NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1916, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL

WORKS COMMITTEE MEETINf!

The Works Committee of the Xew Plymouth Borough Council met last night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess), Crs. Medley, Hayden, J\ Wilson, Johnstone, Collis, Short, Hill, Smith. Oiffiths, Monteith, Mannix and Wntkins.

A report from the engineer was read recommending compliance with the request of Messrs Grierson and Aimer for permission to substitute wood lathing for iron lathing in the construction works at Everybody's Theatre.

Cr. Watkins moved that the application be complied with, and a lengthv discussion ensued both as to the merit's and demerits of the respective lathing and the desirableness of. amending the Council's by-laws. Eventually Cr. Mannix moved as an amendment that further information be obtained from Wellington as to the proposed repeal of the by-law. At Cr. Johnstone's suggestion the scope of inquiries was extended to the other chief centres, and the amendment was carried. The engineer recommended that, as the tramway route was now finished, the work under the £42,000 loan would, if systematically carried out;, only need the services of one foreman of works. Asked which of the foremen he proposed should be retained, the engineer was reluctant to express an off-hand opinion, and on the motion of the Mayor the matter was deferred for a week to enable the engineer to make a definite report. The caretaker of the waterworks applied for reconsideration of his request for an increase of wages.—Consideration of request was deferred for a week. The engineer reported on several applications for holidays, and suggested that overtime work, when authorised by the proper official, should be paid for, but ho condemned the old custom of granting holidays. Cr. Smith considered it was only fair that the men should be paid for overtime,_ but it was necessary "to prevent the Council being imposed upon.

Cr. Wilson moved that the men recommended by the engineer be granted their usual holidays this year, but in future the arrangements as to overtime he left in the engineer's hands. The Mayor advocated that the Council should place the nutter on a definite looting. lie thought, however, that for this year the customary holidays should be granted.

After going over the- list of applicants for holidays it appeared that the application of Mr. Revel! was the only one remaining to be dealt with. Cr. Wilson then withdrew his motion and moved that a list of the borough employees be laid on the table mentioning those who were members of the union. '

A holiday was granted to Mr. Burton, caretaker of the waterworks

The engincei reported that Messrs Kyngdon and Douch had SOOyds of metal available, and he suggested using it on formation and metalling works on Karamu street and Paynter's Lane. Cr. Smith was averse to doing such work at this time of the year, and advocated that the contractors should be asked to hold the metal. The town clerk pointed out that if the engineer carried out all the works he intended out of the £42,000 loan, there would not be enough money, as Mr. Clayton went further than Mr, Skitrop. Cr. Smith suggested using the metal oa the Mangorei Road, but the engineer deprecated interfering with that road a,t this time of the year. Cr, Hayden moved that the engineer's recommendations be adopted.—This wa» adopted. Mr. A. E. Sykcs applied for permission to build in Dawson street, just inside the brick area. ' /„ The engineer recommended compliance with the application. Cr. Johnstone contended that if the brick area had been wrongly defined it should be altered, but an end should be put to granting dispensations. He moved that the matter be. deferred and that a committee be set up to go into the question of the brick area. The Mayor, in seconding the amendment, said it appeared to him that the Council had gone a little too far with the brick area, and lie pointed out that as at present defined the restriction prevented the building of houses owing to the cost. Cr. Medley supported the amendment. Cr. Johnstone considered that the present system was putting a premium on jerry-building. He protested against the savin* clause in the by-law being constantly used instead of only very exceptionally. The amendment was carried, the committee to consist of the Mayor, 'Crs. Smith and Wilson, with three members appointed by the Fire Board, an amendment by Crs. Watkius that' tho committee consist of six members of the Council being lost. Messrs Kvndgon and Douch wrote asking that the road from Wilson Street to their gate, which had been damaged by carting metal for the Council, should be reinstated. Cr. Smith moved that the application be refused. If applicants were not prepared to repair the road at their own cost, then the Council should impose a heavy wheel tax on them, i In reply to Cr. Mannix. as to whether, if the motion was carried, it would be more costly to the CouuH than paying the amount for repairs recommended by the engineer, the Mayor did not consider it fair that applicants should be forced to keep the road in repair for the Council to cart metal over. It might be good business, hut it was not fair. Cr. Medley moved that the request be granted on the terms recommended by the engineer—the Council to pay half the cost, estimated at £B. ' This motion was curried. Mr. Gordon wrote asking that the footpath in front of his section in Lemon Street should be krrbcrt. The engines stated that 2* chains was the extension required, and the cost would be about Clo.—The work was authorised to be done.

T. and R Parkin wrote protesting against the striking off from their last account of l"s (Id. Thev pointed out that when the wages of the Council's employees were raised tllcy had to do like wise.

It was decided to pav the amount. The West Rnd Bowling Club applied for four yards of clny.—l-trnntcil, the engineor to protect the Council's interests.

Mr. A. E. Sykos wrote relative to the draining of surface water in DawBon Street, wliich was now turned into his section.

The engineer said there win no other way to deal with the water except by piping for 70 feet. The matter was deferred fc r further inquiries by the engineer. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote for repayment of the cost nf pipes for water service .0 the Old People's Home. The engineer reported os to the value of the pipes. Authority was given for payment of (he amount recommended by' the engineer.

On the suggestion of Hie Town Clerk it was decided to surest to Mr. Shaw that the name of Wakefield Avenue on his estate should be altered, as there was already a Wakefield Street in the borough. The Town Clerk wrote relative to the dual control of dairies which at present was not only unsatisfactory, but might lead to friction. He suggested that the Council should take over the inspection of milk after it left the dairies.—The proposal was adopted. The Municipal Ofliecs Committee reported having authorised the Town Clerk to incur the necessary expenditure for removal of the Council's olliecs to Liardot Street. A communication from the Anti-ficr-man League relative to proposed legislation in the direction of restricting the rights of enemy aliens in Xcw Zcalßinl Was received. An interim report of the Maintenance Committee was laid before the Council and adopted. Tenders for a borough cart shed were received. Cr. Short moved that the work be done by day labor, as there was suitable material on the ground for the work.

Cr. Smitli moved tlml i\ committee of three be appointed to view the material on the- ground and tliat if their report be unfavorable the lowest tender be accepted. This motion was carried and Crs. Short, Smith, iind Manni.v were appointed to the committee. On the motion of the Mayor it was decided to kerb and channel both sides of Weymouth Street. BOROUGH COUNCIL ADJOURNED MEETING. At the close of the Works Committee meeting, a meeting of the full Council was held. The proceedings of the Works Cojnmitteee were confirmed. Cr. Wilson moved that the resolution of the Council with regard to the constitution of the Electric Lighting and Tramways Committees be rescinded. The motion was carried. Cr. Short moved that the Committee consist of the whole Council. Cr. Wilson moved as an amendment, that the committee consist of five members. He contended that small committees did better service than large. A question was raised as to the powers of committees, and th? Town Clerk pointed out that committees had, undoubtedly, largo powers, but that it was customary where committees consisted of less than the whole Council that action should not be taken until the sanction of the Council was obtained. The amendment was carried. ( I It was decided (by ballot) that the committee should consist of the Mayor, Crs. Griffiths, Monteath, Wilson and Hftydea