LEVIN BOROUGH COUNCIL

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 September 1916, Page 3

LEVIN BOROUGH COUNCIL

» '1 he'member;; of the Levin 'Borough Council met last levelling. In, the absence of the mayor on urgent business in Foilding, Councillor Fit.uicc" was chainiiiui. Other counoi'llors pi>scut were: Messrs .M. Fosella, E. M. 'Hotrick, J. Harvc tf. J ones, J. Robertson, and A. .Dempsoy. GAS ENGINEER'S REPORT. Tlio report stated that during last month matters connccted with the dcpiiirnieiiit, both in ninnufaetuiing and diitril.uLing, continued to fsliow a satisfactory petition. There was nothing special to note outside the* general routine t:f duties connected with the department. Several new connections were made nhd meters installed and two others in hand. During the last few weeks the demand for coke was exceedingly keen and' the stocks were getting very limited. Owing to the continuous wet andi dill weather last month .the output of gas showed an incrcßfio of 50,000 cuhit: feet in excess of the isame period of hist year. This was considered satisfactory. Tlio plant was in good order and giving good results. The work of pointing the gas holder will bo commenced in the near future. The report was adopted;. 1A BRA UV • I'OM.M ITTEE'S REPORT.

The library committee recommended that the library be closed oil each Avednesdny at 1 p.m. and not be until 10.30 •:*..!«. the following morning (Thursday) until further notice, and that 3lis« Haste, the assistant librarian, be given a rise of lis Bcl per month from 'September Ist, 1916, the same to continue during the period of the •war. Cmncillor Robertison, diairman of the committee said the closing of the library as suggested would give the assistant librarian a full half holiday. At present she had to come back in the evening—not a very rsatisfnetory lin!tholidny. The increase in salary proposed would liring her into line wit'i other employees of tlie council. /The chairman was quite in agreement that the assistant librarian should have full half-holiday, but was not ill favour of elcsiiig theSibrarv.

Councillor iHe-rrick asked wlnat was di'ine in other towns the size of Levin? If they did not keep open every night lie did not sec why we should do so. The town clerk, speaking as tlic librarian. said that on some evenings I there were no visitors to the library. The assistant's task" was a trying one, and he dkl not think it would oauso any inconvenience if tlic library 'was chsec l .' one night in the week. Councillor Foselh thought the library should be kept open every night. Sometimes few people went there, but at other times there were many people present. He was quite.in agreementwith the suggestion that the assistant librarian should a full half-holiday. Councillor Robertson : How would you arrange to keep it open. Councillor Fosella : Spend a. few more shillings and get someone for the evening tlic assistant would he ;nway. The chairman said it was a retrograde step. Councillor Dempscy thought closing on "Wednesday night could, be tried for I-1 few months. If it proved unsatisfactory the present bonis could he reverted to. Councillor Robertson did Hot think the townspeople would suffer \>y having ! the library closed one evening in the week. The report was adopted/.