HUTT BOROUGH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2752, 22 April 1916, Page 12

HUTT BOROUGH

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL,

The fortnightly meeting of the Hutt Borough Counsil was held on Thursday evening, when there were present the Mayor (Afr. H. Baldwin) and Councillors Hodgins, Meldrum, Carver, Brassel, M'Dougall, Heron, and Ball. , In respect to a communication from the ffccreitarj- of the Gonjsnal Labourers' Union asking the council to favourably consider the Arbitration Court's suggestions that employers generally might coneider whether workers in their employ should not bo granted a war bonus equal to 10' per cent., a discussion followed. The Maror was of tho opinion that th« matter should bo held over until the estimates were being framed, , and councillors generally adopted this vietr. Councillors M'Dougall a.nd BaJl, however, contended that in view if the inoreosed cost o? living, the matter should be settled at once. An amendment to this effect moved by Councillor M'Dougall was eventually defeated, and the council decided to consider the matter when the estimates .were being, framed. The Taieri County Council asked for support to a resolution to the effect that the Government bo petitioned to limit the power of municipal councils to erect 101 l gates and talc© tolls on bridges, under the provisions of Sections 198 to 205 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908. It was resolved to reply stating that tho council could not support the resolution.

.The Public Trustee asked the council to remit a 10 per cent, penalty on overdue rates in the estate of T. H. Hamer; but the council decided that the request could not lie granted.

Tho iitayor intimated that it was intended to erect an honour board at the offices, displaying the names of tho local men who had served the Empire. Ho asked tho assistance of the council in this connection, in order to complete the list, which already showed 132 names.

Councillor Meldrum stated that he had been informed , that five or six cases of liphtheria had occurred at Park Avenue, and had not been reported. Councillors Brassel and M'Dougall spoke of cases whero a similar outbreak had occurred. The Mayor pointed out in respect to Councillor Meldrum's statement that he had not heard of the matter, but'it probably occurred outside tho borough, as a portion of Park Avenue was in the Hutt County. Mr, Baldwin added that if tho councillors would furnish names the ne. wasary steps would bo taken, and added that no case of infantile paralysis had yet occurred at , Lower Hutt, although one was from the Epuni Setffement.

The engineer's report stated -that tho expenditure for the fortnight ending April 15 was ns follows District Fund Acoount, d£ls2 ss. 6d.; Gas Account, Is.; total, iEI6I 9s. Gd.

In respect to the utilisation of the steel pipes procured for gas extensions, it wad found that the pipes were unsuitable for tins work. ilio same length of costiron pipes would cost ;CB9 18s., and a similar length of steel water pipes would now cost i£B3 10s. This had been ro. ported to the Mayor, and as prompt action was necessary, it was decided to order the steel pipes, which had now come to hand. To comrilete the layinq of the mater mains in Marsden and Hume Streets would require about 1300 ft. of pipes, and the laying of these would cost about ,£IBG. It was decided to hold this last clause over until the estimates were being framed.