in streets where no footpaths' were in existence. It was decided that in regard to the latter, the association be told that each case would be decided. on its merits. -K -K " -k Mrs. L. S.^Webb; of George Street. was appoinftedl caretaker of the cbuncil's rest rooms in -Oxford Street. " Vji " V"