BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 13, 9 February 1909, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The New l'ljiuoutli Borough Council mot last night. There were present: llis Worship the Mayor, Mr. G. Tisch (in the chairs Councillors lioou, Coleman, Bellringer, West, Collia,' Mills, C'attley, aa<l Browne.

ANOTHER SUBSIDY ASKED FOI{,

•Stall' Sergeant-Major Sanderson, secretary of the Taranaki Rill® Association), asked the Council to make 11 grant to assist the Association in its finance. The Association commenced its year with a debit balance, and tile annual rille meceting was to he held this month. The writer hoped that the Council would look upon the art of shooting as worthy of encouragement and support, having lor its main object our national defence.

Councillor Bellringer moved, and Conn-c-illor Cattley seconded, that the letter be referred to the Finance Committee. The Mayor moved and Councillor Browne seconded as an amendment that the Council reply that it regrets that it has 110 funds for the purpose. Councillor .Mills thought the Association more worthy of support than many other applications which had been favourably received by the Council, particularly ia regard to sport. Rifle-shooting should be supported by 'every mail, woman, and child in the Dominion, and this Association was deserving of the. support of every mail, woman, and child in Tarauaki, for it constituted our national defence. The £2O voted to the bands for open-air concerts was not nearly as well expended as the same amount would In: in helping the Association. The Mayor said he was in sympathy with the movement, but the Council hadn't the funds.

Councillor Boon followed, on similar lines.

Councillor Bellringer said the Council had allocated £2O for two bands, and only one band was working for the subsidy. The remainder of the vote might bo used for this or some other useful purpose.

Councillor Browne thought the matter should go to the Estimates Committee for next year's finances. The Mayor withdrew his amendment, and Councillor Mills moved a further amendment that £lu oe granted, lie mentioned that the •executive of the Association would be glad of an answer by the next evening, so that they could kßow how they stood in allocating the prize-money for the rifle meeting this month.

Councillor West seconded this amendment. saying that the councillors, after their expressions of opinion, sfiould find little difficulty in transferring £lO of the bands vote.

_ In answer to Councillor Collis, Councillor Mills stated that the payment would be legal, under the Municipal Corporations Act.

The amendment was lost, and the motion to refer the letter to the Finance Committee was carritn. THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE. Tile Auckland Indus-tr-al Union of Workers notified the Council of an application to the Clerk of| Awards to extend the Auckland Slaughtermen's award to include Xow Plymouth employers of labour at its municipal abattoirs. The date of the hearing of the application before tiro Court would he notified in due course. Ihe Mayor said this notification came as a surprise to the members of the Abattoir ,Committee. Correspondence had been going on for some time between the Council and the Slaughtermen's Union secretary, and the Council had decided to obtain all information, with a view of adopting the system of killing by contract. Tlkm, about a week ago, at the request of the secretary of the AVaitara branch of the union, the Abattoir Committee met its abattoir employees, and each and every one of them stated his satisfaction with the present arrangements, and with the Council as an employer. They also undertook to give the Council an undertaking in writing to abide by the .present rate of wages for a year. As a matter of fact tile Council's abattoir employees would lose by coming under this award. The Council wonld have to pay more men, but at a reduced rate of wages. A motion (o advertise for tenders for killing by contract was withdrawn, and the matter left in the hands of the Abattoir Committee with power to act as may bo required. MORE CHANNELLING.

Councillor West moved that the concrete kerb and channelling in Devon Street be extended from the centre of the town to the Post Office. He thought this would be a wise expenditure of money for sanitary reasons, and also for the sake of appearances.

T he Mayor said the amount placed on the estimates for sucft work wan already overspent, and the Council would not be able to undertake the work this year.

Councillor West hoped tin* Council would provide ;CIOOO for conewte kerbing and channelling next year. The Mayor: The spirit is willing, but the finances arc weak. RUBBISH DEPOT.

Councillor Bellringer said tlt-e rubbish depot at Mount Bryon needed attention. —The Mayor said that now the people were frequenting the new esplanade: along there, the depot would liave to be moved. He thought that (dean, dry rubbish could be used in makirog the big fillings in Fulford and Hobson Councillor Coleman said the deposits of stale fish at the depot remanded one of Billingsgate.—The engineer said the depot had constant attention.—The Mayor said the depot must cost quite €IOO a year for attention.—The 'engineer will report upon the question of securing another depot.

GENERAL, in accepting the resignation of Mr. P. Drewett as custodian of tfoe Town ITall and Library, the Council 'directed that the Town Clerk forward to Mr. Drewett its appreciation of his long year* of faithful sertioo. The chairman of the Library am! "Reserves Committee, with the Ma.vor and Town Clerk, were appointed a d nnmittee to draft conditions for the appointment of a custodiau for the Town. Ilall and tins Library.

Councillor Bellringer suggested the abolition of the ward system.-—Council-lor Colli* favoured the idept, far the reason that under the wnr-d system the ratepayers in one ward took no interest in the matters pertaining t 0 fche other two.—Councillor Mills would rc tain the wards, and would exfee.-nd it so that the accounts could be kopt as riding accounts were in county government. Be- ! sides, under the ward system 11) tore was no fear of all the. councillors living in one part of tile borough.—Councillor Browne objected to an. insinuation that each councillor was th'ere to sea to the welfare of his own. ward.—Councillor Bellringer gave, notiev to wove ; at next meeting to abolish ward *vstem. Councillor Coleman aired a complaint that ratepayers wore put oIT the streets staff, and strangers put on. He thought " old hand* " and. ratepayers should have the preference.- "Browne: All other things bciing 'equal..--'The Mayor and Councillor Boon thought it inadvisable to interfoiv with the engineer in his employment* of hands* but thought that Avhere tw*> m'en vferr* frihenvise equal, the ratepayer .should have preference over non-ratepayers.—The engineer said that at* a rule he put .married men on in preference tan single men.— Councillor Belldnger pointed on I that rent-payers wepu mdirocllv ratepa\'or*.— The Mayor said the Engineer w doubtless make ifc paramount t<» < ®- rl 7 out the Council's woj-k economically and well.—And the matter I'Csted at that.