SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 26 November 1926, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The above meeting was held on Tuesday evening in the Council Chambers. Present: The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and Crs. Thwaites, Downes, Hyde, Richards Richardson and Hook. Agricultural College League.. At a represcntalive meeting held in Palmerston North of representatives of the Wellington-Wairarapa-Rangitikei area, it was decided to form a North Island Agriculture 1 College League in Palmerston North. A letter was received asking for a donation from the Coun- ' cil, al3o pointing out that the duty of the League would be to take steps to see that the Agricultural College to be '< established in the North Island shall cover the whole programme as lail ; down by the Professors of Agriculture ] and that it will be no half measure. — j It was resolved that the League be ' written to and informed that the Bor- 1 ough's finances will not permit of a '• donation being made. ] Remits for Municipal Conference. It was resolved to forward the follow- ] nig remit for consideration at the com- 1 big Municipal Conference: "That the - present system of distributing Highway | Boards' funds be altered, in order to ; give assistance to small Boroughs in • the matter of the cost of construction."

Remit Rejected. Cr. Richards moved the following remit, which was seconded by- Cr. Richardson, ."That the Act in respect to municipal elections be altered to read: Candidates for the office of Mayor or Councillor must be a ratepayer of a borough." ■ ' Cr. Richards said that in moving the remit, he did so, because he thought it would be to the advantage of a borough if only ratepayers were elected to these positions.

Cr. Downes: '/Evidently, in Cr. Richards' opinion, it is only v those men with brains who own properly." He was strongly opposed to such a drastic step. It was out of all reason. Cr. Hyde said that even if a man was not a ratepayer, he cannot run a borough into debt. Cr. Thwaites said that personally, he failed to see -why a business man, who often had more at stake than some ratepayers, should be debarred from holding the position of Mayor or Coun cillor. By such a remit the ratepayers would be debarred from the services of men who would be highly efficient in such positions. Such a regulation Avould be a bar to men of standing and character.

The motion, on being put, was supported by the mover and seconder only, Crs. Thwaites, Downes, Hyde and Hook voting against it. The motion was lost.

Heavy Traffic Inspector. The suggestion from the Manawatu County Council that their Inspector be appointed to deal with heavy traffic in, the Borough, which was held over front the last meeting, was dealt with. It was decided that no action be taken. Roadman's' Report. The roadman (P. Haley) reported as follows:—That 177 yards of metal have ' been carted to dump and on to Plimmer Terrace, 'Main North Road, Ballance and Grey Streets, 15 yards) to the cemetery j 3 yards to Domain for the : cricket pitch, and 4| yai'ds to thie Council Chambers. Have had the horse mower over cricket pitch. The pipe line and galleries at the waterworks have been inspected and the water mains scoured. Rubbish has been collected and carted during the month. The paddling pool at the Domain has been cleaned out. Road Committee's Report. That H. Butt and one extra man (the latter to be appointed by His Worship the Mayor) to repair footpaths in Plimmer Terrace and tar same, also to tar round the monument. H. Butt to attend •to formation of footpaths in Stout and Venn Streets. The foreman had been instructed t> keep a certain supply of metal in dumps and the grader to be used on the roads when possible. Re drain, Stafford Street and Nathan Terrace Road. —Referred to Road Committee. Borough Finances. \ The Town Clerk presented a statement which showed the General Account debit to be £328 18s sd, library dr. £ll4 10s Id, cemetery account cr. £ls lis 9d, hospital account dr. £B7 16s, water supply interest account dr. £434 15s 4d, water maintenance cr. £94 6's, workers' dwelling working account cr. £240 6s 3d, Shannon loan interest account er. £77 7s 7d, municipal building loan cr. £426 4s 9d, water supply, loan ci< £sl 17s 3d, workers dwelling loan cr. £56 2s 4d. An estimate of the receipts and expenditure to the 31st March next was also presented and adopted by the Council. General. ( j Cr. Richards drew the Council's attention to a drain in front of Mr T. King's property in Stafford Street. He said that in wet weather it becomes blocked and floods Mr King's property. It required cleaning out. —Left to the Road Committee. Cr. Hook asked if any arrangeme >ts had been made to have the grass cut iu the plots in Plimmer Terrace.—The Mayor stated lie would attend to this. matter. Cr. Richards complained of the bad state of the road in Nathan Terrace opposite the Druids' Hall. He said that if it did not receive attention, possibly heavy traffic would be diverted to Plimmer Terrace. —Referred to the ,Road Committee. Wandering Stock. It was resolved that the Borough roads be closed for grazing stoek from now on until further notice.