PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 154, 10 March 1916, Page 2

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Special Meeting-Last Night. A fpicial meelirg of the Pukekohe thorough Council was held last evening, the members present being the Mayor, Mr H G It Mason, (Jrs A B Batter, J Patterson, C Clarke, K Bilkey, C Roadie; and J Beatty, with the Town Clerk, Mr .1 F Deane A COUNCILLOR'S ILLNESS A letter of apology for nonattendance owing to illness was received from Cr Hubbard CR KOADLEY AND THE "PUKEKOHE TIMES." Following up his recent hostile attitude towardß this paper, Cr Koadley, in accordance with no:ice of motion, moved the following resolutions, viz. : (a) That the resolution making the "Pukekohc and Waiuku Times" official organ for the Council be the rescinded; (b) that all business of the Council be now and hereafter tick! in committee, and that no accjfa whatever ba allowed to any record."? tearing on Council business by representatives ot the "Puke* kohe and Waiuku Times." The two motions were taken separately, and in moving clause A Cr Roadley'ds main complaint was that despite the advertising revenue that accrued to this paper by the advertising of the loan proposals no editorial support was given towards promoting the success of the schemes.- -Cr Patterson seconded "pro forma," remarking . that as the motion was on the agenda paper it might as well be discussed.—At this atage Crs Bilkey ard Beatty had not arrived, and Cr Clarke, pointing out that only live memb?rs wEra present, moved as an amendment that the resolution should stand over until the next ordinary mreting of the Council.—-The Mayor seconded, and the amendment was adopted

In moving clause B, Cr Roadies made the allegation that the proc ediaga of meetings of the Council had not been fully and fairly re-poit-:d in these columns. —On tbe suggestion ot Cr Barter this patt of the resolution also stood over until the next meeting DRAINAGE OR THE PAN SYSTEM?

The next \tim on the agenda was as follows: The Mayor to move: "That if fifteen per cent of the ratepayers of the drainage area petition the Council by next ordinary meeting the Council take a fresh poll on the drainage loan; that if not, or if the poll be defeated, the Drainage Committee he instructed to take all necessary et-.p3 to instal a pan system without delay, the system to be a sealed pan one if the Committee finds the same practicable, otherwiae the old float system be adopted. His Worship, in support of the resolution stated that he had been anproached by many ratepayers, vho were • dissatisfied with the result of the recent loan poll. S:itiie of those who had interviewed him had suggested that they should get up a petition and ask for another poll. The people, he thought, should be given to understand that if drainage was not installed a pan system would be introduced. It seamed that soma ratepayers preferred to tolerate existing frightful conditions rather than be liath tor any slight additional rating Cr Barter seconded

In reply h Cr Patterson, the Mayo: sail thtre were 200 ratcn.ivcrs on the roll of the special

rating area Cr Patterson contended that before any :u:th<;r expetse wae incurred they ought to receive a petition signeJ by at least 55 per cent ot the ratepayers in the area. The expense ol the poll would be any

thirg up to £2O. They had taken a poll but the majority of the ratepayers had shown no interest in it, >• and now it appeared that a few >r the supporter wanted another pell taken Unless there was moe tangible chance of success he opposed further experss. He moved as an amendment; that they should not proceed further u.less they received a petition signed hy 55 per cent of the ratepayers concerned Iha Mayor pointed out that a good number of the ratepa)ets were absentees, and that accordingly there would be a difficulty in getting signatures of 55 per ce"rt of the ratepayers. His Worship added tbat he did not say that 15 per cent was the right figure, hut 55 per cent wi's too high

Cr Patterson's amendment lapsed 'or want of a seconder

Cr Barter considered there was a good deal in wh:t Cr Matters in had said, and he moved as an amendment that 25 per cent should be substituted in place ut 15 per cent as proponed by the Mayor Cr Bilkey second'd, and with the Mayor accepting the alteration his resolution as amended was adopted

SWIMMING BATH FKOJECTE In accordance with a notice of motion given at a previous meeting, Cr Roadley proposed that an effort should be ade to provide Pukekohe with a swimming bath He contended that it was moat important that an inland town with 500 school children, such as Pukekohe, should be equipped with a bath whereas every up - to - date town had its bath. He was of opinion that it could be made a paving proposition. The only difficulty would be in providing a custodian and that could be surmounted. There was a site in the old showg oind which was admirably suited for the purpose, and it would be an easy mat'er to empty the bath if it was put on that section The Mayir, in s conding the motion, said that the only difficulty be could see would be the question cf water supply, but doubtless that could be overcome. He ixpresjcd tha opinion that if the bath was erected in the school ground it might be possible to get a Government subsidy Cr Barter considered that there were otter items which were of more importance and should be considered in preference to the one under notice Cr Kuadley intimated that he was prepared to elaborate his scheme at a later date. He felt confident that it would ba quite feasible and financially strong Cr Patterson thought that the school committee would like to cooperate with the Council in making the scheme feasible. They would be prepaied to asrist by canvassing for donations.

The Mayor considered it would be an easy problem if the water could be obtained easily. In arriving at that decision ha estimated that the balh woulJ cost £6OO, * £3OO of which would have to be found locsllv, and the Government would probably give a subsidy uf £3OO. He was of th! opinion that £l6O could be collected 1 cally, and the balance the Council would be responsible fjr The motion was carried

METAL POK KOAUS Cr Bobdhy proposed, in accordance with notice of motion, that tenders be called fur 10,000 yards of metal to be secured from the Council's quarry. He urged that without a good supply of metal they could not properly maintain the roads Cr Patterson seconded "pro forma," but suggested that although the idea was good it should not be considered until it had been carefully gone into. He estimated that the cost would ba £3OOO, whilst a proper tramway would also have to be laid down

Cr Bilkey comsdered that one disadvantage would be tbat the metal with the winter coming on would hive to remain in the quarry till April ot next year Cr Beattv thoUßht that Cr Koadlcy had left the matter over until it was too late in the year

Cr Barter suggested that the metal could be procured at a lesser cost from Auckland

In view of the financial aspect Cr Koadley agreed that the motion should stand over until a later meeting

TBE ROADINU PROBLEM The Works Committee reported as follows:—lnstructions have beeti given to the foreman to Meet f treat name plates, posts to be painted and bottoms tarred before leaving the store; also to put down abort two chains ot tarred-macadam in the centre of King street, starting at Vails's and going westward. The Comnnttea begs to recommend that two chains of tarred-mac9dam be put down starting at Lawrie's corner and going westward, also two chains of bituco be put down from Lawrie's corner towards bridge; and that the finance Committe2 ba reuqeßted to take into consideration ways and means of financing the above matters. We would also recommend the Council to call for tenders for getting out gpawls offered to the Council by Mrs Motion (n.b., £.'{o in hand Irr Potter's road and £SO tor Barter's Hill), and that the foreman be instructed ti roll the ruacl between Wilkinson's and Willis' as soon as the weather is suitable The Mayor suggested that as L'r Hubbard, chairnnn of the Works Committee, was unfortunately unable to be present that night the report should stand over. With reference to tbe report, he added, he has been instructed to see tbe local manager of the Bank of New. Zealand in the matter of the limit of the Council's overdraft and tbat official bad promised to communicate wiih head-quarters and would do bis best on their behalf. Cr Barter said wqys and mean* were important, and that was all the more reason why the report should stand over

The foreman, in reply to questions, explained that the sums referred to in the report for Potter's road ana Barter's bill were balauce of loan money

The discussion was adjourned as suggested by the Mayor A POSTING STATION

In the matter of the Times'" posting board atandfhg on Messrs Houlsion Bros.' piopcrtv in King street, which the Council bad resolved shouh not be used as contrary to the by-laws, it was decided aa the outcome of correspondence to make an offer to the owners of the board that it should be removed to Borne other site to be mutually

agreed upon, subject to the toard ' becoming the property ot the Courcil * on the expiration if the cirrint lease for posting stations held by "Times" management N SUPERVISION (JF ROADS Cr Koadley, having intimated his intention ot postporing a motion stauding in his name for the appointment of a Borough Ergineer, proposed in accordance with notice given that "a surfaceman fe placed permanently in charge ot all roads in the outer through area, and that he be made tesporsible for keeping tr.e Bame in order." He stat d that having regard to the very iaige area ct the roada it was unfair to expect tha Foreman ot Works to be constantly running rourd and better results would follow by a surfaceman hieing hi Id responsible for their upkeep Cr Bilkey seconded, ard considered that the cost of maintenance would be considerably reduced ir the roads were quickly attended to afier heavy rains Cr Patterson suggested that they would soon have all bosses and no men. If the Foreman and a surfaceman were both to be held responsible either would dodge their Work . The Mayor thought divided control inadvisable, and moved as an amendment that "the Foreman be instrnctcd to keep one man iu the roter portion of the borough employed as a surfaceman in. preference to ether work so long as there was necessity for repairs to such roads." Cr Patterson seconded Cr Batter contended that it would be better for tbe surfaceman to be independent ot the Foreman, ai he could not see that tha Foreman could look after his own work and also after the surfaceman The amendment was carried ar.d then Cr Roadley moved and Cr Barter seconded the dtletion of the words "so long as there was necsssity tor repairs to such roads" from the Mayor's proposal. This, howe7er, was lost, as was also a further amendment by Cr Koadley, seconded by Cr Batter, that the matter stand over until the next meeting. The motion as moved by the Mayor was then adopted HELD OVER Other items on the agenda, which it was agreed should stand over until the next meeting by reason ol "either of a full Council not being present or of reports not being completed, were "Remuneration of Foreman for recent toad report,' "Consideration of waterworks report and adjourned finance report," "Adjourned motion re cost of kerb and chanm llinp," "Adjourned motion re amount Committees may spend," and "Motion to pay Is extra per day to labourers."