LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 56, 9 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The meeting of the Borough Council Inst night was unique in more ways than one. There was a full Council and a big deputation waited upon the meeting in regard to the proposed charges in the by-laws which were brought forward for confirmation, the Borough solicitor, Mr T. C. x Fookes, being present I to explain matters find see that everything was done according to Statute. After the deputation had had their “say,” members of the Council tackled the business in hand with a will, and dealt with the various points in dispute. Many resolutions and amendments were proposed and carried, and eventually all that remained to be done was to confirm the proposed by-laws as a whole. Whether it was for electioneering purposes in view of the forthcoming municipal elections, or in a spirit of pure opposition to the views of the majority as expressed during the evening, can only lie hinted at, but the extraordinary result of all the Council’s time, labor, and much expense was the throwing out o ffche proposals in toto by live votes to four. To arrive at the position before the final act last night will mean months, perhaps years, in view of the new Council to be elected next month; but whatever comes, it is quite certain much water will run under Victoria Bridge before the loss (because it is a loss) can be made good.

At a committee meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club last night it was decided to vote £2OO to the Belgian Relief Fund.

Mr F. Copestake has resigned his position of head slaughterman at the Stratford Municipal Abbatoirs. At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, the resignation was accepted with regret.

The Borough Counciil last evening adjourned about eleven o’clock, after sitting for three hours on the by-law proposals, leaving the ordinary business of the Council to be taken this evening, when the meeting will commence at 7.30.

Weather forecast.—The indications are for freshening northerly heavy gale and veering by north to west. The weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled with rain following. Barometer falling.—Bates, Wellington.

His Worship the Mayor ac a crucial stage in the discussion last night: “If we hold the matter over, it is a question of going into the whole thing again. The Council should show sufficient back-bone—(Cr King: Hear, hear). It should be decided on its merits. 1 don’t want to baulk the motion.”

One point of interest in the report submitted by the treasurer of the Stratford Hospital Board to the meeting tin’s morning was the increased cost of provisions, this item for the present eleven months being £lO3 2s 2d compared with £65 Is Id during the same period of last year. The number of patients were 202 and 190 respectively.

■Good logic run to waste; “The basis of ail business, is value received,” said Cr Richards during the Borough Con noil discussion on the by-law charges last night, and lie concluded: “If a water tap is not used or no value is received, thou cut it off—the remedy is simple.”

A Christchurch telegram reports that the Rer. Maslin, who lias- been charged with a serious offence and committed lor trial, has tendered his resignation as a minister of tile Ahethodist Church, and the resignation has been accepted.

Long sittings do not suit Cr Fredric, it seems, judging from some of his remarks at last night’s Council meeting. “I don't feel called upon to stay here all night to pass these things,” be said with much acerbity. “I won’t i stay here all night to work for the public. I object to it. I am not go- : ing to he deprived of my rest for any. t body;”—lronical laughter greeted this outburst, but that was all the satisfaction the irate councillor received.

The Methodist Conference decided that a week of self-denial be observed throughout the church during the first week of July so as to fall into line with Australia. The proceeds are to go for foreign missions in order to wipe out the deficit of last year.— P.A.

At the the meeting of the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, held this morning, Mr J. Smith said he would like to see Tuesday made a visiting day at the Hospital, for tho convenience of country people. It was decided that a recommendation be mad eto the Medical Superintendent that on Tuesday afternoon from 1.30 o’clock to 4 o’clock the hospital he open to visitors. This is in addition to the present two visiting days (Thursday and Sunday).

On Saturday last, Mr Newton King held for the first time in the New Bazaar, his monthly horse fair. That occasion marked another step in the advancement and progress of the firm. The new building was necessitated by tho fact that the seed and manure business has forged ahead so prodigiously that the present buildings have become entirely inadequate to cope with the Output. Further than that, Hr King has decided that the time is ripe for the installation of the latest machinery required in the mixing of the special “Sterling” Manure, and seed cleaning. For this purpose the seed and manure department will utilise the old horse bazaar. The matter of necessary alterations is already in the architect's hands, and when tho arrangements are complete the new position will mean increased efficiency in tho service rendered to the farmer.

In proposing at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council that the whole question of the by-laws be held over, Cr Thompson said he was of the opinion the Council should not tackle the question because it was so seriously divided. The resolutions that had gone through were carried by only five votes to four, and iu view of the deputation’s opinions that evening, and the fact that a now Council might throw them out, he firmly believed the Council should not go on with them. His Worship the Mayor said that could hardly be expected for the reason that there was always majority rule on any question. The meeting was a special one for a special purpose. The Council should go on with the business or throw it out. —Later, Cr Thompson, in rising to a point of explanation, referred to the Council “fighting and wrangling over the business,” to which the Mayor replied that it was their duty to do so.

In a discussion of the question as to the best means of raising revenue to meet the exceptional expenditure owing to the war, the Press Association states that Mr Harold Beauchamp, chairman of the Bank of New Zealand, suggests a war tax of one per cent, on the total amount of our exports and imports. This would, ho says, he spread to such an qxtent over the whole population as not to be felt by anyone, while at the same time, it would provide the Government with all the revenue required. He estimated that such tax would yield a million per annum. One of its chief merits would he the cheapness of collection, as all the machinery was already provided by the Customs Department. If urged that such a tax would press unduly on the producer who would pay both an import and export tax, his reply was that as a class the producer greatly hencfitted, and is still being benefited by the exceptional conditions which have arisen,.

“When your hack-hone is as old as mine you won’t take so much notice of such remarks” was the fatherly advice of Cr Masters last night to Cr Thompson, who was plainly riled at the Mayor’s reference to the want of this necessity in some people. If backbone means independence in talk and the lack of desire for municipal life, then several of the Councillors have plenty. Cr Fredric said lie didn’t care a “cuss for the ratepayers, and it was a matter of supreme indifference to him whether he went back to the Council again. _ Cr Thompson was not quite so forceful of speech, but, then, as ho admitted last night, he is a candidate for the Mayoralty. Cr Morison did not deny the soft impeachment, while Cr Boon spoke throughout with refreshing candor and with an air of conviction which showed a clear-out line of thought and action, ft is not wise to display nerves at the Council ,table, especially when an election is in the air.