KARORI BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 184, 24 April 1918, Page 6

KARORI BOROUGH AFFAIRS

MEETING OP THE COUNCIL. The Mayor (Mr. B, G. H. Bum) presided over the ordinary meeting of the Karori Borough Council. There were present:—Councillors W. Skegg, E. L. Tingey, B. T. Pell, J. Mackenzie, J. W. Henderson, T. W. Lewer, and W. G. Bradnock. The engineer's annual report dealt in detail with tho work done during the year. Miscellaneous works for ratepayers amounted to the nature of the works being chiefly concrete work, drainage, and excavation. The maintenance of Karori Park cost ■£391 as against JC355 the previous year. The increase was mainly due to the higher cost of horse feed and the rise in wages. Tho revenue totalled .£l2B as against ,J!18G, the decrease being duo mainly to smaller fees Teceiyed. The number of building permits issued during the year was 18, of which five were for dwellings, three for motor garages, one.for offices, one for a shed, three for fowlhouses, and five for alterations and additions. The engineer commented on the scarcity of labour, nnd the continual difficulty of obtaining men foy tho ordinary requirements of tho borough. Hβ thought'the shortage would be acute during the current year, and suggested that instead of trying to carry out a pi-o-grnmme of works, it would bo bettor to carry on such work as may be necessary from timo to time.

The statement oi" accounts of the borough presented by the Town Clerk showed that tho rates received were .82988 6s.'ld.; general receipts, £1156 17s. 3d.; tramway, JCISW 10s. 7d.; debit balance c£2OS Is. 9d.' ; Total, JSS97 las. 9d. The disbursements were:—Balance forward, JI2GD Is. 10d.; public works, £2800 11s. Id.; tramway,c£lß3-i 10s.Id.;.salaries, =£993 12s. fid. Total, ,£5897 15s. 9d. There was a credit balance in the tramway account of .£1761 10s. 10d.

Tho report and statement of accounts ■were adopted.

With respect to Anzac Way the council decided to close tho borough offices at noon, and to give the working staff a holiday from noon on full wages. " The Town Clerk, β-actihi Town Board, wrote in appreciation of the help and sympathy rendered by tho Karori Borough. Tho letter was received.

The New Zealand Educational Institute's circular with respect to improvements in education and the desirability of protecting the national system of education was received.

The .Mayor said ho was very strongly in favou." of the formal motion submitted by the institute, and if no one would move it, he would do so.

Councillor Henderson said that the motion contained contentious matter, nnd moved:—"That this council urges on .the (iovcrninwil to give its most careful and earnest: attention to the improvement of education to enable the people to successfully copo with after-the-war conditions." This was seconded by Councillor Skegg. Thefo was a heated discussion owing In, the introduction of references In the Bible-in-sfliod's, nnd » "breeze" was narrowly averted.

Tlie Mayor then moved as an amendment the motion submitted by the Educational Institute, which wns seconded by Councillor Mackenzie. The amendment was carried.