BOROUGH COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2233, 1 February 1921, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

SPECIAL -MEETING

A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last night for the ' purpose of considering the new Government scheme of. sanitary inspection, and,general.. There were present: The Mayor (Mr .John Chrystall) and Crs Coley, Parkin, Bryant, Walker, Rand and son.

SANITARY IN SPECTION. The Mayor said that Dr. Parish, of the Public Health Department, visited Foxton last Wednesday, .and explained the new scheme of sanitary inspection to him. He said the Department would be willing to take over the sanitary inspection of the borough for the sum of £3O per annum, and the Borough could have Mr Higgins, who had been appointed fog the northern end of the district (Kiwitea, Oroua, Pohangina, etc.), or Mr O’Brien, who would work the southern end (Horowhenua, Levin, Oli,ki, etc.). The Mayor said that it was problematical if the existing arrangements for sanitary inspection made by the Council complied with the Act as the Borough Inspector (Mr McKnight) did not have the necessary certificate. Dr. 1* arisli stated that whilst the present inspector could carry out the work in normal times, he would not be suitable in the event of an epidemic. Dr. Parish also stated that it the borough preferred to allow the ordinary inspection to be carried out by their own officer, the Department would take over the infectious diseases portion 'for £ls per a ear. The Mayor said the question for the Council t'o consider if they accepted the Department’s offer was what to do with Mr Me Knight —what other duties they could give him to make up his time. Cr. Coley considered the Government Inspector,would have too large a district to give much attention any particular locality. He thought it would be advisable to keep Mr McKnight on as at present, and let him work in conjunction with Mr Huggins. The cost would only be increased by £3O per annum. The Mayor: We can’t have two inspectors! Cr. Walker agreed with Cr. Coley Guit Mr Huggins would not have very much time to devote to the inspection of the borough. The Town Clerk said that Mr McKnight’s duties were many and varied. Besides those of ranger, lamp lighter, inspector of nuisances and dog registrar, he kept an eye out generally for breaches o! the by-laws (riding bicycles on footpaths, stock grazing on roads, etc.), saw that no hawkers plied in the borough without a license, saw that no new buildings were erected without the necessary permit being obtained, looked out for unlicensed vehicles, and many others. It would, be necessary to have someone f<u ; (his work. t The Mayor said that Levin was a fairly up-to-date borough, and they had had no resident inspector for some years. lie thought the Council should agree to the Government scheme and let Mr McKnight workout the time usually occupied by the inspection at the gas works. The Gas Works Committee could meet and go into the matter.

C'r. Cole.v: Leave McKnight in his present position, and take on the Government scheme as well. The Mayor: If we get the Government man the Council will be relieved of responsibility. Cr. Pearson said the/Council could very well revise, Mr AfcKnight’s duties, and could perhaps employ him to better advantage than at present.

It was decided, on the motion of Crs. Bryant and Parkin, that the proposal by the Board of Health to undertake the sanitary inspection of the boi’ough, together with the control of infectious diseases, for the sum of £3O per annum,“be accepted, provided Mr Huggins be the inspector so appointed, and that the Inspect or of Nuisances be relieved of this portion of his duties; also that the whole question of schedule of duties for Mr McKnight be gone into by the Gas Works Committee, and a report furnished at the next monthly meeting of the Council. Crs. Coley and Rand voted against the motion.

COST OF LIVING BONUS. « 9 A letter was read from Air L. Glover, secretary of the Gasworkers’ Union, asking the Council to reconsider its previous decision in refusing to pay the gas works stoker the three shillings per week cost of living bonus, granted by the Arbitration Court. The Town Clerk staled that he had written the Secretary of Labour: to ascertain if the payment of the bonus was compulsory, and also asking if the road staff was entitled to the bonus.

The reply from the Labour Department was to the effect Unit as the gas works stoker was not working under an Arbitration Court Award the decision of the Court did not apply to him. The road staff, however, were working under the General Labourers’ Award, and were therefore entitled to the bonus. It was decided to take no further action re the gas stoker's wages, and to pay the road foreman and roadman the increase of 3s per week.