PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 135, 21 January 1916, Page 2

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Some Straight Talk The usual monthly meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council was held on Wednesday evening, the membera present being the Mayor (Mr H G K Mason), Councillors * Hubbard, A B Barter, C Roadley, K Bilkey, J Beatty and J Patterion, and the town Clerk, Mr J F Deane WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY Prolonged consideration was given to the matter of deciding on the weekly halt-holiday, reported at leogtb elsewhere in this issue, and it was close upon y.30 p.m. before the ordinary agenda was entered upon THE RECRUITING PROBLEM A letter was received from the Greymouth Borough Council inviting the Council's support to a resolution they had passed calling on the Government to publish from the National Register the names and addresses of those who had refused to serve in any capacity io connection with the war, or failing that for statistics to be published showing the figures of such foi each city, borough and county The Mayor moved that the letter be "received," and expresse! astonishment that anyone shoulc desire the Government to depart trom their pledge ot secrecy. It necessary the course to pursui should be to take another census Cr Hubbard second:d, and tin resolution was carried AUCTIONEERS' LICENSES Auctioneering licenses were ap plied for by and issued to Messrs . T Stembridge and Co and Messrt Alfred Buckland and Sons "YE ANCIENTE WATER CARTE The matter of the purchase o the old type of water cart doinj duty in Pukekohe and also of i street-sweeper was responsible fo rather a heated controversy. Cr Roadley formally reported tba Cr Hubbard and be went to Auck land and having inspected tbi articles they secured an optim ove them. On their return to Puk kob they communicated with as roan] Councillors as were available, am witb their consent they effected tin purchases. Both articles had beei freely used in King atcet, and r-ac proved the wisdom of buying them Cr Hubbard claimed that since i watercart was only wanted for i few montbs in the year an ex pensive machine wts inadvisable, Similar water carts to the om bought were in use in Auckland, The Council wai not in a positior to pay £9O for a modern watei cart, when their requirements could be met tor £25 The Mayor stated that he had agreed to the purchase of the sweeper but not of the water cirt, as he had thought a larger cart would have been better. There was, however, a good deal ol hypocrisy in the criticism that had been 1-.veiled at the water cart, as one would suppose on bearing what had been said that Pukekohe was one of the most progressive placei in the world. It had also been suggested that having bought an out-of-date water cart the Council was not to be trusted witb the expenditure of loan money Cr Patterson said he could not agree either to the report or to the purchase. It bad been a fcole andcorner busine-s. Councillors had been buttonholed in the streets and had off-hand agreed to the purchase, only to "whip the cat" afterwards. Everyone knew what the cart was. All it was and ever had been was a night soil removal cart. (Criea of "No, No," from Crs Roadley and Hubbard). Cr Patterson went on (o say that despite the denial given by Crs Roadhy and Hubbard the bill for its purchase described it as a converted float. A new cart of that description could have been made in the district tor £32. It was only fit for the scrap-heap, The sweeper was scandalously useless tor their requirements, as it was too severe fo; tin formation of their streets, and consequently it hid only been used on three occasions*. He protested against the purchases made, although, having used them, he recognised that they would have to pav for them. He moved that in future no committee should make any purchase without the consent of the Council .sitting in Council or committee Cr Barter secorded, and explained that he had, by telephone, expressed consent to the purchase if Crs Hubbard and Roadley thought the plant fit, cheap and suitable. It had been said that catts of the same character were in uie in Auckland, but those in Auckland were of a much improved type. What they wanted in Pukekohe was a sprinkler to dj the work as quickly as possible. The facts were that Crs Hubbard and Roadley, as a sub-committee, were instructed to report, but they came back and made mention of the wonderful bargain tbey had secured. (Laughter). He had learned his lesson in so easily giving his consent. He seconded the resolution, as he desired to enter his protest against such a water cart being brought into Pukekohe, and the Council saddlel with the responsibility of introducing i' Cr Roadley said he was quite prepared to accept full responsibility, la making the purchase he had used the same discretion as if he had be:n spending his own money. He continued: "I have never regretted the purchase, but am proud of it. I am accustomed to some Councillors making wild statements.' Cr Patterson here rose apd contended that Cr Roadley's r. mark* were not in order Cr Roadley: If the rap fits, let Cr Patterson wear it J'he Mayor ruled the remarks out of order and asked Cr Roadley rot to make ambiguous statement? Cr Roadley, continuing, claimed trial the use of the water cart had been appieciated by everyone living in King street. As regards the broom it was simply "bunkum, twaddle and childish" to say that it would brush off kins: street if used The Mayor sud that he was bound to admit that he was rather astonished when he saw what sort ol a water cart had been purchased, and he also considered that quite enough had hcci paid lor it. Further, he did not think that the sub-committee should have taken so much responsibility upon themselves, However, he could not vot?

for the motion as it wai of too severe a kind, and they should not lay down too strict a rule Cr Bilkey expressed bis intention of supporting the resolution in order to avoid such wrangling as bad arisen in the case in question Cr Hubbard claimed that (hi motion could only be regarded as a vote of censure Cra Bilkey and Barter both stated they would withdraw their Buppoit if a vote of censure was implied Cr Patterson said he did not intend his resolution as a vote ot censure, but it simply aimed at prevenhog such a thing happening again On a vote taken on the voices the motion was carried, the Mayor dissenting Cr Hubbard then asked how the decision would affect the ordinary works of the Council, as no Commute: couli contract expenditure The Mayor said that was the reason he tecorded his vote against the motion, as its effect was far greater thin was apparent Later on in tbe proceedings Cr Hubbard gave notice of motion that at the next meeting he would move that the Council should fix limits of expenaiture for Committees Accounts for payment subsequently passed at the meeting included thosa of £26 for the water cart and £4B 15s for the sweeper NIGHT SOIL REMOVAL An offer from Mr H J Hawkins, of Papatoetoa, to carry oat nightsoil removal in Pukckohe at a chaige of 2s 6d par bouse per month was deferrel for consiieration until the next meeting. The Mayor, however, remarked that t-.e augge ted charge m:ant 7Jd per week, whereas tbe drainage loan would have meant a charge of not more than lid LIGHTING OF PUKEKOBE Mr James W Blackmsn, consulting engineer, of Mast:rtoi, wrote drawing the Council's attention to his offer, made on the 30th November last, to submit proposals for the erection ot gas works and enquired if tbe nnter bad received further consideration by the Council The Town Clark was instructed to inform Mr Blackman that tbe Council woul 1 be calling tor tenders for lighting, either gas or electieity BOUNDARY CHANGES A letter was received from the Franklin County Council agreeing to accept tbe Borough Council's offer of £152 in respect of the cirrent rates on tbe portnii of the borough being transferred to the county INSPECTOR'S REPORT The Borough Inspector, Mr J Penman, presented his report for the year ending December 31st last. He stated that during the year 50 building permits were granted, representing £14,! 09 value ot buildings erected. All the sanitary work in those buildings bud been done according to the Public Health Act, viz, pipe 3of sinka, baths, and wa*h-tubs trapped. In addition similar work had been carnei out in 22 other bouses, and there were now not more tbtn six houses in the old Town Board area that had not proper drains. He suggested that the Council should make a bylaw making it compulsory to obtain a permit for tbe carrying out of any sanitary work, as otherwise it was open to be effected contrary to the Public Health Act and unknown to him The Mayor mentioned that a bylaw was being framed as asked tor by the Inspector Cr Roadley drew the Council's attention to the overflowing on to the footpath in Nursing Home ro°d of tbe contents of a sump-hole but was informed by the Town Clerk that tbe owner of the property bad been communicated with thereon FINANCE The debit balances at the bank were reported to he £955 on tbe District Fund and £677 on the General Account. Bills amounting to £459 7s 8d were passed for payment BUSINESS UNFINSIHED After transacting other business, report:d under our Local column, the Council adjourned shortly after 11 p.m. until Tuesday evening next, the agenda paper still containing several items to be dealt with