CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 412, 20 April 1937, Page 6

CIVIC AFFAIRS.

DRIVERS’ LICENSES. Protest Against Proposal To Take Fees. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Borough Council was held lae/t night. Present were: The Mayor, Mr J. W. McMillan, Councillors C. R. Finnerty. C. Speck. A. H. Trotter,'T Lawson.. \V. P. P. Gordon a fid R. F. Harkness. The revision of the. system of traffic control provided that in future cities and boroughs’ with a population of. COCO or more would be responsible for their own enforcement as at present. advised Mr G. Lauren a on. commissioner of transport, while the Government would be responsible for the smaller centres and ihe rural areas. The. proposal provided that the proceeds from the issue of driver’s licenses would be distributed to those authorities responsible for the control of traffic, the cities and the larger boroughs and the Government. It. was proposed that from Juno 1, 1938, all drivers’ licenses would be issued by the deputy-registrai|; of motor vehicles. That would mean that it would be possible to obtain a license at some 300 full-time post offices throughout the Dominion. The tee 'would remain at ss. and from that mount a prescribed sum, probably •6d. would be retained by the. Post and Telegraph Department to cover ex pi.nsev. Of ihe residue. 40 per cent, would be divided among the cities and larger -boroughs according to their population, and 60 , per cent, would go to the eonsolida'ted fund. Comment on ’he proposals was requested. On the morion of the Mayor, it was resolved that a s strong protest be made to the Minister of Transport at the proposal to take the license fees from 'flie. smaller centres without giving them a share of the fees. Housing Survey. The provisions in housing survey regulations to defined areas were in. tended to apply to the larger towns only, wrote Mr A. Tynda! 1 , Director of Housing Construction. It was deiirable tlia F the eou'neil should proieed with a survey of the whole bor* ough, but the Minister was prepaid to grant a dispensation from the necessity of furnishing particulars of those houses definitely known to,be above the standards set out. Re spousibility rested with the council to see that all houses below the standard of overcrowding and fitness were surveyed. The council appointed Mr. J. J Heggie as investigator. The installation of white line pe'(Jejstriaii crossing's at certain intersections frequently tued by children Oil their way to and from the Siratfo-rd primary school was requested by the School Committee. , The request was referred to the inspector for a report. Ihe overhaul of the Stratford wo’men’s rest room was requested by the who reported -that it had not been renovated in the past seven I years. The matter was referred to the inspector for a report to be considered with the estimates. A reduction in the annual charge of £2 5s for the lights in each of the .public telephone boxes at Stratford was requested by the Postmaster, Mr C. E. Scott, On the recommendation of the electricity committee it was decided to advise that no reduction cafa be made. Pembroke Road ratepayers- wrote requesting the erection of a sireet light in Swansea Road, between Pombroke Road and Regan Street. At present th(\e was no light in that section of Swansea Road, it was std'bed.‘ and the length wa,. c very dark. It was decided to obtain a report for the. next meeting of the council.