PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2398, 2 March 1915, Page 7

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

. !Aa ordinary meeting of '-the Petone Borough Council was held last evening, there being present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) and Conncillors List, Forsyth, Cos, Brocklebank, . Anderson, Toimsend, Findlay, Trueman, arid Jones. An appeal from the joint- secretaries of the Poor of Great Britain, Ireland, and Belgium Fund was discussed, and.on the motion of the Mayor the following was carried"That whilst enoouragement should be given to the freewill offering of the people to the Belgian Fund, this council is of the opinion that the Government should take the" matter in hand by agreeing to contribute, say, £20,000 monthly, by way of special taxation, bised upon the principle of equality ,of sacrifice. Upon Councillor Anderson's euggestion it was agreed to add that this council donates the sum of £25 to the fund. It was further decided to inform the Government that the council considers the time has arrived when the Patriotic Fund should be closed, and all efforts diverted to the New Belgian Fund.

An invitation to the Mayor and connoillors and their wives -to attend a "social" in aid of a bed for the Tren,tham Hospital vraa accepted. The Petone Technical _ School Board intimated that the allocating of its.Seats would not take place until May or June, owing to an alteration in the regulations governing technical schools. The Wellington Rugby Union inquired if the council wis prepared to negotiate for the use of the Recreation Ground for the coming football season, and it was resolved to reply stating that applications for the ground are to be invited, the Mayor' intimating that five good grounds were available this year. Mr. D. J. Cameron's offer was accepted for a sov<en-years' lease of a piece of ground at Koro-Koro at a rental of £25 per annum. ' It was resolved that the Petone Borough Council approach the Wellington City Council for particulars regarding the Wellington Municipal Fish Market, with the object of establishing a fish market in Petone, and that . the Hawke's Bay. Pishing Company be written to regarding the supply of fish. Councillor Anderson moved, persuant to notico: "That subject to reasonable 1 •accommodation being available for 6ports bodies, and the Trotting Club, trie council's representatives on the Hutt Park Committee be instructed to support the application of the Hutt Valley Trotting Club (at present before the committee, for the use of the park for trotting purposes." The mover stated that the club bad offered £100 per year for a lease of the park, and the trotting officials had authorised him to state thaji in order to meet the question of sports. grounds they were willing to erect a movable fence in front of the grandstand. Tiw training track would be laid down to suit the committee. As to the term of the suggested lease (15 years) they would be trilling to take th? park for. seven years if preferred. They would put the buildings in order, spending up to £1500, £500 of which would be spent immediately. Councillor Townsend (a member, of the Park Committee) stated that at the last conference of the club and committee they had been informed that a movable fence would not meet the regulations of the Trotting Association, and the club had been emphatic on the point. Personally,- his. only objection to the club was on the ground of Clause 9, and if this motion wore canied, and it ruled Clause 9 out, ho would be compelled to resigu from the oemmittee. ■

Councillor Brocklebank (another member of tho committee) thought,-in view of the fact that the 1 club would not meet the committee at the last conference on a single point they should have come to the committee'fvHth their amended offer, and not try' to get it through in this manner. The Mayor stated that in-his opinion this motion could have no'- bearing on Clause 9, as the council's delegates had been instructed how to vote 'in that respect. He advised that the'matter be left to the Parle Committee, ae' it" was well known that the supporters of Clause 9 were in a minority: As Councillor Townsend had asked for a ruling, he would give it, tbat the motion before them did not rescind the motion-pre-viously carried that the Petone dolegates to tho Park Committee should support no proposal that allows alcoholic liquor to be 6old on the ground. In replying, Councillor Anderson stated that Clause 9 should go to tho Licensing Committee. and Teferrod to the revenue that the pirk would receive if it granted a lease to the club. Upon being put tho motion was carried.'