STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent). BOROUGH COUNCIL. (From Our Own Correspondent). Stratford, December 12, The monthly meetjng jf the Stratford Borough Council was held on Monday evening. 'Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. Boon) and Crs. W. H. -H. Young, A D. Stanley, T. Lawson, G. B. Hunter, A. J. Walsh, J. H. Thompson, A. J. Davey and E. J. Rutherfurd. DEPUTATION Messrs A. Gray, Director of Technical ■Education, and Mr. Tyrer, headmaster of the Stratford School, waited on the Council, and requested, if possible, that the municipal authorities should renew theii grant of £lO to the technical education conducted in the local schools. After some discussion, during which it was remarked that the srant would be placed to a good purpose, it was resolved to increase the sum to £ls, there being only, one dissentient vote. Mr. Gray thanked the Council for continuing and increasing this grant. CORRESPONDENCE. l The Port Chalmers Borough Council requested the /ouncil's co-operation in protesting against the Government al16wing civil servants in receipt of high the 10 per cent war bonus.— Received, and supported by the Council, the town clerk to remit the resolution to the Government. Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister of Railways, stated that a, lamp, would be placed in the railway stockyards; that the yards would be mained in a wholesome condition; and a separate yard for pigs had been approved. No additional sid-ing--would be constructed. Regarding rolling stock, it would not be justifiable to have a number of waggons standing idle at Stratford in anticipation of trafthe Council hoping that the Government will later on concrete the yards, thus making the cleaning cheaper and the yards more durable. Mr. T. A. Lonergan requested the Council to attend to some alterations rnd repairs necessary in rooms rented by him from the Council. —Mr. Healey's attention is to be drawn to the defects and to put same in good order. Mr. T. White desired permission to form and gravel a cart entrance to his property, Hamlet and Olivia street, and to pay half of the net cost.—Work to be done on usual terms. Mr. George Smith, iPohutukawa, complained of an accumulation of rubbish, probably thrown off the train, at Celia street. He requested the Council tc remove the debris, etc, A culvert was blocked in Cordelia street.—.Referred tc borough engineer. Mrs. M. E. Budge, secretary of th< Stratford Ladies' Patriotic Committee thanked the Council for the use of th< Town Hall for the Red Cross concertReceived. Mr. N. B. Fletcher applied for watei extension to his section, Lower Pem broke road.—Referred to Works Com mittee. An application from Mr. F. Foley t< show a picture programme in his the atre on Christmas night was granted. ABATTOIR MANAGER'S REPORT. During the month the stock slaugh tered included: Cows 95, calves 7, sheej 294, pigs 53. Seven animals were par tially and one wholly condemned Slaughtering fees amounted to £55 14s Gd.—Received. LIBRARS NEWSPAPERS Replies from several proprietors oi daily and weekly papers were rea,d. It every instance the request that papers be supplied gratis was declined. Cr. Lawson moved—"That the Tara naki Daily News, Taranaki, Herald and Hawera Star be struck off the list oi papers to the library." Cr. Young sec .onded pro forma, Crs. Lawson and Thompson expressed the opinion that as other Taranaki papers had supplied the library witli free copies, the papers mentioned might also have continued doing so. Cr. Hunter remarked that the Dailj News 'had a. good circulation in the neighborhood, and also received a fail amount of advertising, and the .proprietor of that journal might very veil Have placed the library on the free list The Mayor questioned the wisdom ol striking the papers named off the list They were in demand by the public, ant the Council would probably find it un wise-to carry the motion. Dr. Young spoke in a similar strain. The motion was carried, the Mayoi and Cr. Young being the two objectors NOTICES OF MOTION Cr. Young mover—"That .vlr. W. J Newton's (electrical engineer) services be dispensed with, owing to Ins disobey ing the instructions of the Council."— Seconded by Cr. Lawson. A lengthy discussion ensued, and lithe midnight hour approached a .notion by Cr. Lawson, that the question he brought up again at the next meeting oi the Council, was carried. Zr. Thompson gave notice to move—"That the Mayor's resolution of November governing the duties of the electrical engineer be rescinded." GENERAL. The town clerk was grained .-. fortnight's holiday, from January -2. Ten per cent, will be charged on outstanding rates after January 31. The town clerk was -instructed to place before the Council each month the sale of units, and the electrical engineer to supply the number of units produced at the power-house .ind the Dieselhouse separately. A SHORT-SIGHTED riOLICY. At the' Borough Council meeting on Monday evening a motion was carried—"That the Taranaki Daily News, Taranaki Herald, ml Hawera Star lie stmck oIY the list of library papers.'' By .-arrying this motion the Council has saved an expenditure oi tl Ms. ,n annum, and to secure this munificent sum the value of the library to the ratepayers and the visiting public has beer considerably reduced. It runnot be said that the. Councillors acted with undue haste, j as the notice to discontinue was dc- ! bated at r some length. The peculiar | part about the decision was that the | Council had received repli.es from various provincial papers, besides those of Taranaki, and in each instance the reply v.-as to the effect that no free copies could be granted. Instead of treating all the papers on the same fi-.otinjr, the :uover of the resolution singled out the Taranaki papers, and carried hU. point, lie has KiKTivdod in-!educing the Cntinei's expenditure, certainly. : lint, to be ci'-i-isfent. he should have moved that ail the papers written to that declined

to send free copies should 'foe struck out. Instead, the Council will pay charges on Auckland, Wellington," Christohurch, Dunedin, and Timaru papers, and it is idle to argue that some of these papers are of more value to the libary than the Taranaki papers struck out. The loss of £1 19s to the three papers concerned will not materially lead them to bankruptcy, hut probably will cause them to look askance at Stratford public matters. One proprietor reminded the Council that for years they had granted the library a freo copy, but at the present moment for various reasons, this was an impossibility. The statement by one Councillor that because the Daily News had a good grip on the neighborhood, and was also receiving some measure of support in advertising, and therefore should forward a free copy, was a cheap advertisement for this journal. But the working up of the circulation and securing of support from the business people was obtained through giving the public what was wanted. The building-up of the paper in this district was not done in a day, neither wa3 it accomplished for nothing. Probably if the Councillor, who believes that because a .paper is widely read it should give a few away .gratis, could see the expense entailed in placing the paper before the public, he would recognise the enterprise of the proprietor, and not cavil at being asked to pay half-cost (which, by the way, does not represent the value of the paper on which it is printed). Matters have now come to a head, and until other arrangements obtain our library will be minus the three principal papers published in Taranaki. The Mayor, before the vote was taken, doubted the wisdom of carrying the motion, and time will tell whether the policy adopted will be satisfactory to the Council, or whether the Mayor and Cr Young were correct in opposing it. ' NOTES. Eesidents and visitors to Stratford wore in a generous mood on Saturday. The Salvation Army aimed at securing £IOO for the Belgian Fund. They realised their ambition, and a good deal more. This was mainly accomplished by the consistent manner in which the public were "leg-roped" or "bailed-up" l.y Adjutant Cooke and his assistants. The sum in hand to-day was £l2l 14s 9d, and to-night a further £1 13s ,has been received, with more to come. Sergeant Dale has received a letter from the Stratford A. and P. Association, thanking him for the efficient and admirable manner in which the vehicular traffic was controlled during the show. More than 200 private csrs,- 300 traps, and cars were continually on the road. The police deserve this commendation. Usually they get no thanks for looking after the safety of the public. It may he mentioned that Sergeant Dale had four police continually on the Toa.it, and the dry, dusty, disagreeable work was carried out without a solitary growl. In places where a constable was not in sight some of the cars plying for hire may have "got a move on," but othervfise there was general care exercised by drivers of all vehicles, Tho borough employees are making a neat job of the grass plot set down near the Post Office, and leading to tho railway station. The street lias been narrowed, and visitors to the town, instead of being treated to a dust-storm or mud-splashes, are now grettcd with a nice green sward. To-day gardeners were on the job, planting flowers, so in due course Stratford will have its public flower patch like Eltham. The Rod Cross mart hail a fair day last Saturday, the takings being about £a, whilst the tea rooms netted£3 10s. Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P., is due to speak in the Town flail on war matters next Monday evening. The visit of the llawera male choir proved a good thing for the 'Patriotic Society, the takings at the door, etc.. being over £3l. Toko has stood well in the limelight for patriotism. A few days back 1 recorded the sacrifices made by the Marfell family. Another family from that place who is doing its duty is the Divehall family. A. Divehall is now laid up Tor repairs in a. hospital at Boulogne, Harry is still holding his own in some paijt'of France, whilst Claude ,)aid the supreme sacrifice some time back. Mr. J. Masters is in Wellington meet- j ing his Son ''Dick," who has been invalided home by the Maheno, after being wounded in the forehead during the <<reat "push" in France. The Maheno is expected to-day (.Wedncsdayj. The capture of Roumania is disheartening to our Allied armies. Don't be downhearted, but brighten up your Christmas. You can do this by purchasing your Christmas presents at (,'. ft. James' great novelty store. Jewellery, trinkets, etc., for the ladips; toys fc«' children: and pipes, tobacco, etc., for the man at home and at tho front.*