PAPAKURA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 315, 2 October 1917, Page 2

PAPAKURA

TOWN BOARD'S POLICY MEETING OF PROTEST There was an attendance of about 40, including several ladies, at the meeting held in the Parish Hall on Fruity evening last and convened by tho Papakura Ratepayers' Association to afford electors and ratepayers an opportunity to discuss the general polcy of the Papakura Town Board. Mr D W. Jones (President of the Association) was in the chair Mr Jones having explained the object of the meeting said that there was general dissatisfaction throughout the district at the unbusinesslike way in which the Town Board had heen carrying out its duties. For instance one of its fir»t acts was to increase tho salary of the clerk In the opini >n <<i the Association the Board hal been most extravagant „nd wasteful Proceeding, the speaker rt-garde] the provision of the tplftiihone at the Board's om:e as an act of extravagance I'be Bo.ird had also embarked in the grass seed industry wh ch had been a financial failure. The Village Green potato scheme had also pioved unsuccessful The Board, lie added, had further proposed to graze cattle on the streets but had abandoned that idea The Hoard, lie contended, should have devoted the whole of th-Mr attention hi the formation of the roads and footpaths. Ihe Boird had net under:alien any permanent work throughout thedistiict and the Ass iat.,.ii maintained that the road ,vi'ie in a worse state than tli y vvor t W( ]ve months ago. LUut street. Ou>l w road, and King Edwardstree'. were iustancod by Mr Joaes as un *a:i.-factjry and King Edward stree Lou es wcrj under water. Alluding to the relationship between the Ash, ciation and the Board Mr Jones said there was a state of tension existing and their communications were merely " received" by the Board. lb mi they had been called names which was not very dignified to the Usoci ition. The night-soil removal system was then referred to by Mr Joins, who mentioned that one of their members had been picked out l,y the Board to be prosecuted. As far »s the introduction of the system was concerned no objection was taken but at a time when the cost of living was hij>h the time was not regarded as opportune for the system to be in roduced. Their objection va; t the primitive way the system had been carried out. Oouiinuing, Mr Jones said a petiti m had been prepired for pn 8 uta'.ion to the 15 aid asking them to retire in order o alloid the electors of the district an opportunity to place those in l> »wer in whom they have more conti loncethan in the present Board. MrJmes then read the petition which bore 122 signatures. Mr A. Willis made a claim that the whole trouble had been a matter of admiaintratlon The Association had been formed to assist the Board but the Board had ignored their suggestions Very little men >y had heen spent on tho roads, whereas the loimor Board had spent about two-thirds of tin ir revenue on metal. Mr 1). B. Stewart said the Association was not against the Town Board but was out t > as list them Tlitir requests, however, had been ui t by

insult. Mr Stewart went on to re mark that he thought the Board had done very good work and had looked after the footpaths exceedingly well. He gave the Board credit for the removal of the saleyaids from the centre of the district. Mr Btewart then alluded to the spending of £3OO on clerical or "ornamental" labour and questioned whether the ratepayers got value for it. He did not wish to speak against the Board, hut objected to ratepayers' money being squandered. Concluding, Mr Stewart said he had nothing to say against any of the Board, but wished them success in every way and hoped that the Town Board would work harmoniously together. Mr J. Walker, who said he had been in Papakura for 30 years but was not a ratepayer, considered that despite the bad winter the roads had never been so good. Referring to water lying in people's yards, he stated that if anyone bought property lying in a low place the ratepayers' money should not be spent in getting the water away. "You have," said Mr Walker, "a Board up-to-date and now you are not satisfied."

Mr Willis: "No, we have got to find the money." Mr Walker: "The Board was elected by you" and you are asking these men to resign. That is a very bad policy." Mr E. S. Cole stated that out of a revenue of about £7OO too much money was spent in salaries, horse and dray, and administrative expenses As to the sanitary depot he considered that the ratepayers should have been first c insulted. He objected to the slipshod way in which the work was being carried out With regard to the salary offered for the Town Clerk, he u/ged that the Board should be approached to reduce this and that more metal should be provided for the roads. Mr Cole then proposed that the Secretary of the Association should be instructed to write to the Board asking that the salary of the Clerk and other expenses, should be reduced during the war aad that the Board should not embark on any additional expenditure. This was seconded by Mr McMurray and carried. The Chairman, having referred to the interest which the Association had awakened in the affairs of the town and district, urged all to continue their interest in the As i relation.

The meeting then dispersed. PETITION FOR RESIGN AT [ON The petition asking for the Board's resignation, as read to the meeting by Mr Jones, is as follows : " We, the undersigned ratepayers and residents of this town district desire to express our unqualified condemnation of the policy pursued by the Town Board during the time it baa been in office. In our opioion the administration of the Board has been extravagant, wasteful and vexatious in the highest degree. During the last twelve months the cost of living has been increased so considerably that we contend that the Board should have practise 1 the most rieid economy and should have satisfied itself with maintaining the roads and footpaths in as good order as possible. Instead of this extra burdens have been thrown upon the shoulders of those who could ill afford to bear them. This expenditure has been mire than doubled and the ratepayers' money has been wastefullyand unnecess irily expended The selection of the night-soil depot and the introduction and working of an unsatisfactory sanitary system have aroused much indignation throughout the district due to the hasty and ill-considered action of the Board. We strongly condemn the Board's method of doing business which should be done by the whole Board in open meeting or if necessary in committee of the whole Board and not in secret by two or three members. For these and other reasons we coneider that the Board has forfeited the confidence of the ratepayers and residents would be better served by the whole Board resigning to give the electors an opportunity in returning member in whom they can place more confidence. We therefore call upon the members of the Board to resign their seats in compliance with the wishes of the majority of the electors."

BOARD'S WORK REVIEWED.

A REPLY TO CRITICISM. With the close on September 30th of the first year of the Town Board's tenure of office the Chairman v 'Mr R. M. Gillespie) at yesterday's meeting of the Baard presented the usual annual report on the work of the Board and the same will bo read with interest constituting as it does a reply to the strictures passed on the Board's administration at the public meeting convened by the Ratepayers' Association. Mr Gillespie reported as follows: " We started with a bank overdraft of £65 12a 3d, some other liabilities, a rising market and several disabilities. The first work taken in hand was the lowering of that unsightly bank left as a foetwalk on the Great South Road. The cost of this work was more than the estimate of the Works Committee. The footpaths have received attention and are now in a better condition than usual. Surveys have been made on the west side of the railway of all the roads with the view of fixing the permanent levels. The tarring and sand ng of the footpaths have been delayed on account of the extra heavy cost of material. The pending improvements to the Great South Road and Princes Street are due to the public spirited attitude of Messrs Richardson and Cole to whom the thanks of the residents are due. Street lighting has been extended and improved and a marked improvement would have been made had the price of illuminants not soared to such impossible figures. We have in hand several large generators, lampposts, etc., with which to improve the lighting

of the main streets. The storm water drainage has, received attention and several culverts placed in dangerous street intersections. The saleyards question has been fully discussed and the result of our energies should be made apparent within the next few weeks. A eani tary setvice has been brought into operation and by-laws made to govern same. The bridge known as Walker's Bridge on Hunua Road has been strengthened. An estimate of a ferro-concret'e bridge to replace this structure has been obtained and approved by the Board. The large trees on Hunua, Park and Wairoa roads have been topped or removed, Where considered dangerous. Onslow Road has been lowered at the King Edward street intersection and has had a marked effect on the adjoining properties, which have been under Water. In the interests of cleanliness and health, conveniences have been erected for the use of Board members and library subscribers. A permanent surfaceman has been appointed. The Clerk's hours have been raised from four per week to 28 per week. His salary has been raised from £6O per annum to £l2;') per annum. Committees have been set up which prevent overlapping of control. The dissatisfaction ex-

pressed by non-resident ratepayers and others with the rise of the Clerk's salary is fully met by the increased efficiency of the administration, to which the Clerk has contributed. The financial position of the Board is sound. Although our term of office has been Barked by unprecedentedly wet weather, the roads are in as good condition as is usual at this time of the year. 330

cubic yards of roetal and scoria have been obtained and, except a few yards in the reserve, have been spread. We have been compelled to pay an increased rate for all material used. Wages have gone

np, in fact all things pertaining to Local Body requirements have advanced in price. Although put to the extra heavy expense owing to war prices, the Board has not raised the rates, and can show a creditable financial position. To give you an idea of what careful financing means I wish to put before you the position

as it stood in September for five years back. In 1913 the amount passed for payment in the September accounts was £49 7s 2d ; 1914 : £4l 9s 3d; 1915: £lO5 6s lid ; 1916: £72 10s 6d. At these dates the Bank account showed overdrafts as follows : 1913 : £37 9s lOd ; 1914 : £5 8s 6d; 1915: £lßl 17s lid; 1916: £65 12s 3d. In 1917 our accounts for September passed for payment totalled £7O 4s sd, which included £25 owing or contracted in 1912. Instead of an overdraft we have a credit balance of £l5O 17s. This should be sufficient answer to those who criticise the Board's administration

'• During the next few months the fallowing matters will require our attention : The fixing of all the road levels in the district; obtain plans for all storm water drainage ; improvements to East street, Prince's street and Elliott street; Great South Road being a fairly big undertaking will require to be done out of loan money ; the erection of a pound : the tarring and sanding of certain footpaths; removal of all sharp angles where the roads lend themselves to such improvement; the alteration of the system of payments to the sanitary service ; revaluation of the district; the opening of Averill street through to the railway yards; a conference with the leading business men to discuss the best position for the cattle pens at the new railway station yards; the question of erecting a memorial to the soldiers and womanhood of the Dominion ; the enactment of bylaws governing public buildings, boardinghouses, licenses, streets, etc '

It is desirable that the Board should have full control of all the CBmeteries. In the event of the saleyards not being totally removed by March next it will be necessary to consider the popular wish and move for the yards to be closed under the Public Health Act. The question of rating on the unimproved value will also require our attention. On this question it will be necessary to take a poll. The telegraph poles at present out of alignment with the kerb will require to be shifted.

I think these will be the most important matters that will engage our attention, and in conclusion, Gentlemen, I take this opportunity of thanking you for the valued assistance you have given me in carrying out my duties, and I also thank the Board's staff for their able services to the ratepayers." On the motion of Mr P. Holt, seconded by Mr T. H Markwick, a vote of thanks was accorded tithe Chairman for his lucid report.

The report of tbo monthly meeting of the Papakura Town Board held yesterday will appear in our next issue. At the Papakura Magistrate's Court yesterday James Hampton, builder, of Papakura, was sun,moned at the instance of the Town Board for failing to allow the sanitary contractor to enter his premises for the purpose of removing nightsoil. After hearing evidence the Magistrate (Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M.) imposed a fine of £l, with costs 7s and solicitor's fee £2 2s. The report of the case is owing to shortage of space held over until our next issue.