Levin Borough Council

Levin Daily Chronicle, 17 July 1917, Page 3

Levin Borough Council

The ordisary foniiglitlv mooting of Levin Borough Council was held last night, Mr €. Blcukhorn (mayor) in the chair.. There also were present Councillors D. W. Matheson, E. S. Lancaster, T. Broome, iR. Bryson, W. Ryder, K. Ait.ken, W. Bull and D. S. Mackenzie. DEARER COAL. The Westport Coal Company notified a rise of 3s Cd per ton in the cost of doal. Tho Tmvn Clerk reported that the latest rise (the tlllrd wjithiin three months) brought the price of coal to just donli'e what the coal cost when tho gasworks were first established— somo eight years ago. The Mayor moved that the letter of the coal company he referred to the gaswo: ks cmimittce for discussion and a report.: probably an increase in tho price of gas would he imperative. Councillor Matheson, in seconding the mayor's proposition, mentioned that the last rise in the c«st of coal meant, an extra expense of £100 per annum to the gasworks. Councillor Aitken thought it might be well to see if the citizens could bo induced to economise in the use of gas during the next few months. The Mayor's motion was agreed to on tho voices. WATER. POWER-.

Mr. M. _ ,Spiff] offered the council from £-10 to (_'•">() per annum for n seven to eight horse water power supply for liis picture theatre, for fifteen hours pro - week. On tlio motion of Councillor Lianeiister, Lho application was referred to the* waterworks committe-e (Councillor Broome seconding) for consideration and a report. HOROWHENITA LAKE. Lot i n Lake Domain r'Board wrote as'king the council to vary, its offer of si subsidy of £1 for £2; and, instead, to make a .straight out donation of £50 to he used in improvement work at the lake. Or. Aitken gave notice of motion that the matter he re-opened for further consideration at next meeting of / tho council, and that the resolution now standing on the council's records he rescinded. HEEE GASWORKS. The gasworks manager reported on matters general. Tho consumption of gas during last month was equal to tho average quantity used during June months., The .gasometer was being used to its full capacity: about 20,000 ft of gas was being burned per day of 24 hours. Tho supply of coke was biat'efy equal to the demand. There were now 350 consumers of gas ■in the borough, and 1'53 gas stoves ■were being used.

FOODSTIIFFS. The council's special committee reported that on Saturday evening last it had confercd with representatives of Horowhenun County Council, and It h«id been resolved to recommend Levin Borough Council that a public meeting be called to consider the matter, and that if possible some outsire public speakers be got -to addresis the meeting. The 'Mayor said he thought that what was required now was the encouragement of local effort; the.v were noi at present concerned with the national issue. He thought it would he of practical assistance if the council borough settlers (say by ploughing) who yere proared to grow say a quarter of an acre each on their small sectoins. He did not think it was the council province to give advice to farmers,' who naturailly. iknjew jbhetr wn business best, bht ho did think the council could go a little way towards helping people who wished toi help themselves, but who had not the time tol spare. As to l cailling ;a public meeting , he would do so fi a requisition came, along, but would not do so -on his own initiative.

Councillor Bull said that he eoulH not agree with the mayor that this was not n national matter. The mayor: T't "is" o national matter, but not «ne with which ting council is concerned as a council. Cntinuing, Councillor 'Bull said that tlio committee thought it would be well to approach the farmers and see what they thought could be done. Tlio committee had discussed the matter very fully. Councillor Aitken said that a suggestion made at the convmittece's meeting was that some public men bo put on the committee to help in "keeping: the ball rolling." ' As to ttlie national -question, Cuncilli- Aitken said that if a lot of local prop!e grew foodstuffs there would be more to be sent to the genera} markets which would thus help the national interesto. The mayor asked Councillor* .Ryder (as a practical man') if he thought whether it would bo helpful if ploughing were undertaken for people who had 1 small lot* f grund which they were prepared .to cultivate. Councillor' 'Ryder rrjnliitd that there were a lot of things to considl-

er. The're was good land and l stony land in the township; there were twnsmen who would look after tho crops well and townsmsn who wouldn't. Besides, with the calling up of the Second "Division, so near in point of I time, where would settlers find them's elves ? For himself, he had been getting hk own land back into grass! However, ho was in favor of calling a public meeting; no doubt the move* ment then would fizzle out! Councillor Lancaster said the council's committee had gone t a lot of trouble in this matter and had bruoght down a good report; therefre lie thought the public should be given a chance to discuss tho matter. Councillor Mackenzie wantad: to know what was the intention about the fodstuffs; was it t be grown for looal coirsumption or for export. People liviT, lie snid, were not in the hard position of folk on the other reid'e of the world. He thought it should be ninds' known to those ready to assist in tho movement that certain lands were likely to he available. Along the railway lino there was good l land that might be obtainable. But he would like to have it made clear for I what object the food was to be grown. Councillor Aitken »aid the committee had considered details; its effort I Iliad been directed to setting the ball rolling. Ho moved the adoption of the report. In seconding the motion, Councillor Matheson said 1 the commiteee, in making its reemmendation was putting tho matter before the people; it was a matter for the people to decide. Tho mayor said tliat after having Listened to the discusion lie could see more clearly the other side of the question. iStill, he would like to see the council do something in the way of helping the public to exert itself oit its own behalf. The comittee's report .was adopted, on the votes of seven of the oightcuncillor» present.