PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1140, 30 May 1911, Page 2

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

* THE FIRE BOARD. A special meeting of the Pctono Borough Council was held last evening, the Mayor, Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, presiding. There were also present: Councillors Short, Wakeljam, Brocklebent, Cox, ladder, Burridge, List, and Truenian. ■ Apropos of the circular letter received from the Wellington City Council some time ago, asking for particulars of tho staff, etc., with a View to drafting a scheme of superannuation for council employees, which letter had been referred to the Town Clerk so that he could report as to the feeling of the employees of the council. towards the scheme, the Town Clerk reported that the employees were decidedly opposed to the suggested' scheme.

A letter was received from the Wellington Rugby Union stating that the union was agreeable to sign tho lease of the Fetono Recreation Ground as amended at tho last meeting of the council, pro. vidc'.l that certain minor assurances wcro given.

A question- was raised in reference to certain rates, amounting in all to ,£7 4s. 10d., alleged to have teen ov'err.aiW bm Jlr. Thos. Cook, and covering a period of three years. It appeared that the ratepayers havo been charged tho rates on a section on which no lionso was erected. At the same time, the Valuation Department had valued the section as having a house on it. , .

It was decided to get an official opinion from the Municipal Association's solicitor as to the position, and also to write to tho Department pointing out what had occurred. Meanwhile the question of repayment was left over until a reply is received.

Preparatory to the election of tho council's representatives on tho Firo Board, the Mayor informed the council that_ tho total expenditure, in this connection during the past three years had been .£2lOl 9s. 9d., to which tho council's contribution had been .£999 3s. sd. If the council had been carrying on the municipal firo brigade during this period tho expenditure would have been .£GGS 15s. lid., without taking into account wages and salaries. If the board were broken nil now tho council would get ,£lB3 13s. Gel, and also half of the ,£SOO depositc/.l for the new station. That would bring tho net payments by the council for firo purposes to <£sfi.i 9s. lid. His Worship said he was quite satisfied that they had a better brigade now than they had previously, and he did not think it would be wiss to go back to the old system. Councillor List wished to know whether it would Ire possible for the men to havo same say in the election of officers of tho board.

The Mayor replied that Iho superintendent, deputy-superintendent, and secretary were all appointed by the board. After some further discussion the Mayor and Councillors Short and Piper were apnoinled to represent the council on tho Fire Board.