BATHING SHEDS FOR OTAKI.

Otaki Mail, 10 February 1922, Page 4

BATHING SHEDS FOR OTAKI.

AN ACCOUNT HELD UP. SOME STRAIGHT TALKING. At last night's meeting of the Otaki Borough Council an account of £1 3s was held up, this being on acicount of a recommendation frc-ni the Finance Committee relative to cost incurred on tho erection of bathing sheds. The Mayor asked tho Chairman of the Committee (Cr. Cockrell) the reason for refusing to i>ass the amount. Cr. Cockrell said in the first place nothing appeared on the estimates for the sheds, the Committee considered tho expense was not authorised, therefore the Council should not have to pay tho charges incurred. Further, the matter had never been before the Finance Committee as to whether tho Council could afford the expense. After consideration by the Committee it was agreed, he said, that tho Council was not in a position to stand the expense. The Mayor moved that tho account be passed for payment, stating tho expease had been authorised by him. Ho

considered if he, as Mayor, was not in a position to incur an expense of £1 3s the sooner ho vacated his office the better. He considered the matter a slur on the position ho held. The motion was seconded by Cr. byCr. Cockrell said it was not a question of 235, but the fact that the shed would cost the Council £35; if the matter had been brought before the Council there would have been no objection. He believed also that the Council would have to pay for the upkeep of the sheds, one of which would disappear at the first high tide. In his opinion the sheds would not bo a paying concern. The Mayor: I object to tho account being held up; it .is not the right way to bring the matter forward. Cr. Broadway said as one of the Works Committee he had been consulted on the matter,, while, as far as he knew, other members of the Committee had also been spoken to on tho matter by the. Mayor. 'The Mayor said he.had also consult-. ed the Clerk, and Crs. Taylor and Kilsby He considered the sheds a necessity especially in view of many complaints received about people dressing and undressing on the beach. Mr Byron Brown, a public-spirited man, had offered the sheds and he considered-it within Hs rights in accepting. Cr. Kilsby said the Mayor had spoken to him 'on tho matter and ho had -/riven his approval. The motion on being put was unanimously carried. The Mavor, in speaking further on the matte;, said many had been he complaints relative to dressing and undressing on the beach due to lack of conveniences, and Mr Brown had said so long as the Council paid interest on the capital cost for Ave years it could take over the sheds. He thought the suggestion an admirable one, and considered the proposition would prove a Wng one. A man bad been appoint- : ed to take charge, and there was no

reason why he should not look after the life-saving reel at the same time. Only a sh orl time ago a life had nearly been lost, and it -as for tta Council to protect People. Otak -as, he >m d qmcklv becoming a well-known rest re .ort.and the Council should help to make it prominent. He asked that Ins action be approved of. Or. Cockrell said he was Chairman or the Finance Committee and should have be en considered. He asked who was Ltaing the sheds, and stated that he ;; tler? tood Mr Brown had pven permission to-ckildren to make tree use of Mayo.said the sheds were- run bv tto Council. He maintained the erection thereof was not a matter for the Finance Committee; but a matter for the Works Committee. Or. Kilsby moved that the Mayor s action be endorsed. h Or. Cockrell' seconded, but helo. the matter should have been brought before the Council. - . ' The Mayor considered it wastry to turn down an expense of £1 3s. motion on being put was corned. The Mayor added that he had acted with the best of intentions, and held t- t if the Council was gong » *« -tape methods the town would not 2b. Already it hadl been kept k for flfty years by such methodj Or. Broadway suggested that .Mr Brown be approached relative to the erection of-a shed at the Kangrurund. The Chairman, while approving, doubt e a if a shed was available, but on suggestion the Clerk was instructed to ascertain prices for a building. The Mayor said next year it was hoped to have further conveniences on the beach.