PEACE AND QUIET ON ROSKILL BOARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 107, 27 July 1927, Page 3

PEACE AND QUIET ON ROSKILL BOARD

EFFORTS AT ECONOMY TF “another frolicsome night” was anticipated by residents of Mount Roskiil (in view of recent events) at last evening's meeting of their Road Board, the fact that nothing exciting eventuated may have come as a disappointment to those who covet a bit of publicbody vaudeville* The proceedings were quiet and businesslikeConsideration of amended estimates for the levying of the new rate (a cause for much contentious debate at last week’s meeting) proceeded quite smoothly on this occasion. The town clerk attempted further to reduce his original estimate from £3,224 to £2,216, and the engineer from £13,571 to £12,444. This means that, instead of having to meet a deficit of £1,215, under the original estimate, the board will be enabled (with an estimated revenue of £15,852) to secure a surplus at the end of the financial year of £1,192. Mr. Belcher moved that further reductions be made by striking out the expenditure of £7OO upon the proposed purchase of a tractor, compressor, and pump. This failed for lack of support, after the engineer had explained the absolute necessity for the plant.. Mr. Belcher then questioned the policy of paying the outdoor staff for work which they could not do during inclement weather. He considered it would be more economical during wet weather to grant the men one hour’s pay, and tell them not to go to work that day. The engineer explained the impossibility of such a system. If pursued, the absence of those workmen would mean that the whole place would be flooded far worse than at present, and waterways would even be obstructed. Plenty of other work could be found for a certain number of the men. Mr. Brewer deprecated the adoptio-n of any such policy, and could not believe any ratepayer would begrudge working men, with their wives and children, whole-time wages, which would affect the rates only in a most infinitesimal manner. Mr. Belcher then mentioned the possibility of increasing the licences for dogs, particularly those of “the ladies’ toy classes,” but both the above suggestions were coldly ceivedThe members did not seem inclined to enter into discussion upon the various minor estimates submitted —some including fractions of hundreds of a farthing in the £, and all being patiently recited by the town clerk. Eventually the board, without arriving at any total, gladly agreed to levy a rate “in accordance with the requirements of the estimates submitted.”