Levin Borough Council

Levin Daily Chronicle, 20 March 1917, Page 2

Levin Borough Council

ORDINARY F ORTNIGiiTLY MEETING. Ltcin Borough Council's ordinary l'oitnightly meetng was helcl last night, ilr C. Blenkliorn (Mayor) in the chair. There also were present Coun. cillois M. Fosella, E. M. Herriok, J. Harvey, S. Jones, J. Robertson, A. Dempsey, and H. B. France. SCHOOL COMMITTEE DEPUTATION. Messrs A. Sims and D. S. Mackenzie (representing Levin School Committee) waited on the council to ask that the council's charge for supply of high pressure water to Levin public school he reduced. Mv Sims said the committee did not expect to get the water for nothing, .hut the committee and the Education Board considered that £10 was too much; owing to the present high cost of stationery, the committee was shorter of funds than u.-;usl. The committee only "got £108 p:u' annum to expend, and 60 of that went 'in caretaker's wages. The chorge of £10 per annum seemed' to be 'based on an estimate of 1400 or 1500 'gallons per week, against the 500 gallons or so that really represented the water used; a record taken lately had proved that. He would submit the figures for the council's inspection and guidance. In conclusion, he wished to say that the new sanitary system had been installed to help in preservation of the children's health, and the deputation wished to have the support of the council. '

The mayor intimated that tlie council would consider the deputation's re-' nest, but he wished to say that the decision to charge £10 per annum was unanimously agreed upon by the council. It was based upon careful investigation of water-use charges, and really was low. He recognised that there was a. general complaint about school committees not being given sufficent support, hut he did not think that the way to get this remedied was by getting .reducion of charges. Mr Sims expressed a desire that as an alternative the council authorize the putting-in of a water-meter. Mr D. S. Mackenzie said that in "Wellington, -where the |wate!r was scarce, charges were low; in iLevin, where water ran to waste, the charges were high. The mayor commented that this was in part accounted for by the fact that in Wellington the children practically were all belonging to the city. At Levin school many of the pupils came from outside the borough. As to the general charge the fact that the school committee was lightly rated could be seen -when it was rememberd that Levin Post Office : paid £7 per annum, Woraroa Post Office about half that amount and the police cottage at Weraroa £3 per annum.

,In the course of discussion amongst councillors, it was stated that not more than 50 per cent of the children attending the school were ratepayers' children.-

Councillor France said that the'committee might as well beg for books or slate penoils. The sound business way was to raise all the necessary money by taxation; let the school committee throw the responsibility on the Education Board.

Councillor D'empsey said that the deputation had not put all the facts; it had said the borough council was over-estimating the quantity used, but the deputation had taken into account when making the estimates the water supplied to the headmaster's house.

Councillor Hei'rick said he was in favor of reducing the amount charged to the school; that night the council had resolved not to charge rates on a church property, and it should be equally generous towards the school; a school wias more important than a

church. Councillor Robertson said the committee's deputation seemed to have made some case for tlie use of a meter. The mayor moved 'and Councillor France seconded that the council s charge of £10 per annum he adhered to. This was earned, Councillor. Derrick dissenting. TENDERS FOR GRAVEL CRUSHING. For crushing metal two tenderers submitted pricey James Andrews tendered at 5s Gd per yard, "finding everything" ; Winter and Close 3s 9d per yard, "finding everything" ; or at , 3s 4d if the council found the engine, driver, oil, etc. The council resolved that the lowest tenderer's offer be accepted at 3s 4d.