TOWN COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 18831, 26 May 1920, Page 6

TOWN COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING.

A special meeting of the Town Council was held in the Council Chambers last night, there being present: The Mayor (Mr John Stead), Councillors J. T. Carswell J. Mathcson, S. McDonald, F. W. Freddy’ J. 1 Sheehan, J. Stevenson, J. A. Doig and F J. Lillicrap. The corporation lease with the Prisons Department regarding the reclamation farm was considered and exception was taken to some of the additions interlined on the draft lease received from Wellington. Cr. Carswell, speaking to the addition by the Department of the words ‘'provided that prison labour was available” certain roading would be done, said that the Department by the insertion of the labour provision was striking at the root of the whole agreement. Unless the areas specified were handed back to the corporation fenced, grassed, roaded and drained within the periods stipulated, they would receive little benefit from the scheme. If there were no roads put in by the Department the land would be of little use. The words, “if prison labour is available” were struck out. The remainder of the agreement was discussed, and some minor alterations were made and the agreement as amended was referred to the Harbour Committee and the Council’s solicitor with power to act. It was decided to transfer £IOOO from the general account to the waterworks account to reduce the deficit in the latter.