LOWER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 10, 31 July 1930, Page 7

LOWER HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Lower'Hutt. Borough Council was held on Monday evening. Present: Mayor (Sir Alex- Roberts), Councillors A. Grierson, J. Mitchell, F. Campbell, D. S. Patrick, W. G. Meldrum, J. A. Boyd.

The Finance and Estates Committee reported that as requested by the Council yotir committee has considered the question of' handing the detailed) estimates for the current year to the Press* for publication and in'view of the fact that the estimates have been advertised, certainly in a condensed form, your .committee cannot recommend that any alteration be made to the practice "which, has existed hitherto, viz, non-publi-cation of the details. Or. Patrick thought all publicity should) be given .He did not see why the information was not given. _ The Mayor: It has been the custom to' publish a summary which has been done. There was nothing to hide. Cr. Patrick said the- Estimates were available in the city and it would give satisfaction- _to the Hutt ratepayers if the Estimates were published in full. He moved that the Estimates be available for publication. Cr. Meldrum seconded and asked the 'Mayor ,if any ratepayers hadi applied, to see the estimates and had been refused information. . Town Clerk: r'.JSTo.'' : , The motion was carried. Cr. Campbell moved that the Town Xlerk prepare a statement on outstand- ' ing rates, arrears of rents, and ordinary aceoimts outstanding.^ ■•'. Oi\ Mitchell seconded.' —Carried. PARKS AND BATHS COMMITTEE^ The committee presented) the fqllowing report:— -Motor Lawn Mowers.—Your Committee has to report having ordered 2 30in Dennis Lawn Mowers for the sum of £110 each. These machines were provided for^ in the Estimates for the current year. It is expected that delivery will be given about the end of August. Rent of Croquet Pavilion.—The WaimarieCroquet Club has written asking that the rent of the Croquet greens as arranged for the present season be reviewed. It will be remembered that the rent was'increased from £61 to £75. Your Committee has investigated the position and regrets that it cannot recommendi any reduction." It is found that the Ideal charges are not in excess of thos,e made by other Local Bodies for similar services; further, the sum' of ■ £273 has been expended by the Council in the provision of the present Pavilion. In addition to this the expenditure of £110 on a lawn mower is being incurred by reason of the fact that the Croquet ladies use the Park, the position being that the present mower, is capable of still further service for ordinary purposes. Painting Recreation Ground Pavilion. -^In reference to the* question ; of -the painting of the Pavilion* the Town Clerk reported that the Contractor had called) on him and asked to be allowed to proceed with the work forthwith instead of delaying it until the end of the football season. He stateci that he would under: take to give a thoroughly satisfactory job and he would be able to keep in employment men whose services would otherwise have to.-be dispensed with. After cbnferidrig.mth the Btiilding Inspector under whose supervision the; work would be done and whose" opinion co-in-cided with that of the: contractor that a satisfactory job could be done at this time of the year, .the work was. authorised to be put in iand. Your committee regards the above explanation as entire.ly satisfactqry and approves thft.-T.own Clerk's action in the matter. : ; WORKS, DRAINAGE AND 'HEALTH < ■ COMMITTEE . ■ The committee presented the following report:—. ■ _•/ .. Hall-Jones Estate Footpaths.—Your committee is pleased to be able to report ;that advice has been received from the Public Works /Department to the effect that the £350 which was withheld by it when this Estate was originally laid out has now been made available .for the purpose of constructing- the footpaths, and the Borough Engineer has been instructed to prepare a schedule to be covered "by the expenditure of this money. ' - In reply to Cr. Grierson the Engineer stated it would take £800 to complete

the job. It was proposed to (Jo half of the work this year. The report was adopted. Cr Patrick moved that a return be prepared showing the cost to the borough for oils and petrol for ths year ending, March 31, 1930. Cr. Campbell seconded. Carried!. Cr. Meldrum asked that a return be prepared showing the cost'of tKe safety zone at the bridge.—Agreed to.