FORESHORE COMMITTEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1917, Page 8

FORESHORE COMMITTEES.

QUESTION OP SUBSIDIES, A report was brought down by a subcommittee, comprising C'rs. J. W. Hayden, F. J. Hil!, and K. Griffiths, at last night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, concerning the advisability and the method of subsidising the various seaside committees of the town. The committee reported unanimously as follows:—'"The Ngamotu Beach, Kawaroa Park, and East' End Beach have been so improved by the committees controlling these portions of the foreshore that they are now recognised by and used by not only the resi dents of New Plymouth, but by residents of all parts of Taranaki as pienicking and pleasure grounds to such an extent that they are very valuable assets to the town of New Plymouth. It is essential that the use of these pleasure grounds should be encouraged, and thai not only should the grounds be Jcept up to their present state, but that, if possible, they should be improved each year, The committee is of opinion that the Council should grant annual financial assistance to each foreshore committee, on the following. terms: (a) That « grant of £SO be made to each of the three committees during the year 191718, and that the sum of £l.lO be placet* on tile estimates for this purpose; (b) that in regard to the East End beach the £SO shall be only nominally paid to the committee, and shall be credited to them in the Council's books in reduction of their indebtedness to the Council; (c) each committee shall on February 1 next submit an audited ptatement of its receipts and expenditure and assets and liabilities for the year 101", a statement of the w<jrk done for the year 1917, a statement of proposed expenditure for the year 1018, a statement of the proposed work for the veai 1918. The committee also recommends that a special sub-committee of the Council be appointed, -quite apart from the Reserves Committee, to deal with all matters connected with the foreshore. Also, it recommends the advisability of n councillor being on the executive of each of the foreshore committees." The legality of giving money to tho Ngamotu Committee, a private company, was questioned by the Mayor. The town clerk stated that money could bo spent in planting trees on the beach, and if receipts showing that the money had been spent were produced, the auditor would pass it. The Mayor suggested that the report be referred to the next Council. Cr. Griffiths urged that- something be decided upon at ones.' As far as Ngamotu was concerned the money could be' spent in. improving the approaches to the beach. Cr. Johnstone considered there should be greater engineering control of the beaches, and there should be uniformity in the work done. The Council should see that the foreshores were not damaged as the result of tho misdirected zeal of the committees. He did not wish to reflect on the committees or detract from what they had done, but the Council would bp Tyc-1! advised to defer the report for further consideration. He moved that the report be deferred. The Mayor seconded. The motion was lost on the voices. On Cr. Griffiths' motion it was resolved to fiflopt the report so far ns it ■ concerned the Hast End anc'i Kawaroa committees. The question of subsidising tho Ngamotu Committee was deferred.'