BOROUGH COUNCIL AT VARIANCE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 207, 8 September 1916, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL AT VARIANCE.

Four Members Withdraw Meeting " Counted Out." Although conducted without the acrimonious discussions that have recently characterised the meetings of the Pukekohe Borough Council yet internal strife among Councillors again prevailed at a special meeting held on Wednesday, culminating in the proceedings coming to an abrupt and sudden end through four members, viz., Crs Boadley, Clarke, Motion and Beatty walking out of the Council Chamber as a protect agaiutt the conduct of business. The result of their action was that a legal quorum of members (five) was no longer present and the meeting necessarily was brought to a conclusion. In addition to the four Councillors already mentioned, the other members in attendance were the Mayor (Mr H G. R. Mason), Crs Bilkey, Barter and Patterson, Cr Hubbard being absent through illness. At an earlier stage in the proceedings it had become evident that the Council was divided into two opposing camps, numerically, in Cr Hubbard's absence, of equal strength, but with the Mayor exercising his casting vote for his quaitet the other side were outvoted. This occurred in regard to the striking of the rates for the current year as detailed below, the four in the minority opposing the levying of the Hospital rate as a special rate in addition to the general rate on the ground that a pledge had been given to the ratepayers that there would be no increase in the rates if the loan was sanc.ioned. The subsequent dissension, however, was produced by quite another matter, the point in dispute being as to the right of the Works Committee to appoint an acting-chairman to preside over the Committee during Cr Hubbard's indisposition Crs Roadley, Clarke, Beatty and Motion, formed with Cr Hubbard and the Mayor ex-officio, the Works Committee and the four first mentioned met some weeks past and appointed Cr Roadley as acting-chairman. The agenda paper an Wednesday included " The appointment of an Acting-Chairman of the Works Committee " and when that item was reached

The Town Clerk, by direction of the Mayor, read a letter from Cr Hubbard nominating the Mayor to temporarily act as chairman in his stead.

Gr Clarke thereupon reported that Cr Boadley had already been appointed to the position, and on the Mayor remarking that notice of the appointment had not been reported to the Council, Cr Clarke proposed and Cr Motion seconded that Cr Boadley should be appointed chairman.

Cr Boadley pointed out that at a previous meeting of the Council he bad reported on behalf of the Waterworks Committee, and the legality of the report was not questioned. Further, he wrote to Cr Hubbard advising him of the Committee's intention to hold a second meeting and offering to try and carry out any propositions he v Cr Hubbard) might care to submit. He claimed that it was outside Cr Hubbard's jurisdiction to appoint anyone in his place. Cr Boadley proceeded to emphasise the difficulty the Committee had experienced in getting Cr Hubbard to call any meetings, whereas the Committee ought to meet at least once a month, which would be done if the business of the Council was properly conducted. Cr Patterson: The whole business is out of order. The Mayor is exofficio chairman of all committees, and in the absence of the chairman of the Works Committee he should have been referred to. Cr Barter said that in accordance with Cr Hubbard's wishes he would move, as an amendment, that the Mayor should be acting-chairman of the Works Committee. Cr Patterson seconded.

Cr Roadley remarked that Cr Patterson was " barking up the wrong tree," as usual. One reason why he did not ask the Mayor to attend the Works Committee meetings was because recently, when he asked bim to be present at a gathering, he said he was too busy and would have to give more time to his own private business. As a result of no meetings having been called in the past there was no control or cohesion over the works. The Mayor explained that the matter Cr Roadley had referred to was in regard to the Patriotic Committee and not Council business. iR MOTION'S IJJUIGX.VTIO.V Cr Motion: The Works Committee have had a lot of rebuff's since the present Council has been in power. Reports have been submitted and then turned down. Continuing, Cr Motion said: "I do not intend to waste my time by attending any more meetings of the Works Committee or Council if things go on like this. It is time we had a new Council. Probably I have spent more time than any member of the Council on the business of the Works Committee. I have used my motor car to take members round and have even hired buggies at my own expense and I do not intend to do it any longer. A DRAMATIC lIXI3II. Cr Roadley enquired of the Mayor whether as he Mayor) was concerned in the matter he intended to exercise his casting vote if voting was equal, but the Mayor declined to enlighten Cr Roadley thereon. Rising from his seat, Cr Roailey said, '• If I cannot get an answer 1 will retire." tie thereupon left the Council Chamber and was immediately followed by Crs Clarke, Beatty and Motion. This unexpected development, as stated above, brought the meeting to a close.

Prior to the adjournment of the Council, matters were discussed as follows: UUKKENT YEARS KATES'. The Mayor presented a statement of e tirnated receipts ad expenditure 'or the vear es prepare,! by the Finance 'Committer The estimated expenditure totall J J-.1955, including debit balance oa March

3lat £413, «alari a £450, Hospital and Cbantabh Aid rate £261, street ltßhting £6O, subsidy to library £26, miscellaneous and coniiogeccici £2OO, waterworks £1065, nJajgtH. aod plant £2lO, teams, and roads £IOOO. Un the revenue aide a Id rate (en £362,036 capital value) was estimated to prodoca £I6OB and a hospital rate of oneaixtb of a penny £251, which with water rites £620, water charges £350, and other forms of revenue amountinz to £783, would give a total of £3512, leaving a debit balance of £473. The Mayor added that the Finance Committee recommended the striking ot a Id general rate and a Hospital and Charitable Aid rate cf one-sixth of a penny. With regard to the latter item the Mayor explained that other authorities collected the Hosp:tal hvy as a separate rate, although tuch had not been previously done in Pukekohe. A full Id rate was, however, wanted for the Council's requirements. The Mayor, in conclusion, moved the adoption of the estimates and the rates as proposed. Cr Bsrter seconded. Cr Roadley mentioned that although £26 appeared on the estimates as for the library the understanding was that it waa to pay for clerical assistance for the Town Clerk, the assistant to attend to the lending out cf books in the Liorary. In view of the small number ot users of ths Library he did not consider that the sum should appear as devoted to the Library and hi thought it would be mire regular if the item was set down as for cleric J assistance to the Town Clerk. He proposed that the wording be altered to that effect. As no seconder was forthcoming the motion lapsed. Cr Roadley proceeded to tike exception to the levying ot an extra rate of one-sixtb ot a Id for Hospital and Charitable Ail purposes. Ratepayers, he said, regarded the proposal as a breach ot faith, and although he had previously favoured the idea he recognised that the ratepayers were right in their view, as the Council gave a distinct promise when they submitted the loan proposal that if the loan waa pats?d there would be no additions! rating. He proposed that the general rate be hve-mtbs of a penny in the £, and the Hospital and Charitable Aid Rate one-sixth of a penny ia the £, so that the actual rate should not exceed one penny as last year. Cr Motion seconded. The Mayor contended that all the money bb set down would be required. He explained that already £SOO of the £IOOO included for roads bad been expended. While rceognising that it was unfortunate it there had been a misunderstanding, he said the Council did not nor did they have the power to promise that the rates would not be increased.

Cr Beatty suggested as a means ot over-coming the poiitioi thit less money should be expended on roads.

Cr Bilkey was averse to raising the rate, but he realised that very little could be done in the way of dealiog with the roadi if the amount was reduced.

Cr Barter claimed that the strongest advocate in favour of the onesixth penny rat?, whin it was beicg considered, was Cr Boadley. Cr Koadley, in reply, stated that at the Mayor's request he addressed the recent meeting of ratepayers ard advised them that there woulj be no extra rate in the event of the ban being carried. He contended that as none of those on the platform at that meeting objected to tin statement on that occasion it went to show that they approved ot th» statement he then made.

The Mayor consider*?J that the ratepayers were not justified in taking np the position they had by reason of remarks passed at the ratepayers' meeting, nor was the C-Juncil bound in the matter.

On Cr Koadlsy's amendment being put to the meeting Crs Koadley, Beatty, Claike and Motion voted for, and the Mayor and Cn Bilkey, Patterson and Barter against, the Mayor tiien gave bis casting vote in against the amendment, which was accordingly lost

Tbe Committee's recommendation was then adopted. r

PLEA KKOM THE "BACK BLOCKS."

A deputation of about one dozen residents of Tobin and Albert streets waited on the Council and presented a petition bearing 36 signatures, asking that those streets should be put in a decent state ot order. Cr Uoadley introduced tbe deputation, and reported that at its last meeting the Works Committee bad recognised tbs necessity of attention being paid to tbe strectrin question. Speaking on behalf of tbe deputation, Mr C. Cooper claimed that both streets were already settled to practically their fullest capaciaty, and as nothing was done to put them in order the residents had reached the end of their patience. They bad made previous application* and had been told that the streets would be attended to, but the promises were never kept. Mr Cooper added that he understood that a resident in Tobin street was building a boar, which he intended to float on water lying on the road, and then to send a photo of tbe scene to the Council. (Laughter). The Mayor i. firmed the deputation that the matter uf dealing with the streets was down on tbe agenda for consideration that night and be thought the 7 could be assured that the Council would come to a definite decision thereon.

In reply to Cr Motion, members of the deputation expressed williugncs3 to fill in with tbe Council's requirements as to owners paying halt tbe cost of kerbmg and channelling their respective frontages.

The deputation then withdrew, but owing to the meeting coming to a sudden conclusion a little- later the petition was not dealt with. WATEK SI PI'LY. Cr Barter proposed the adoption of the following report of;-the Waterworks Committee, explaining that it waa the first instalment- of. the new waterworks scheme, viz.:— •€ Water Hams. —The removal ot the watermains from the roadway to the footpath in King Street. Owing tn the high nricz of pipe st the present time it 19 not thought advisable to put in the duplicate pipes as suggested in the Engineer's report to carry ths connection pipes on the south 1 1 ie of the raart right across D l he other footpath. While this work is being carried out the

extra hydrant valves, etc. te piooured and tix:d as recommended by Mr Wyatt, •Water Charges to Comumers Uut-•■■Spfoufh.-l'oueuacrß ouisHc thelrough should he charged for a minimum consumption ot 5000 gallons per fix months at 3s per 1000 gBllons; tor water used above 5000 gallona and cot exceeding 20,000 gallons per six months, 2s 6d per 1000 gallons; all water confined above 20.000 gallons at the rate of 2s per 1000 gallons. Meter rents 10s per annum when rented from Council. In the case of properties being partly in borough and partly in county, for the purpose of water charges, such properties shall be rJeemed to be wholly outside the borough. The Major seconded. A lengthy discussion, initiated oy Cr Koadley, ensued as to advantages to be,gained by removinjrtbe P«P« in King atreet, which would entail an extensive upheaval of the road. The suggestion was also made that ire pipts could be need in their present position for some little time yet, and then abandoned without being tsken up, new pipes being laid under the footpath The Mayor, however, pointed out that any leakage from the old pipes would damage the asphalted ruad it was intended to construct. Cr Glarkn urged that as another engineer was to be appointed to report on the water scheme his advice on the matter should be taken. In reply to Cr Koadley, the Mayor said that the coit of taking up the pipes would come oat cf toe loan, whereupon Cr Roadley urged that such was not included in lh! loan as framed. It was another instance, he said, ot the Council not being taken into tne coi tidence of the Waterworks Committee, aB someone must have known what was proposed to hava been done and the Council and ratepayers should have been informed. Cr Barter objected to Cr Koadley practically Baying that matters came before a "Secret Society" prior to being brought before the Council. Cr Roadley, warmly: I object to Cr Barter's consent innuendos. His remarks are quite uncalled for. Cr Barter explained that the recommendations were made rurely to prevent subsequent damage to the street after it was tarred. The Committee's recommendations were carried on the voices. LOAN MONEY.

Ihe Mayor reported that application had been made to the Public Trustee tor a loan of £12,000, and that they had rectived from that official a provisional promise that the money would be forthcoming at 61 per cent interest. ELECTKIC LIGHTING.

The Mayor reported that Mr Fenn, the consulting engineer wco had prepared the electric lighting scheme, lecommerdecMhat tenders should be called for material required and that work should be executed by day labour in preference to a contract for the whole being let.

The Lighting Committee was authoriaed to engage a competent electrical engineer, Mr Fenn toi preference, to carry out the scheme, proposals to be submitted to the Council for potting the echeme into execution as soon as possible.