OTAHUHU

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 378, 24 May 1918, Page 2

OTAHUHU

OTAHUHU BOBOUGH COUNCIL. LAST NIGHT'S .MEETING. At the meeting of the Otahuhu Borough Council held last evening there were present the Mayor (Mr A. McDonald), Crs J. Brady, H. J. Hall, H. J. Moffitt, B. Todd, A. J. Wildman, H. V. Btringer and F. B. Field, with the Town Clerk (Mr W. J. Dinnison).

A BY-LAWS MATTER. A letter was received from Mr E. J. Wilkins, bootmaker, Great South Boad, complaining of the nuisance caused by boys wheeling carts on the footpaths, At times, he stated, he could not hear himself speaking to his customers and he added "the nuisance would not be allowed in any other town except Otahuhu." A remark by the Mayor that the practice was contrary to the by-laws was received with laughter. Cr Moffitt proposed that the attention of the police should be called to the complaint and this was carried, Cr Todd dissenting. BTATE CONTROL OF ROADS. Support was asked by the Ohinemuri County Council to the resolution passed by them advocating that the time bad arrived when the Government should take over the whole of the arterial roads in the North Island and should Jnake and maintain the same out oft the Consolidated Revenue.

Cr Todd was in favour of supporting the resolution remarking that a great many local todies were not in a position to maintain roads. Gr Field supported and mentioned that the Government of France had prior to the war provided ideal roads.

Cr Brady said it was either a question of the Government or the County Council controlling the roads as smaller local bodies starved their roads.

. Cr Hall remarked that in Australia the Government loaned money to County Councils for road works at half rates of interest and he considered that such a system would be better than the Ohinemuri proposal. The Council supported the resolution, Cr Hall being the only dissentient. DBAINAGI DEFECTS. Inspector Fogarty, of the District Health Office, Auckland, reported that a very bad nuisance was being caused by drainage from surrounding properties accumulating at the back of Mrs Kelly's place in Hum Road. The matter was referred to the Water and Drainage Committee for a report. SEWER CONNECTION QUESTION. In accordance with instructions the Town Clerk formally reported as to premises not connected with the i sewerage system. The report was referred to the Water and Drainage Committee. Cr Stringer remarked that soma time ago a ratepayer expressed his willingness to be connected with the system and as he was unable to pay the full amount at one time he asked the Council to accept payment in two instalments the Council, how ever, would not accept the proposal Cr Stringer proceeded to propose that if desired payments by instalments should be accepted and all pro perty owners should be compelled to connect with the sewer —This proposition lapsed for want of a seconder.

OTAHUHU SCHOOL COMMITTEE. At the meeting of the Otahohu School Committee held on Thursday of last week there were present Messrs J. Hunter (Chairman), E. Currie, E. West, F. Henry, J. H. Nod well, C. Whitmore, fl. Wills and G W Kemplay (Secretary). With reference to the resolution passed at the recent Householders' meeting that in the furtherance of education no attempt should be made to interfere with the national system of education and in respect of which copies of such resolution had been forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education replies were received by the Committee that attention would be given to thi matter.

The Headmaster reported that tho school was in a healthy state and that the atteadance was increasing. A letter was received from Mr F. Sous f er, Home Missioner to the Otahubu Methodist Church, asking for permission to give Bible lessons after school hours once a week in conjunction with other ministers as authorised by legislation.—After some discussion it was resolved to accede to the request, the arrangements for a suitable room for the purpose being left to the Headmaster. CHEMIST CALLED UP. AN APPEAL SUGGESTED. The possibility of Otahuhu being deprived of its only chemist by the fact that Mr H. Humphrey is among the Class B married men drawn in the ballot is causing some concern in the district At last night's meeting of the Borough Council a letter was received from Miss Pilkington, Hon. Secretary of the Otahuhu Branch of the Auckland Women's Patriotic League, enclosing a copy of a resolution passed by that organisation, I viz, " That it be a recommendation from theOtahuhu Women's Patriotic League to the Otahuhu Borough Oounril that an appal he lodged in sujip>rt of the exe.nption from military service of Mr Humphrey, oheoiist, of O.ahuhu " Miss Pilkington added that che trusted the Council would realiz > the urgency of the matter and it immadiate attention.

Tin Miyor lvmirked that the feeling of the lady residents was thit

it would be a serious matter if the town were without a.chemist •Or Brady explained that Mr Humphrey had informed him that he would be inclined to appeal if he had a strong support from the public but would not do so on his own behalf. He (Cr Brady) moved that the Council should support the proposed appealer Hall seconded the resolution pro forma but remarked that personally he would not appeal for any man who was physically fit.

Crs Wildman and Todd both regarded a chemist as an " essential man," the latter remarking that if a butcher or coal-miner was essential a chemist certainly was. They thought that an appeal should be made in the interests of the town.

Cr Stringer expressed the opinion that if a man was physically fit he should go. x His own son had been to the front and had returned seriously injured and he thought every man should do his duty. He felt sure there were plenty of returned men who could take up Mr Humnhrev's nosition. Cr Moffitt shared Cr Btringer's views and thought that every fit man should go to the front He was not in favour of supporting the proposed appeal. Cr Field thought more particulars should be supplied by Mr Humphrey before the Council could deal with the question. The Mayor pointed out that the suggested appeal was for Mr Humphery as a chemist and not for him in his private capacity. He (His Worship) respected the views of those who were not inclined to support the proposal as he recognised that every available man was wanted at the front. If it was fonnd that a chemist could not be secured for the town he as Mayor would do his best to obtain one.

With the consent of the seconder and proposer the motion was withdrawn and on the suggestion of Or Wildman the Mayor was authorised to interview Mr Humphrey for the purpose of obtaining further information and to act as he (the Mayor) thought best. *

Ihe scholars of the Otahuhu School are to be commended for their zeal in obtaining no leas than £5 13s 6d as the result of the sale of bottles which they recently collected on behalf of the fond being raised fbr the purchase of a school piano.