OTAKI’S REQUIREMENTS.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 12 July 1920, Page 4

OTAKI’S REQUIREMENTS.

CONFERENCE WITH MEMBER EOR THE DISTRICT. • On Saturday last Mr AV. H. Field, member for the district, met members of the Town Board at the Board’s ofticc, Otaki, to discuss various matters relating-to local body affairs, and for the welfare of the district generally. Mr J. P. Brandon occupied tne chair, and the only other commissioners present were Messrs It. M. D’Ath, P. Rikibana, and AV. Noble. Air Nicolsomscnt an apology for absence. Morning Mails. Air Brandon first mentioned the pre- \ ions request of the Board, through Mr Field, for the morning mail to close a little later, to enable parcels to be taken. The correspondence received 1 from the Government (published else—where) wus read, and Air Brandon said they would like Mr Field to urge that parcels lie accepted at the post oliice between S.-lii and 9 p.m. without payment of the extra fee of (id now charged. Com. Noble pointed out that many growers of violets sent, small package.away by the morning mail, and it was a I hardship to have to pay the extra (id on every parcel. Mr'Field promised to make further ' representations on the matter. Auckland - Wellington Express Trains. j , Air Brandon next asked Air Field to , use his influence to have one of the up j and down Auckland-Wellington expres. j trains stoji at Otaki daily. Very great inconvenience was caused by tire non • stoppage of the trains. Intending pus | j gangers for north had to wait for hour--1 i at Palmerston North, and also thos who were coining south. Fiji- ladies i children and invalids in particular ih rrn ngenie : s wen- ' '*rv i Menu Venice • i Mr Brandon uiso [lointed out that tin mid-day slow train to Pitlmei'.ton was lot provided with conveniences, and vns not lit for passengers to travel by. 'j Seeing that an Auckland mail train j lopped daily at Levin, lie thought it 1 only fair the same should Tie done at Otaki, which would serve ns a centre for the neighbouring district. Others supported Air Brandon’s con . ientions. | Air Field said it was a difficult mat j I (or to persuade the railway authorities j to move in these matters, but it would, I !>e a very great convenience if the stops were made as suggested, and he I certainly thought the trains should stop. He would do his best in the mutter. Railway Crane. The urgent need of a crane at the ! local railway station was again brought ! before Air Field, who said the Department had promised long ago to send the very first crane available to Otaki. He : would worry the Department again, j Gorsc on Government Lands. J The Chairman pointed out that gorsc w as spreading from lands held by the I Government —the Sanatorium land for | i usl mice— -to the public roads, and the I Government should keep their pru- | perty clean. ! Com. Noble advised the Board to J ‘‘clean its own door-step before finding : fault with other people.” lie also ] pointed out tho injustice of private J people being compelled by law to clean the roads facing their properties, when j the gorsc on the roads was caused by j die dirty metal placed there by local bodies. The law required amendment, i Air Field agree! With Com. Noble. I am! said efforts had been made to I amcjd i He Act-in that connection, but ; 1. Vvithout result as yet. Seeing that a j nuisance was being caused by gorse ■ spreading from Government lands it I would be well to endeavour to have this remedied, and he would support 1 the Board. AA’ar Trophies. j Questioned re the Board’s request i. j for war trophies. Air Field suggested [j that the Board write him. stating what | I trophies they would like, and he “ thought he would have no diflifficulty r i in securing same--1 Workers’ Dwellings. • * Air Brandon said the Board wished j to secure a loan from the Government i • for erection of a worker ’s dwelling, for j j use of their roadman. ! i < Air Field'said there would be no difc- | culty in the matter. The application : should lie sent in right away. Grants for New AA’orks. I i The Chairman said that, seeing that Otaki had no endowments —Levin borough was in receipt of about £3OO I per annum revenue from endowments, and other boroughs bad revenue from . such sources —did Air Field think Otaki j could get any assistance from the Gov- . eminent for new works, such as the formation of new streets required, etc. After discussing the nature of proposed new works, ATr Field'said he would make representations on the matter. Should Defaulting Ratepayers Vote? The Chairman said the Otaki Ratepayers’ Association had requested him to ask Air Field to use his influence t* have the kite amended so as to deprive defaulting ratepayers of their votes on loan proposals. Com. Rikihana said this matter had been before the Board, and that body had opposed the proposal. He objected to the matter being placed before Air Field. Mr Brandon admitted the Board had opposed it. 4 hut he brought the matter before their member, at the request of the Ratepayers’ Association. Air Field said it certainly seemed unfair that a man who d:u not pay his rates should exercise his vote, especially when County Councils did not allow this. Electric Light Loan. Questioned, re the possibility of securing the money tor the Otaki electric lighting proposal. Air Field said he had bees/ in touch with' the Government. and was airnid there was no hope for the present of getting the mosey from the Statie Advances otrice.

However, it could, he believed, be * secured from the Insurance Department or the Public Trustee at 51 per I cent. If the Board was prepared to I pay that interest he thought he could j get the money. After discussing the matter of the . probable increased cost of the scheme, : Mr Field said he thought another poll would be necessary to secure an in- t creased amount for the work. Mr Brandon asked if it would be posable to secure the services of a Government engineer to advise the Board ‘ .is to the best steps to take in this mat- l ter. They had secured advice and esti- ; mates from three private engineers, ’ and did not know what to do. Com. D’Ath thought this would be a good thing if possible. 1 Mr Field sand there was no harm in ! lying, and he would do ids best. Loans for Improvements. Replying to questions, Air Field said ; here would lie ifu difficulty, he thought, i in securing a loan for footpath and -treet improvements, up to certain iimits, from the State Advances Office, at 41 per cent. Of course, it would be necessary to take a poll for any such j loans. Personally he thought it better j to leave any such proposals over until | they had settled the proposed formation of a borough. i Air Brandon said they wished to - know whether the money would be j available before they entertained any | proposals for loans.'" They did not want to have a reptition of the experiences they hud over the electric lighting loan. Town District Plan. jThe Chairman said llie Board had agreed to give the assistance asked for iiv- the Government in preparing tho plan of the town, and Mr Field said I lie matter would be put in hand at • nice. Rates on Meeting-houses. Com. li’.Uiliuna asked if there was my possibility of Alaori meetinghouses being exempted from rates. The j Mi aki Alaori meeting-house belonged to no one in particular-—the Natives as a whole —and was not used for pecuniary gain, lie thought it should not bo subject to rates. After discussion the matter was left over until discussed by the Board. Further Conferences. In proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Air Field for his attendance and assistance, the Chairman asked if Mr Field could meet the Board monthly. it would be of much help to them. Air Field said he would be pleased to / meet the Board monthly if necessary, though it would Vie a tax on his time, lie said he would like to see Otaki push ahead.