MANY MATTERS DISCUSSED.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 319, 19 December 1929, Page 4

MANY MATTERS DISCUSSED.

TOWN BOARD MEETING. The final meeting for the year of the Putaruru Town Board was held on Tuesday evening, there being present : Messrs. G. G. Griffiths (chairman), K. McDermott, W. Yandle, J. C. Tomalin, C. C. Neal and R. A. Bent. Mr. A. H. Dukeson, the clerk, was also in attendance.

Main Highways Board. The Main Highways Board wrote informing the Town Board that the question of the assumption of control over the main highways by the latter body would receive consideration.—Received. Building Permits.

At the November meeting the question as to whether Government departments are entitled to exemption from fees chargeable by local authorities in connection with' the issue of building permits was raised and referred to the Municipal Association’s counsel for an opinion. This was before the meeting and was to the effect that Government departments do not require to take out permits, pay fees or furnish plans and specifications. No comment followed the reading of the opinion. Roll of Honour. The Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association telegraphed asking the assistance of the board in collecting subscriptions and names of the fallen for the Roll of Honour. The chairman said the scheme was

a provincial one. The names of all the Auckland province men who had fallen were to be inscribed on the Roll of Honour. It was decided to send the names appearing on the Roll of Honour in the Town Hall on to the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Railway Leases.

Hampson, Bell and Lochhead wrote enclosing a copy of a letter from the New Zealand Railways district engineer relative to the leasing of railway property at Putaruru. The department stated that a section had been leased, the site being specially

selected so that any building erected thereon would not obscure the view of the level crossing. It was about two years since the board discussed the question of the area between the approach to the station and the engine shed. The Town Board had made no move to obtain a lease of this land

for beautifying purposes. The land leased Was not a portion of that area.

The chairman said it was not the fault of the board that the scheme had been held up.

A discussion then ensued as to where the parking area was to be, Mr. Tomalin being of the opinion that such was to be the whole way down Princes street.

Mr. Griffiths disagreed, stating that it was to be at the top end of Princes street. Mr. Tomalin said there would be a parking area along the street if he could get it.

Mr. McDermott contended that the question of a parking area could be fixed from time to time. Mr. Griffiths held that no town under the sun would have parking areas in the main street.

A suggestion to leave the portion in question unbeautified drew from Mr. Tomalin the opinion that it would look like cutting off their noses to spite their faces.

Sfr. Griffiths said that if they had a long garden along Princes street they would find it would draw business. Cars could always be left outside shops for certain periods. Mr. Tomalin said that provided cars could do so there would be no objection. Mr. Yandle complained of the unfairness of the Railway Department in upsetting the board’s plans. It was decided to strongly protest against the action of the Railway Department in leasing the sections, thus upsetting the board’s beautifying scheme. It was also decided to noint out that it was no fault of the board’s that the scheme had been held up.