SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 26 July 1929, Page 3

SHANNON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY meeting. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Shannon Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. Present:' The Mayor (Mr E. Butt) and Crs. A. E. Hyde, T. C. Thwaites, R. Hook, Jus. Curran, jun., S. Anderson, R. Downes, D. Laurvig.

APPOINTMENT OE TRAFFIC

f INSPECTORS. A letter was received from the Main Highways Board re appointment of traffic inspectors, pointing out that generally speaking the local do not realise the damage which is being done by reason of the non-enforcement of the Motor Vehicle and Motor Lorry Regulations. The result is that highways and roads generally are no being protected, and motor lorry owners are avoiding payment of the f ee -= provided under the regulations. Numerous instances have recently come before the (Board where motor lorries were carrying much heavier loads than permissible and in one case the pro prietor of several lorries was operating them under one license, one fee only being paid. The Board is of the opinion that , local authorities should cooperate in this matter, and employ a .traffic inspector and his yearly salary and expenses divided between the local bodies in the Main Highway District on a capital value basis. The Town Clerk said this was an important question and no doubt would have .to be dealt with by the local bodies interested, and if put into force no doubt a lot of fees would be picked up. In reply tp a question, /he stated twelve local bodies were affected m this area. Cr. Hook said that there was no doubt about it being a good thing and the time would come whfen the recommendation would have to be earneci out. The letter was received. KAITANGATA RELIED EUNDS. Mr J. Linklater, M.P., replying to the letter from the Council suggesting that the Kajtangata relief funds, which are now in the hands of the Public Trustee, be used for the relief of earthquake sufferers, stated he would put forward a question to the House ot Representatives in this direction.- ReCei UNivERSAL HALF HOLIDAY. A petition signed by most of. the Shannon business firms was received entering an emphatic protest against Saturday being made the universal half holiday, they being of the opinion that Saturday is unsuitable to this community. The petitioners urge, thai each community be allowed to judge for themselves, and fix on a day that .suits local'conditions as at present. The Council’s endorsement to the position was asked for, with a request that the petition and the Council’s endorsement be forwarded to the member for the district, Mr J. Linklater M.P. Cr. Downes said that he was of opinion- that a universal half ■* holiday throughout New Zealand would be n benefit to all. Cr. Thwaites: What do you baa? your opinion on? Cr.” Downes: At present one town hr.s Saturday and its neighbour Wednesday and if a statutory holiday was laid down by the Government it would be better. Cr. Hyde pointed out that the question coming before the House was .in favour of Saturday; but it was considered by the petitioners that Wednesday was more suitable locally. Be moved that the request be granted. Cr. Thwaites: With the exception o' two persons waited on, the others wen unanimously in favour of Wednesday Anyone, he said, who had been in bus.ness in Shannon knew that it was a one-day business town. Or. Anderson asked if the employ ees had been canvassed.

Cr. Thwaites replied that they wer divided.

Cr. Curran, jun.,. said that though it made no difference to him he though; that if they had a universal Saturday half holiday it would be much bette; for the smaller towns. It was only r matter of time for the people to go; used to shopping on Friday night. Cr. Downes asked Cr. Curran if lie was going to compel people to shop in their own town on that account. Tlu only thing to make people shop locally was for business people to bring their pi'ices in line with other places. Or. Anderson said that if he was ir. order he would move an amendment that the Council support a universa. Saturday half holiday. This was se conded by Cr. Hook. On the amendment being put Cr; Anderson, Hook, Downes and Curran jun., supported it, the Mayor and Cr:; Hyde, Thwaites and Laurvlg voting against. On the Mayor's casting vote, the amendment was lost. Or. Anderson then moved a further amendment, “That the motion lie put to a vote of’the electors to decide.” This lapsed for want gf a seconder. The motion was then carried, Or Thwaites pointing out that when the Council recently fixed the weekly halfholiday there had been no protest. ROADMAN ’S REPORT. The acting foreman (11. Butt) reported as follows:—Have carted 40 yards |of metal to Margaret Street, Ballance Street and Nathan Terrace. Have cleaned drain out from borough

cottage to water trough also six chains <■■ of drain in Vogel Street which requires deepening to carry the water away. A culvert wants removing if the drain is deepened down to the gully. Have had grade,r on the Main Highway. A fair amount of metal is wanted on Sheehan Street and some rough metal will have to be put on owing to the heavy traffic over it.—"-Adopted. TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.

The Town Clerk reported that during

the past fortnight one building per- , mit and one permit for repairs had been issued, the value being £364. The apportionment of heavy traffic license

fees £3l 2s 9d for quarter ending 30th June, 1929, had been received, also £lO rent of Domain from Horowlienua Rugby District Council, and £lO from Horowhenua County Council grant Cemetery. • The approximate cost of 4ineh steel pipes for water mains. landed at Shannon was £0 Is per chain indent, and £7 5s per chain ex stock. The various accounts on 19th July, were as follows: —

District Fund Account, credit £44 15s 9d.

Water supply loan account, credit £B4 14 s 2d.

Unemployment Relief Loan, credit &T 8s Sd.

Current rates collected total £214 7s 7s, as against £lO2 2s 8d collected for the same period'last year. Permits for new buildings, additions and alterations issued five, value £ll9B, as against four the previous year, value £1365.

Motor Drivers’ licenses issued to date number 159, 164 being issued for a similar period in 1928. License fees collected amount to £214 4s Id.

£143 6s 9d Government subsidy on rates has come to hand. Last year’s subsidy being £l4l 19s 9d. The-outstanding rates on 31st March, 1929, totalled £312 0s lid, collected to date £77 11s lid, balance outstanding £234 9s. ' ■

The Mayor said the Town Clerk was entitled to credit for tlie report he had brought down, also for the effort he had made to get in the outstanding rates. WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT, The following report was submitted by the Works Committee: —The Health Inspector reported he had inspected the Railway trucking yards and found that, the surface drainage from most of the yards flows through the gateways on to the roadway. This water not only causes puddles which get churned up by the ca'ttle, but also gathers up manure in its course. He recommended that the Railway Department be written to asking them to alleviate this nuisance. The Depart inent was written to accordingly. With reference to the sanitary employee’s report regarding houses in the Borough where it has been the practice not to call, the Committee are of the opinion that as the houses mentioned are inconvenient to get at, being in some cases long distance -from the road, no action be taken. Regarding the dispute between Messrs Millar and Poach over the use of a! surveyed roadway which is at present fenced, the Committee met the parties concerned but could not get them to come to an agreement. The Committee recommends to Council unless Messrs Miller and Peach can come to a satisfactory agreement over the use of tlie road the Council consider opening all the roads round the sections in dispute.

An inspection of the Foxton-Shan-non Main Highway was made, and consideration given to the Public Works Department’s offer of £2 for £1 to widen this Highway to 24ft. and metal 18ft. wide. A further letter has been received from the Public Works Department stating at the present time the Main Highways through the Borough are not being maintained to the standard as required by the Main Highways Board and asking that the necessary repairs be canned out as expeditiously as possible. The Department has been written to asking what repairs are required to bring the Highways up to standard, and in view of the" latter letter being received the committee recommends that no action, be taken in the meantime other than keeping the pot-holes in order. The Borough Foreman is recovering from his illness and expects to commence duties on the 29th inst.

Cr. Downcsj chairman of die Committee, said the members had made an inspection of the borough roads and had found the majority of them to be in good order. Sheehan Street was bad and the foreman was now engaged in putting rough metal on the side or this road, which when finished should make a big improvement. Regarding the letter from the Public Works Department that the main highway through the borough was not being maintained up to standard, this had come as a surprise. With the exception of pot holes and Sheehan/Street he maintained that the roads ai'e maintained up to standard. Referring to the dispute over the use of a roadway for grazing he thought it -was a mistake for any Council to grant the use of roads fer grazing etc., as no person had any legal right to fence or graze a public road.

LIBRARY COMMITTEE. The chairman (Mr T. C. Thwaites) stated the Library Committee met and decided to purchase new books, the Librarian to visit Wellington and make a selection, as this has proved the most satisfactory method. About 60 books were purchased and, these had been placed in circulation. The library membership showed a slight increase. The Librarian asked for a ruling on boundaries, as some subscribers living just beyond the Borough Boundary were receiving three books at a time, while others only a short distance away were only entitled to two books as they came within the Borough Boundary, and this was causing soitfe feeling in certain cases. The Commit - tee therefore suggested that the following boundaries be fixed: Kingston Road, 'Mangaore, Manawatu Bridge, Buckley and Buckley corner. Inside these boundaries subscribers to be entitled to two books and outside three books at a time. The report was approved of

WATERWORKS COMMITTEE RE

PORT. The Water Works Committee report was as follows: —An application from Mr Bryant for water connection to dwelling Cemetery Road was agreed to, this necessitating the laying of 17 chains of one inch pipe. It was resolved to lay a two inch main in Levin Street to Thompson Street and then to connect with one inch. This work

is now in hand. Instructions given that consumers of water outside the Borough who have not paid the yearly water charge, be notified that unless same is paid within fourteen s tilt, supply will be discontinued. . Rcqfiiirs are being carried out to sluice - valvr at north" end of Plimmer Terrace. It was resolved to recommend to the Council that a 4 inch water main be laid from Vance Street to Nathan lervaee over Railway crossing and thence to Bryce Street approximately 11 chains. The Town Clerk being instructed to bring down cost of pipes for consideration by Council. The chairman (Cr. R. Hook) said regarding the recommendation that a 4-inch water main be laid from Vance Street to Nathan Terrace, this was made providing there was money available. At present they had the work in hand referred to in the report and there was also work to be done at. the hcadworks and with the cost of pipes probably the recommendation would be out of their reach for a while.

The Town Clerk stated that the cost of pipes would be £BS 2s 10d indent and £96 ex stock. Then there would be bends, tees, etc., to be added to the charge. In reply as to what money would be available, he said that after allowing for proportion of salary and estimated sundries, there would be a credit balance of approximately £6B.

On Cr. Downes’ motion it was decided to hold the matter over till the present work is completed.