SEASIDE COMMITTEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1917, Page 6

SEASIDE COMMITTEES.

KEQUEST FOR SUBSIDIES, The question of subsidising seaside and other resorts was discussed at length at Monday's meeting of the Works Committee of the Borough Council. The matter arose as the outcome of the reading of two reports brought down N by a sub-committee consisting of Crs. Wilson, Monteath and Griffiths with regard to the East End Committee's affairs. At a recent meeting of the Council members of the East End Committee waited on the Council and stated that owing to a set of unfortunate circumstances, which were detailed to the Council in confidence, the committee found itself faced with a liability of £IOB, incurred in connection with the additions to the pavilion, and the Council was asked to meet this liability. HELP FOR EAST END. Crs. Wilson and Monteath, two members of the Council's sub-committee, reported as follows:—"That in view of the circumstances urged by the "East End Reserve Committee, the Council pay the amount of the outstanding liability on the pavilion, and that the committee be asked to treat the payment as an advance, to be repaid by instalments as and when their funds permit." A MINORITY REPORT. Cr. Griffiths brought down a minority report as follows:—"I agree with the report of .Messrs Wilson and Monteath only, in that the Council should pay the £2OO. I disapprove of the idea that the East End Committee should be asked to acknowledge and shoulder this sum as a debt to the Council. I think the amount of £2OO should be paid in acknowledgment of the good work done by the present and past East End committees, and that there should be no suggestion of repayment. If they an; saddled with this debt it will act like a cloud over them, and will discourage them in the good work they have been doing. If they are to carry on the ]jolicy of each year improving the foreshore, it is quite impossible for them to also make payments to the Council. I understand that in the past ten ycaia the Council has assisted the East End Committee to the extent of some £SOO or £GOO, and by the great energy of their committee, and the hard work of willing helpers, they have transformed this to improvements of a permanent nature to the value of £2OOO. In view of this fine record, I think the Council should pay the £2OO, and not expect the Committee to make any repayment of it. The foreshore is a fine asset of the borough of New Plymouth, and every encouragement should be given to those enterprising workers who are doing what they can each year to improve it." Cr. Wilson moved, and Cr. Monteatti seconded, "That the report be ndoptcd." Cr. Griffiths moved as an amendment, and Cr. Watkins seconded, "That the minority report be adopted." Cr. Griffiths, in moving the amendment, mentioned that about 20 members of the East End Committee had gone to the front, and necessarily the resources of the present body were much restricted on account of enlistment?. Cr. Monteath pointed out that the practice of these committees in incurring liabilities without consulting the Council and then asking the Council to shoulder the liabilities was one that should be discouraged. Had the granv been asked for before the liability had been incurred it was doubtful if it would have been given. Cr. Watkins said the committee had had misfortune, and it was k propor thing tha-f the good work they had done should be recognised. Cr. Smith supported the amendment METHODS DISAPPROVED. The Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess), in supporting the majority report, said the East End Committee had no right to enter into an nrrangemr-nt in which the Council was involved without consulting the Council. He sympathised with the work the committees were doing, but disapproved of their methods of incurrimr liabilities and expecting the Council to help them out. Cr. Griffiths emphasised the value of the work the East End Committee had done, and pointed out that their present position was due to misadventure or misfortune. The Mayor: No, no! Bad management. Cr. Collis favored a middle course, and said he would like the grant reduced to £IOO. The liability was not incurred by the present East End Committee. He considered the Council would be justified in showing its appreciation of the committee's work. The amendment was put and lost. A MIDDLE COURSE. Cr. Collis moved, and Cr. Watkins seconded, a further amendment. "That the Council grant the East End Committee £IOO, and that the grant be looked upon as an advance from the Council, to be repaid as their funds permit." This amendment was also lost, and the motion was put and carried, there being several disseninsnt vuitw. REQUEST FROM KAWAROA. What was described by the Mayor as s sequel to the above was heard when th< town clerk read a request preferred b-v the Kawaroa -Park Committee that £2O( be placed on the estimates to assist tin committee to meet building liabilities recently incurred., In support of the request for the sub sidy, the Kawaroa Committee submittec the following, information: Receipt; from October F to date, £54; balance last audit, £185; total, £230. Expendi ture: Building additions, £471; concreti retaining wall, £3O; septic tank am drain .wall, £l~>; public conveniences £45; total, £570. There was a debi balance of £351. Cr. Wilson moved, and the Mayor sec onded, "That the request be not grant ed.'' Cr. Wilson observed that thesi committees were "overrunning the con stable." They must remember tha "Rome was not built in a day," am that they could not expect to reach per fection all at once. These committee had no right to incur liabilities and ex pect the Council to "carry the baby." Cr. Mannix mentioned that the Kawa roa Committee received £SO from th Council in the form of a subsidy, am the East End Committee had, since it formation, received between £SOO air £GOO. The work of the Kawaroa Com mittee had never been recognised. Th Park was l the Council's property, am the committee should be encouragec He moved as an amendment, "That grant of £IOO be made." Cr. Watkins seconded the amendmeni

A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. Cr. Monteath said he was in sympathy with the, work of the seaside committees, but be regarded the practice they had observed as a very dangerous one. Cr. Smith commended the grant to the favorable consideration of the Council, CLAIMS OF STREETS. The Mayor disliked the methods of the committees, and pointed out that the Council had had to turn down applications for improvements to footpaths and streets that were absolutely necessary. The footpaths of New Plymouth were a disgrace to the town. Moreover, the Council should have some say in the expenditure of monies by the seaside committees. Cr. Collis pointed out that the plans of the Kawaroa Park buildings were submitted to the Council for approval. The Mayor: Yes, hut not a word was said about coming to the Council for money. Mr. Wilson remarked that the Council had overlooked the fact that the Kawaroa Committee held a gala day on Easter Monday. Last year they cleared £250, and there was no knowing but that they would do better this year. Cr. Mannix: What if it rains? Cr. Wilson: It will be time enough then to come to the Council. APPLICATION REFUSED. The amendment that £IOO be voted was put to the Council and was lost on the casting vote of the Mayor. Cr. Wilson's motion that the request be not granted was caried, several councillors dissenting. Mr. Johnstone remarked that the pve<ent system of subsidising reserve comnittees was unsatisfactory. There was he question of differentiating between seaside resort committees and" the committees controlling plaee3 like Pukekura Park, Western Park and other reserves. These committees had not over-run their expenditure and consequently little had been heard of them. Cr. Watkins moved that £IOO be placed on the estimates for assistance to seaside resorts committees. There being no secondei, the motion lapsed. Cr. Griffiths moved ,and it was carried, that Crs. Hill, Hayden and the mover be a committee to consider the question of subsidies and report to the Council.