CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 22444, 15 September 1936, Page 6

CIVIC AFFAIRS

FORTNIGHTLY COUNCIL MEETING IMPROVEMENT OF AIR SERVICES A resolution, proposed by the Mayor, urging the Government to expedite the construction of an emergency landing ground for aeroplanes at Waikouaiti was adopted at last night’s meeting of the City Council. Present were the Mayor (the Ilev. E. T. Cox), Crs D. G. M'Millan, M.P., M. Silverstone. W. Begg, W. A- Scott, F. W. Mitchell, P. Neilson, M.P., W. W. Batchelor, and A. H. Allen. The Mayor said that the auxiliary landing ground was important in order that the air services should not be interrupted. With this emergency landing ground it would bo possible for planes to come on to Dunedin no matter how foggy or boisterous the weather. The emergency ground would provide employment for a great number of men from Dunedin. He thought they should ask the Government to expedite the work. The council would have to purchase the freehold of the site for the landing ground. A suitable site had been chosen on the sandhills, and if the price were considered too high the area of land would be taken over under the Public Works Act. Cr Shepherd, in supporting the motion, said he was surprised that the service was being allowed to carry on without an alternative landing ground. The Government surveyed the area, and the civil aviation authorities approved of the site for a landing ground. The motion was adopted unanimously. SUNDAY CONCERTS. The Hon. Secretary of the South Dunedin Unemployed Association applied for a permit to hold a Sunday concert in the Empire Theatre on September 27, the proceeds being in aid of the children’s Christmas treat. The Secretary of St. Francis Xavier’s Free School applied for a permit to hold a Sunday concert in the State Theatre on September 27, the proceeds being in aid of the school. On the motion of Or Silverstone, the applications were granted, the date of the St. Francis Xavier’s Free School concert being altered to October 4. AERO CLUB’S MEETING. An invitation from the Otago Aero Club to the town clerk and the members of the council to be present at the annual meeting on September 22 was accepted, Cr Shepherd stating that the Aero Club was doing good work on behalf of aviation, while the mayor urged as many councillors as possible to attend. TRAFFIC SAFETY MEASURES. In moving the adoption of the General Committee’s report, Cr Allen was granted permission to move the adoption of on additional clause which was inadvertently omitted from agenda paper. The clause dealt with the safety zone experiment between High and Rattray streets. The zone had proved so satisfactory that the committee now recommended that the zone be raised to a platform with adequate lighting facilities. Cr Allen wetft on to deal with the committee’s institution of new traffic regulations in the Octagon. Arrows had been marked on the road for the purpose of directing traffic in one direction between Stuart and Princes streets in order to relieve the congestion at the Kaikorai tram stop He hoped that motorists would adopt the practice which the council was trjing to institute. • n Referring to the safety zone, .Ci M'Millan said he thought he might be flowering a dead horse, but he helieved'that the council should endeavour to get access for traffic through the Arcade. Ho was also of the opinion that there was a tendency _by the council to “ pin-prick ” motorists, and that the new rules in the Octagon were unnecessary. Cr Shepherd: If we go on adding these circuits, motorists will not be able to drive in the city at all. Voices: Hear, hear. Cr Allen, in reply, said they were not “ pin-pricking ” motorists, because, in a conference with* the motorists’ body, the Octagon idea had been approved. Cr Scott: We are getting more like London every day. The Mayor: In every way with the exception of population. (Laughter.) The report was adopted.

WORK ON TRANSMISSION LINE. Cr M'Millan moved the E.P. and L. Committee’s report, Cr Begg stating that he had been waited on by an employee of the department, who said that he and his gang had received notice to quit work as from to-day It was thought that some other work might be found for them. There had also been a coniplaint that three or four of the gang had been shown favouritism in being kept on. Cr M'Millan replied that the council had decided to run a new transmission line from Halfway Bush to the substation on the reclaimed ground, and men were temporarily employed. Now that the work was finished the men had to go off. Because of the introduction of the 40-hour week, some had been retained as permanent men. and these had been chosen by the engineer. He thought that it would be agreed that this was the only procedure that could be adopted. CLYDE HILL SECTIONS. After Cr Silverstone moved the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report Cr Allen said he was pleased to see that a section at Clyde Hill had been sold. These sections had been lying idle for a long time and they represented a loss to the city, not only in interest, but in rates. He thought the committee should consider the advisability of reading and channelling the area and selling the land by auction to the highest, bidder. They knew the Government was bringing in a housing scheme, and they might be able to sell the land to it. Cr Silverstone said that Cr Allen’s reasoning meant that every vacant piece of land in the city was a loss to the council. To carry out Cr Allen’s suggestion would cost the council several thousand pounds, and he did not think such an expenditure would be justified. These sections had been lying idle for many years, and it was strange that the council had not tried to dispose of them before. Anybody could come along and buy a section and build. The council was quite pi spared to sell. DISCONTINUING SERVICES. Cr Batchelor said he understood that a consumer of power in the city had had life electricity cut off as a result of the non-payment of charges, and that the chairman of the Finance Committee had countermanded the order to that effect. Was that correct P Cr Silverstone said he had countermanded an order of the treasury, but the circumstances of a householder with y

a baby in the house to be attended to, having to depend on candles, seemed to him to justify such action. Cr Allen said that he did not think that the committee had been aware of what had been done, and for that reason it was not right for any councillor to countermand an order from any departmental head, and more particularly when it had not been at the instruction of the committee. If that sort of thing were permitted there would noon be no discipline or order at all in these matters. Some discussion then ensued on the subject of whether the practice complained of had been in vogue for a number of years, but no finality was reached on the point. The Finance Committee’s report was adopted. Cr Silverstone then moved that in future cases of householders being liable to a discontinuation of services through arrears of payment the matter should be referred to the committee concerned, and that the committee be empowered, if necessary, to refer the matter to the chairman. Committees in such cases, said Cr Silverstone, could deal with the matter more sympathetically than an executive officer was entitled to do. His main idea in moving the motion was to save councillors from being pestered by people whose services had been discontinued. Cr Allen said he agreed with the motion and would second it. His only objection had been to Cr Silverstone’s manner of dealing with the question. He thought now that the matter had been brought to a head the position would be improved. The motion was carried. INCREASED TRAMWAY COSTS. Cr Mitchell, moving the adoption of the Tramway Committee’s report, said he had drawn attention previously to the increased cost of tramway services, and had been told that there were other means of meeting increased charges than by raising fares. He would like to ask the mayor or Cr Silverstone what these were, as, although the revenue had increased by more than 5 per cent, in the past fortnight, he was satisfied that the increased revenue would not equal the added costs. Cr Silverstone said ho was not prepared to answer the question at the moment. The Mayor said it had been agreed to let the trams run on for September before making any changes, so that they could ascertain what would have to be found to equalise things. His own idea had been a reduction of concessions, but the question would have to be fully investigated. The report was adopted. OTHER REPORTS. The Tramways, Gas, Library, Water, and Reserve Committees’ reports were adopted without discussion. TENDERS. Tenders wore received for the sale and removal of a dwelling at ‘2B Kaikorai Valley road, and that of the Downie Dismantling Company for £7 10s was accepted. The tender of G. W. Herrick and Company for the supply of seats for tramway motor buses was accepted.