Local Bodies’ Conference

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1922, Page 4

Local Bodies’ Conference

td#N Male, MbkrrriU.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25th

NOTICES OF MOTION

l,_“That realising the first importance of the matter to the town, the Conference supports the Hokitika Borough Council in efforts to secure the best results from the water supply, and to that end suggests a close investigation of the causes for the failure of tlie supply between the reservoir and the town.”

2.—“ That in view of the considerable influx of population and visitors whitfh will follow the opening of the through railway East and West, licensed victuallers and others interested be urged to provide as much accommodation as possibe for next season, and that in ; advance of the period, a committee be set up through the Borough Council to organise an accommodation bureau for the convenience of visitors.” 3. —“That the conference is of opinion measures should he taken to clear up and improve the ocean frontage, and that in advance of the period, a committee be set up through the Borough Council to organise an accommodation bureau for the convenience of visitors 3. —“That the Conference is of opinion measures should lie taken to clear up and improve the. ocean frontage and that plantations and seating accommodation (and if funds permit dressing room accommodation for bathers] be provided; and to assist in defraying the cost subscriptions be invited and the Borough Council asked to subsidise the amount up to £SO per annum; also that the expenditure be carried out by a joint committee of the Council and the Citizens Messrs S. J- Preston J, Brocklehurst and A. H. Keller to he asked to represent the latter. 4. —That the opinion be expressed that steps be taken to equip and open the municipal swimming baths for their legitimate purpose and that to take advantage of electric power for pumping purposes the Conference decide , how the cost of the pumping plant etc. estimated at £l5O may be provided and that a small committee be set up to organise the matter in conjunction with the Swimming Club.

5. “That it be a suggestion to the Borough Council to consider the advisability of raising a small loan at a low rate of interest for the purpose of carrying out necessary permanent improvements to the streets footpaths and drainage of the town and that those present at the Conference pledge themselves to actively support any scheme to this end put Ihefiore the ratepayers.

o.—“ That in view of the growing volume of tourist traffic to the district it be a suggestion to the Borough Council to set up a tourist information bureau at the Public Library and that a committee of Messrs Wood, King, and Bruce be suggested to direct the proposed bureau. 7. —“That having regard to the fact that aviation must develop© in the Dominion, and ultimately result in New Zealand and Australia being served by an inter-colonial service, a small committee be set up to confer with the hospital and other authorities on Sea View Hill as to a clearing' which could be used for a temporary landing at a spot very convenient to the town of Hokitika, Messrs Butler, Wild, McIntosh and Wilson to be nominated as the Comtnittee.”

8. “That the Conference greatly appreciate the work being undertaken by the Hokitika Beautifying Society, and urge that body to extend its operations to the fullost extent of its finance during the year so as to have the town in the best improved condition for next season’s traffic. 9. “That the recent utterances of scientists and others in regard to the mineral deposits of the Dominion are appreciated at this juncture as of special interest to Westland which is so highly mineralised, and that the Hon Minister of Mines’ attention be drawn to the remarks referred to, and the Government urged to formulate a progressive policy , which will assist to attract capital and lead to the scientific treatment of known low grade propositions, and that the Government also be urged to take practical action in regard to scientific prospecting and mineral research.”

10. “That the Conference set up a committee to go into the question of encouraging shipping to and from the port of Hokitika, including the promotion of an export timber trade from this port to the Nol'th Island and Australia ag in times past. 11-—-That the Conference protests to the limits of its power at the proposed Forests Act amendment whereby administration of sawmillers’ holdings are to be taken from the public courts and dealt with in the private office of the Department, without right of appeal for inequities which are sure to arise : and generally dissents from the restrictions placed upon the timber industry which is the principal field of employment and production in Westland, and which, if persisted in, will Hold back the progress of the district indefinitely by blocking enterprise, retarding development, and driving capital out of the district, thereby reducing very materially the great volume of timber traffic which under normal conditions would pass through the Otira tunnel giving to the railways increased and highly necessary revenue, and to the public a much cheaper timber supply than will now he possible under the regime of the expensive Forestry Department.

12.—That this Conference of local bodies resolves to meet say three times a year for the public discussion important district matters, and that the meetings be fixed to be held on the last Wednesday in January, May, and September of each year.

CiifiterUjitry EiHifcatidri Board. The Conterbury Education Board mel on Friday at Christchurch. Present:— Mr G. A. Armitage (chairman), Hor J. Grimmond, M.L.C, and Messrs H. J Bignell, J. G. Gow, J. Jamieson, W. A Banks, C. S. Thompson, E. H. Andrew! T. Hughes, W. P. Spencer and A Peverill. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. The Appointments’ Committee report ed that a letter had been receive! from the Department expressing a hop! that the board would accept Canadiaj teachers in exchange for Misses Morri son and Valentine. ’ The secretary ex plained to the Department that th hoard had willingly accepted Canadia teachers in exchange for the Canterbur teachers named. Letters had been H ceivedl from the Department in regar to teachers in receipt of salaries ove scale. The letteis pointed out that ui der the new Amendment) Act it \vt obligatory oh boards to effect transfei before throwing the vacant positioi open to competition by other teacher In regard to salaries of grade 0 teache: a letter Had been received from the I) jiartmerit pointing out that under tl Act at present £IOO was the limit up : which residents could be asked to su‘ sidise salary, hut expressing willirigne td make it, say £iso. It was deeidt to reply that in view of the presei cost of living the board could not secu: suitable teachers who would remain fi less than £l5O, and that a provision meet that would be wise. The report was adopted. BUILDING COMMITTEE. Cobden.—A letter was received fro the, Department pointing out that tl authoritv given was for five rooms o ly- ,

Dobson.—The Committeo’s application for a new tank was acceded to. Greymouth.— The Committee’s application for small repairs was referred to the Foreman for attention. Kanieri.—.A letter was received from the Department stating that the ma'ter of providing permanent buildings would be considered after the Minister’s visit in February. Stafford.—Authority was given for clearing the grounds at a cost of £2. The Foreman’s report for the month was received and adopted:— Arahura Road.—Repair of tank. Kumara.—Chairman and Chairman of Buildings Committee to interview Minister regarding emodelling of school. Architect in meantime to pre-

pare plans. The Appointments Committee reported that the Education Department had written stating that th 0 compulsory school age would not he extended td fifteen years during the present year. Appointments recommended included :—AThurv. Miss .T. Mansell, Assistant mistress: Waikukn. Miss A. M Crowlev. mistress (transferred). Resignations received and accepted included:—Dobson. Miss A. M. Crowley sole teacher: .Tack’s Mil l . Miss M. A. O’Donnell, sole teniffidfr; Run anon. Miss M. "Dugrrpu assistant mistress. Bell Hill The Senior Inspector recommended the establishment of an aided school if the residents were prepared to find a suitable buildin■•••.—Approved. Tt was agreed to sub-let the downstairs portion of the G.T.C. Building °t Greymouth (whirh is not now used by the Board) to Mr A. White in accordance with the terms mentioned in his letter.

The Truant Officer Mr White (Wed Coast) reported that on the whole the attendance had been good although a few small schools had been troubled with sickness among the pupils; 21 trua.ncy lists had been received and 13 ordinary and' fi final rotioes sent to parens. .As regards the final notices issued during the previous month, in four cases improvement had been., shown, i and in the remaining case, the child had been absent owing to sickness. The Department notified the continuance of or ant in the case of children attending the secondary departments rf District High Schools. T,otters were received from the Department in regard to teachers in receipt of salaries over scale. The letters point out that under the new Amendment Act it is obligatory on the part of .Boards to effect transfers before throwing the vacant positions open to competition by other teachers. SUPERVISOR’S REPORT. The wet season on the Coast has been all against a good year’s practical work in Agriculture, and most of the work , during the latter portion of the year I at least has had to be done inside. Mr Johnson has only been in charge a , short time but there is evidence that he I is getting into the work. All the . gardens I saw were in good! order, cre- | dit is due for the vast improvement that has been made in the ground giv- . en by the Grevmouth Borough Council . for a school garden. On the occasion of my last visit there was only a very ' rough section, in a. short time it should form quite a beauty spot. A letter was received from Mr R. McSporran, notifying that he had already resigned his position in the Ancle land district with the view of taking up work at Koiterangi. In view of the fact that the house at Koiterangi is not fit for occupation, and that no other accommdation is availably for a married man, it was agreed to offer Mr McSporran an appointment as master of the Tuahiwi School; and at a later stage it was further agreed to give Mr McSporran an alternative choice of Alford Forest. MR- JOHNSTON’S REPORT. I beg to submit my report on tho Agricultural work in the Westland schools for the month of December. The schools visited wci’e:—Wainihinihi, Kokatahi Lower, Kokatahi Upper, Koiterangi and Ba.rrytown, nil of which ar<. remote from railway centres. At Koiterangi which has suffered from the absence of a permanent teacher for some months, I found the work somewhat neglected. Th 0 relieving teacher in charge is in no way responsible for this, as he had only been there a short time, and proficiency work demanded the whole of his attention. At the other schools the work wa o quite satisfactory. The garden at Barrytdwn torn a model of neatness reflecting credit on both teacher and pupils. The work at the two District High schools has progressed very satisfactory

ily, both in the laboratory and in the, garden plots. The gardens at Hokitika; were looking exceedingly well when the schools closed.