STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 316, 16 June 1915, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

NOTES ON COUNCIL MEETING.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

His Worship the Mayor stated at Monday night's council- meeting that it would cost £IOO,OOO to drain' Stratford. Cr. Hunter raised a laugh by saying he had for years been thinking of writing a book on plumbing and plumbers he had employed. His experience was that they pretty nearly owned the house by the time they had finished their job. Those associations and others who have in the past borrowed chairs from the Town Hall for their different gatherings will have to try elsewhere for the, future. At the suggestion of the town clerk, the council passed a resolution prohibiting the loaning of chairs. The borough inspector reported that some of the street lights Jiad been out for the last three yet there was not one councillor who asked the reason, or took exception to the delay in repairing the lamps. The Mayor intimated that the council Intended undertaking its nightsoil and rubbish contract, and would strike a sanitary rate to cover the cost.

Mr. A. G. F. Gray (director of technical education) waited on the council, and asked their assistance in the way of a donation towards general technical work.—Eventually it was decided to give a donation of £lO. An amendment to increase the sum to £2O wks lost. The Under-Secretary for Public Works wrote, forwarding draft copy of new license for the Stratford Electrical Supply Company. The license will lapse at the same time as the concession granted by the council. —The council agreed, provided the borough solicitor had no objection.

Authority was passed to raise a £OOOO special loan, by debentures, of £IOO for municipal offices. The Public Trustee was also appointed commissioner for the sinking fund for .the loan.

The council absolutely wasted an hour quibbling over a motion and in amendment re purchasing the Electric Light Company's plant. In order that, your readers may see what the great arguments were over, I give both the motion and the amendment. The mo-

tion was:—"That the Electrical Supply Company be approached for the purpose of considering the question of taking »ver the company's undertaking, and if the company are agreeable, a special committee of the whole council have a conference with the company on a date to be arranged." The amendment was: That the town clerk be instructed to <vrite the Electrical Supply Company, (isking them to meet the council in committee for the purpose of discussing the question of taking over the company's plant."

Cr. Young, in seconding the amendment, said it was a vast difference fron the motion. Comment is needless.