BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2561, 29 March 1923, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING.

A special meeting of the Borough Council was held on Tuesday night to consider tenders for the erection of Municipal Chambers. Three tenders were received and the. Council went into committee to consider same.

Upon resuming in open Council, it was moved by the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Coley that Mr T. W. Hunt’s tender for the sum of £1,120 be accepted, the question of adjustment in connection with plastering exterior walls to be left in the hands of the committee and the architect to arrange with the contractor.

The motion was carried unanimously. When the above was under consideration, the Mayor read the fol lowing statement: — “Suggestions have been made by correspondents- in the local press that the Council is acting hastily in the erection of Municipal Chambers and not making provision either by way of loan or using part of the money in hand for the erection of a public library. I feel sure that this criticism emanates from a very small section of the community 7. As soon as practicable after the destruction of the old Council Chambers, the Councillors, before considering their own comfort took steps to establish a lending library with custodian at the Town Hall. In addition the Council intends to open a Reading-room for the benefit of the public. “In view of these facts I believe that a loan proposal to erect a library at the present time would be defeated by a large majority of the ratepayers. Owing to excessive building costs and the enormous amount of work entailed in the ex--pendituve of £30,000 on the Water and Drainage scheme the Council has deferred reconstruction until the present time. Owing to above circumstances, the Council has held all meetings at great inconvenience, in an old tin shed, half-stifled by heat in the summer, and half-frozen in the winter. And now these critics would deny the right of the sitting Council to perform a kind action in obtaining better conditions for the new Council. How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child, sharper still to have an ungrateful section of people in an enlightened community. The best legal advice obtainable constitutes the Council’s authority in proceeding with the work while on moral grounds the reasons above set forth Should be a sufficient answer to all unbiassed minds.” THE MAYORALTY. At Tuesday night’s Borough Council meeting Cr. Bryant asked the Mayor to give a definite decision as to whether he was going to contest the Mayoralty, at the forthcoming election.

In reply the Mayor said he had been 1 in office for six years and perhaps a change would be desirable. He said he would like to see a Councillor contest the seat, several of whom would fill the position very creditably.

Cr. Coley said the Mayor should see the water and drainage scheme through. Cr. Martin said there was not much “talent” in the field at present from whom there was nothing to fear. He did not see how they could possibly support a man who had been in the town five minutes. The Council had been a very responsible one and the Mayor had done a great deal more work than a lot of people imagined. Cr. Thompson endorsed the previous speakers’ remarks and the matter was dropped.