BOROUGH COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 245, 13 September 1940, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL

DRAIN ON FINANCES. The Feilding Borough Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr T. L. Seddon) presiding. Also present were Crs A. C. McCorkindale, A. C. Buist, P. B. Desmond, V. E. Smith, T. Burnc, C. B. McClure, P. G. Guy and H. J. Dewe.

Cr McCorkindale was appointed representative for the electoral committee on the Feilding Agricultural High ■ School Board of Managers. Correspondence was received from I the Feilding Chamber of Commerce on the subject of beautifying the section at the corner of Fergusson Street and Stafford Street. Cr McCorkindale said that, as a memlier of the chamber he had told tile last meeting of the chamber that ho did not think the council would undertake to beautify the property. which was owned privately. Cr Smith said that 'he had received authority from the owner of the section to give perriiission for the section to be lma 11 tifiod, blit he had not expected that the council would be asked to undertake the work. Cr Guy suggested that the council could possibly assist if other organisations did their share. The Mayor pointed out that the finances did not permit of placing additional burdens on the ratepayers. On the motion of Cr McCorkindale the letter was received.

A motion of thanks was passed to Mrs Pike, who has resigned from the position of caretaker of the ladies’ rest room. It was stated that she had rendered faithful service over a period of vears.

The Mayor referred to the Emergency Regulations and the wage increase of 5 per cent. He said that the increase governing all award wages had upset the council’s budget. Mr Tate (town clerk) 'had examined the position so far as it affected the employees, and had informed the Mayor that on the total wages bill of £7821 the sum of £6323 was covered by award wages. The latter amount also included £451 paid to employees receiving above the award rates. If the increase were paid to all employees the amount which the council would pay additionally would be £390 per annum. On the other hand, should the council confine the increase to the award wage earners the additional cost would be £315; while should it decide to exclude those persons above the award rates the council would pay £243 more i tiffin it did at present. To pay the | 5 per cent, to all employees working under award rates until March 31, 11941, would cost the council £l5O I extra. The finance committee had i considered the matter and had deferred : action pending information being received regarding the position of employees not covered by awards. It was! resolved that the recommendation of the finance committee be approved. Commenting on the hank overdraft, which at present stands at £5787 as compared with £2846 at the same date last year, the Mayor said that the position had been ■'brought about by the rate demands having been sent out later than usual owing to the revaluations and subsequent objections lodged concerning these. The office staff had been fully engaged in preparing the rate demands and had now completed the work, and it was hoped that the ratepayers would pay their rates early in order to assist the council in. reducI ing the overdraft, which had mounted | unavoidably.

It was decided that an alteration be made in the shelving of the library I j and that the library committee assist in the classification of books. The matjter of adjustment of subscriptions was i left to the librarian. It was stated that the librarian would have the assistance of senior girls from the high school in the work of effecting the change to the Country Library Service, Crs Dewe, Burne and Gtiy were ap- ■ pointed as a sub committee to deal with the drive for non-ferrous medals j for war purposes and to arrange for ■ dumps to lie established in the borough, j TROUBLESOME PUMP. j Regarding a recommendation by the 'water committee that the council givo favourable' consideration to the installation of a suitable sewerage pump in Gitseu Road to overcome the disturbance caused by the existing pump, Cr. Smith said that the present system had been a source of trouble over a very lengthy period, and apart from the disturbance caused by the functioning of the pump there was the health of the residents to be considered, Cr. Guy said that the expenditure on a new pump should take precedence over less important expenditure. Numerous complaints had been made to him. The Mayor said that he was afraid that the residents would have to put up with the nuisance for another six months, as the finances of the council did not provido for such unforeseen expenditure. Cr. Smith thought an effort should be made to meet the situation which threatened the health of the people and was a menace to .the borough, in reply to Cr. McCorkindale, the engineer (Mr Hay) said that there was I no other way out of the trouble except