LOWER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 5, 26 June 1930, Page 7

LOWER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council was held on Monday evening. Present:, Mayor (Sir Alex. Roberta), Councillors A. Grierson, J. Mitchell, D. S. Patrick, W. G. Moldrum, J. B. Bpyd. The Mayor referred in feeling terms to the death of Mr Tunley, whose death was sincerely mourned. He was an excellent citizen and his loss will be keenly felt. He moved that a message of eon-" dolence be forwarded to the relatives. The motion was carried in silence. The Lower Hutt Chamber of Commerce wrote suggesting that a public meeting *of subscribers to the telephone exchange be held. with a view of forwarding a joint protest to the Minister of the Department in the hope of receiving some alleviation from the present scale of charges. < The Mayor said they haoi been hoping that the new system would have been decided on before this. However nothing .had been done and he felt they should co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce. When the Council approached the Government some time ago'they were informed that tenders hadjbeen called, and now they learn that the matter is only to be considered. ' It was decided to give all assistance to the Chamber of Commerce in calling the meeting of subscribers. The City Solicitor forwarded a draft of the proposed Petone Railway Crossing ■ Ramp Bill, 1930, for approval. The BiU provided) for the erection of a ramp or overhead bridge, the Government to pay two-thirds andi the local bodies one- ; third. The local bodies to contribute being Petone, Lower Hutt, Eastbourne, Wei Ungton City Council, Upper Hutt Borough Council, Johnsonville Town Board, Hutt County Council and Makara County Council. The amount to be provided by each local authority is to be fixed by arrangement or failing that»by a Commissioner. The Mayor stated) that it.was the. opinion of this Council that £60,000 was too much to spend on the ramp. With proper lighting facilities there was no chance of an accident, only by those who would meet with an accident anywhere. It was for thet Council to decide whether they would take.on the expenditure. ; ■ '■ '-' '■ ">..■ • . ,* • . Cr. Campbell said there was every possibility of an* accident. Only .. last week the wheel came off a bus at the crossing, ana if a train had come along there wbnld have been a serious accident. He was in favour of a ramp as a protection for human life. He moved that Lower Hutt support the Bill. : . Or. Griersqn favoured a ramp and said it did not matter what the financial ! position, of the country was in. The danger was real and protection should bo j provided. He seconded the motion. j The motion was put and lost the | mover and seconder being the only-sup-porters. -....' j The Returned Soldiers' Association | wrote forwarding the sum of £100 from the Poppy Day Fund to be spent in giv- [ ing work to unemployed returned soldiers in Lower Hutt, provided) the Council subsidised the amount Dy 30/- in the pound. It was decided to consider the matter i when the estimates are being^considsrad. The Lower Hutt Chamber of. Commerce invited the Councillors tor toe present at an address to be given by Mr McGowan, President of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at Lower Hutt on July 7. . .: ■ ; ' ■ \. '■ The invitation was received with thanks.and as many of the Councillors as could make it convenient will attend. The Mayor stated that there were 46 married men out of work in the borough and the Council had drawn out a schedule of necessary works in the borough which would entail a, loan of £5000. ] This would carry, a Government subsidy of £2 for £1 raised and the rate of pay being 14/- a day. The Mayor stated that he hoped it would be the last time the Council was called upon to raise an unemployment loan as it was becoming too great a burden on the ratepayers. He hoped the Government wouldi bring down a scheme to provide for the unemployment.

It was decided to take steps to get the loan as soon as possible. Cr. Boyd said he would like something done to prevent the dazzling on th© buses; also to stop the shunting of buses on the crossing. The Mayor stated that Inspector Morrison had the matter in hand. In reply to Cr. Mel&rum the Engineer staged the Council had 24 houses. Fifteen would be required and the other 9 would be offered for sale.