CIVIC ACTIVITIES

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 11

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

COMMITTEE REPORTS Following are the principal items in the reports of the various committees to come before the meeting of the City Council on Monday night:— Employees On Active Service. ! The Finance Committee reports that the question of assistance to those employees of the council enlisting for service in connection with the war has been considered, and the committee recommends that leave of absence be granted to all employees accepted for service by the Defence Department, provided that this recommendation shall not apply to those employees engaged through thb Department of Labour on a subsidy basis. The matter of granting financial allowances to such employees accepted for service is at present under consideration, and a further report on this aspect of the matter will lie submitted at an early date. In the case of employees engaged to replace those referred to above, it is further recommended that such employees be engaged on a temporary basis only.

Transport Takings. The transport manager’s statement on the traffic receipts for the fortnightly period ended September 9 discloses an increase in revenue of £632 compared with the corresponding period last year, while the Kaikorai revenue shows an increase of £ll over that taken by the company last year. The introduction of the petrol rationing was responsible for a good deal of extra traffic during the period, estimated at £IOO. The position from April 1 to September 9 (23 weeks), compared with the same period last year, shows a total increase of £79, or .09 per cent. The revenue and expenditure statement for the 20 weeks ended August 16 shows a loss of £1,887. This figure was £3,341 last year, thus showing an improvement of £1.454. which should continue as the result of economies effected and the increased revenue earned through the alteration in the price of concession tickets. Relief Works.

The Reserves Committee reports that authority has been granted for application to be made to the employment division of the Department of Labour for the serviea of additional men to be employed by the council under Scheme 13 on a full wages subsidy basis for the purpose of carrying out the undermentioned works:— 1. Extension of the Soldiers’ Plots at the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery.—This work is estimated to employ 30 men for a period of 12 weeks, and is being put in hand at the request of the Undersecretary. Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, The work will he supervised by the sexton of the cemetery, and the Internal Affairs Department will be responsible for the necessary cartage and top-dressing material required. 2, Tree Planting in the Vicinity of the Opoho Lawn Tennis Club’s Courts. —The work is estimated to find employment for four men for a period of one month. Supervision and any materials required ,will be supplied by the club.

Appointment to Staff. Applications were called for the position of assistant electrical engineer; in the drawing office, and 29 were received (reports the Electric Power and Lighting Committee). Mr S. R. Anstice has been appointed to the position at a, salary of £350 per annum, and will commence his duties on October 2.

Carbonising Results. The gas engineer’s report (states the Gas Committee) showing the carbonising results obtained at the city gasworks for August discloses that the gas output for this month amounted to 32,189,000 cubic feet, an increase of 8.8 per cent, as compared with the output for the same period last year. Coke sold amounted to 582 tons, and tar sold to 30,430 gallons.

Removal of Scrub. The Works Committee recommends that, in accordance with the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933, notice be served on the occupiers, or, where there are no occupiers, the owners of land abutting on portions of Helensburgh road and Wakari road to remove all obstructions to traffic as a result of gorse, broom, and other plants growing up to the middle lino of the street on the frontage to their respective properties.

Instructions to City Engineer. < The city engineer has been instructed to act in connection with the following matters:—

The installation of an additional street light at Forfar street and two street lights at Seaview Terrace. The widening of Carson street where laud has been dedicated for the purpose, the estimated cost of £3OO being chargeable to the loan account. Provision of a footway at Rotting street, at an c-U’rated cost of £ll4, which was provided for in the loan account.

The improvement of Riselaw road, between South road and the last house at the top of the hill, the council’s proportion of the cost of this work to be charged to the contingency vote. The city engineer has also been instructed to hold over the proposed footway formation at Brunei street, which was previously authorised and estimated to cost £173, as, in view of recent heavy expenditure, sufficient funds for this work are not available in the maintenance allocation.