CITY COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1430, 3 May 1912, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL.

A "WASHING-UP" MEETING, NEW JJY-LAWS. The Cilv Council met last evening to ileal with arrears of business held over from tho inoolin:,' on Wednesday ovenini>. 'I'lie -Mayor (Mr. J). Jl'J.urenj presided. Also present were Councillors .Smith, U. Frost, J. Trevor, .1. Gudlier, \V. 11. J'. Harbcr, A. 11. ijimimursh, J. Puller, jun., G. .Siiirlclill'e, and K. Fletcher. Ixiave oi iijjsenee was grunted to Councillor J. K Fitzgerald, on account of illness. Uu iirst meeting the council spent about a (luarter of an hour in committee. C'oiinoillar Trevor said that lie was prepared to move (hat tlio work done in cominitlco slioukM;e approved, but Hie Mayor stated (lia!; the council had adjourned in coniiiuUee, and reporters present were requested to wit luiraw. \\ lien it resumed the council proceeded (o deal with new by-laws. Councillor tjhiriciill'o moved the confirmation of 'the special order, passed at the special meeting of the council, held on April 2, lilli making the Wellington City By-law, Xo. 11 (a by-law regulating butchers' shops). Councillor Umber suggested that the council would perhaps be ill-advised ii' it passed the by-law immediately. Councillor Shirtclift'o stated that tho bylaw had been approved by tho official representatives of tho eiiy butchers. If it wero not passed now the whole matter would liavo to to gono into do novo. After some further discussion tho motion to confirm the by-law was agreed to on tho voices. It will como into force on Juno 1. On tho motion of Councillor Trevor, tho new water by-law (Ao. 15) was also eonhrmed, to come into forco en June 1. PUBLICATION OP REPORTS. J. Fuller moved:—That a statement of [tecounls, annual reports ol' each executive officer, and other statistics lie published annually in consolidated form with regard to tho Wellington City Council's affairs. Supporting his motion, Councillor Fuller said that the present handbook, issued annually by tho council, contained no real_ information as to how tho various trading concerns were getting on. The city sadly lacked nn annual publication of a more comprehi'iisive nature. Such a publication should contain not only a statement of accounts, but reports from tho officers of the council, and explanatory notes. An annual report such as was issued by tho Wellington Harbour Board should be issued by tho city. Councillor Frost said that ho would second, the motion on condition that 'the proposal should ba referred to the Finance Committee. The mover acepted the condition. Councillor Flet«lier remarked that it would cost little to consolidate (he various reports that were issued at present. Councillor Trevor contended that tho reports now published by tho council were sufficient. The Mayor said that Wellington was as far advanced as any city in regard to the publication of reports. The reports contained a groat deal of petty detail matter, which it would be useless to embody in an annual publication. Councillor Fuller, in replying, maintained that tho absence of such an annual publiffiition as he advocated made it very difficult for any new councillor or for nnfl'.bers of the general public to obtain a mastery of tho city affairs. Tito motion, as amended, was carried on the voices. Councillor Fuller next moved: —Tliat (he Town Clerk lie instructed remodel tlio annual handbook of the Wellington City Council, giving more detailed comparisons. The same proviso was added, as ill the case of the previous motion, that tho matter should be referred to the Finance Committee. Councillor Fuller stated that all he desired in connection with the handbook was that a seven years' comparison of revenue and expenditure should bo added to its present, contents. Tho motion was agreed to.