HUTT VALLEY AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 181, 27 April 1920, Page 8

HUTT VALLEY AFFAIRS

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Mayor (Mr. J. W; MTSwan) presided over the fortnightly meeting of the Petone Borough Council held at the council chambers Inst night. The Petone League Football Club ivrote accepting the use of No. 2 .ground on tho Recreation Ground for the ensuing year.

Advice was received from A. and T. Burt that the trouble in obtaining supplies of flushing cisterns was due to tlie shorfcnge of material, which they hoped to overcome shortly. The Public Health Inspector notified one case of scarlet fever and four cases ofinfluenza.

The Cliief Health Officer advised that it was proposed to introduce extensive alteration in the jjublic healt'h legislation, and asked if the cpuncil could forward any suggestion as. regards Amendments. One mattef requiring consideration was whether it would not he advisable to remove from the Municipal Corporations Act all sections with sanitary matters and embodying them solely, in. the Public Health. Act. ft hod also been suggested in regard to the prevention of infectious disease that the power at present in the hands of the hospital boards should bo retransferred to tho local bodies.

Councillor Bedingfield moved, "That the powers of t'he local bodies in respect of sanitary matters be not taken away." Ho thought it would be better to increase tho power of local bodies rather than diminish them. This was seconded by Councillor Brockelbank and carried. .

' The president of tho Board of Trade wrote stating that the council's suggestion as to tho distribution'of coal in quantities iwt exceeding lewt. had been considered, and it appeared that a limitation'to tho small quantity mentioned would have the effect of increasing the price of coal to the public as additional expense would be incurred by dealers in connection with delivery, etc. With reference to the suggestion that dealers should be compelled to carry a set of scales on their carts, this could not be given effect to without special legislation -and (i 3 the law provided adequate machinery for checking weights and measures it was not considered that more legislation in this respect was required. On the motion of the Mayor it was decided to write to tho board stating that tho council was not convinced by the president's reply, and to again ask that tho dealers be not allowed to sell .more than one cwt., and that tho prices be fixed. Several councillors said #hcy knew ot cases where people lad had no coal for months, and Councillor Bedingfield spoke of children having been kept from school to gather wood, A reply was received from the Ministor of Railways to the council's letter relative to the stopping l of th« Welling. ton-Masterton afternoon train at Potone advising that where long-distance trains wero concerned _ t'he. convenience, of the passengers making long journeys must be considered, and in view of the strong representations made from those who travel regularly between Wellington and stations beyond. ICaitoke, regarding* a'cduction of stopping places, it was,regretted that no additional stops could bo authorised in the suburban area, and •pointed out that it is not necessary for the Petone residents to walk 'to Lower Hufct to join the train, as suburban services arc provided which would. take them to Lower Ilutt, where trains wero changed.''

It ivas decided to return tlio letter pre'viously sent to the Minister and to call his attention to the fact that Petone, being tlie Largest town on tlio line, had a better claim to have the train stopped to pick up passengers t'han. stations Jike Mclliiisr and other (lag stations whore a halt was now made.