MUNICIPAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 275, 12 April 1913, Page 5

MUNICIPAL POLITICS.

THE TOWN CLERK'S REPORT. ITEMS OF INTEREST. The town clerk's report will be prcsented to the Borough Council on Monday night. Among its salient features are the following:— PUBLIC DEBT. The total debt is now £1(13,10!). During the year it was increased by the Moating of the £l-2,000 electric light loan and by the proportion of the loans taken over from the Taranaki County Council, owing to the extension of the borough boundaries. The purposes for which the loans were raised are as follows: Waterworks £51,23?, electric lighting, £38,908, streets and bridges, £44,128, sewerage system £16,503, baths £3OOO, abattoirs £0368, total £103,199. SUGGESTED MEAT REGULATIONS. Touching on abattoir matters, he remarks: "I feel it incumbent on me to state that, in my opinion, the time has arrived when the Council should take steps to bring into force regulations requiring the closing in of butchers' shops, thereby protecting the meat from the dust of the streets. It is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon the importance of protecting the people's food from dust and Hies, and I trust that the Council will see its way to deal with this important matter during the ensuing year." TREE-PLANTING IN STREETS.

''This is a matter," states the report, "which has received practically no attention from the Council in past years, although there is no question that the appearance of the town would be greatly improved by judicious tree-planting in seme of the many residential streets. In view of the eariy extension of kevbing and channelling of footpaths in different parts of the borough, this question should be considered now, so that the work could proceed simultaneously with the laying down of the, kerbing and channelling. The question of what particular kind of tree should be planted would require careful consideration, and only those trees should be planted which would not in a few years become a serious obstruction to street-lighting. Other towns have adopted tree-planting in streets with very good effect, and I can see no insuperable difliculty in its being adopted in New Plymouth, and I commend it to the Council accordingly." THE UNPICTURESQUE.

With an eye to the elimination of the nnpicturesque, the town clerk devotes a paragraph to the following purpose: "The question of hoardings and the unsightly posters and advertisements on fences in different parts of the town received a certain amount of attention during the year, but the Council have been advised that fresh legislation is necessary before such matters can be effectively controlled. The Council communicated with various other Councils in the Dominion., and the matter in question came before the last .Municipal Conference, when the following resolution was carried: 'That as the existing'legislation relating to hoardings and public display within view' of passengers on highways of advertisements is unsatisfactory, and fails to deal effectively with existing hoardings, fresh legislation be enacted giving the Council full power to license and otherwise control all hoardings, existing and future, and geny orally control under license or other**; wise, the exhibition of advertisements on hoardings, walls, places and buildings visible from streets. It is to hi hoped that these very necessary powers will be conferred on councils by Parliament. UNSANITARY BUILDINOS,

"A matter," remarks the report, "which requires move attention from the Council in future than it has had in the past, is the question of the condemnation and demolition of dilapidated and Unsanitary buildings in different parts oi the' tovrit One building in the centre of the town *ns condemned by the District Health Officer during the year, but so far has not 'been pulled down. There are other buildings in various parts of the borough which arc in a condition than the buildings referred 10, and these should be brought under the notice of the'Dintvlct Health 4 Officer, with a view to their condemnation." AN DfPOtifAST POINT.

Departing somewhat Irrom the beaten path, the r'epor.t refers to the public telephone service in the following strain:— "There is b'A'e mutter which is not altogether a municipal matter, but one to which I feel it my duty to call attention. ami that is the unsatisfactory nature of the. telephone service in this town. At the. outset, however, I wish to make it clear tlm* I am not in any way attempt lug In criticise the administration nf the ItVcal ollicials, who without doubi do the Very best that can be done with the service placed in their charge, and who are most courteous in dealing with any complaints placed before them. For many years past it has been almtist im^ possible t" use the telephone without

at the same time continuously hearing a cross conversation on other lines, and thus the use of the telephone must perforce be limited to such business that one has no objection to the general public hearing. I think 'that strong representation "should be made to the proper authorities to effect such improvements ,1.-1 will effectually remedy the defect mentioned."

THE DUST XU'TSANCE. I 'Of' special interest are the following remarks:-—"During the summer month', owing to the material of which our roadways are constructed, and the rapid H-apoiation in sifich a climate as ours, the roadways become very drv and easily disintegrated by the traffic. Watering the ro v adS dunhg the summer months, thcrcfo'rc'becomes a necessity, *«t only

{ for the purpose of laying the dust, but also for the purpose "of preventing the macadum from breaking up. The watercart purchased in 1911 did very good service during the past summer, but on many occasions was unable to effectively cope with the nuisance. The increased speed of traffic, motor cars, etc., is also greatly increasing the nuisance. Recog- ' nising this the Council have recommend- ' ed that provision be made in next year's ' estimates for the purchase qf a second watercart. This, however, will only be a temporary remedy. The real remedy must be found in more up-to-date methods in road construction. The application of coal tar to road surface is finding favour in many towns and cities, and I believe lias been found very successful. This treatment reduces the dust in summer and the mud in winter, prolongs the life of the macadam, and effects a great saving in maintenance, i The manner in which the lar should be I applied is, of course, a matter for the I engineering staff. The Co.incil have for some time past realised that the time had arrived when somothing better than ordinary macadam was required for at least the central portion of the town. Had the work been done, bower, it would have been destroyed by the tram- . way construction, and the matter had perforce to stand over until this question was decided. As soon, therefore, as the tramlines have been l:vd down there is no doubt that Central Devon Street, at least, will be laid down in a permanent manner. This will not, of course, do away with the dust nuisance altogether, for dust accumulates on the surface from causes other than the disintegration of the roadway, but the dust would be. less in quantity and more easily deaf with." MULTUM IN PARVO. Area of Borough (acres).... 4 040 Population i'dOQ Annual rateable value £107106 P«hlic tlobt £m [ m Year s total receipt". £ 25,855 Year's total expenditure .... £ 27£41