STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) lAII communications, letters, etc., left With Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will teceive prompt attention.] BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Stratford, July 16. The monthly meeting >was held on Monday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Cr. J. W. McMillan) and Crs. \V. McDonald, C. B. Walsh, S. ]!. Hunter, T. Lawson, C. Jackson. D. J. Mnlonc, H. J. Thompson, .4. Coleman and J. Masters. CORRESPONDENCE. E. C. Fookes, 'borough solicitor, stated he had rend the license drafted by the Public Works Department in connection with the Stratford electric lighting and water power, and his amendments thereto had 'been inserted and the license was now acceptable. There was no provision for a minimum charge or for rent of meters or other appliances, and he thought these charges should be provided for.—Received. G. E. Bowers, ranger, desired Council to grant his application for £ls increase in salary, 'which was now £144 a year, with Is for each dog registered. —The Mayor thought that the increase should be carried out. —Report adopted. The State Advances Office notified that the application for £15.000 reconstruction of streets loan had been approved.—Received. J. Hislop. Under Secretary, desired information as to what .provision had been made for the safe custody of dangerous goods.—Received.

In connection with the Council's request for the installation of a pennv-in-tlic-slot telephone at Stratford the 'postmaster reported having received a reply fiom Wellington stating that the capital cost of installing a machine was estimated at 052. The annual cost of working £25 10s 2d, and the revenue probably beim* £lO, leaving a deficiency of £ls 10s 2d. The Department would instil the telephone if tha Council guarantees to ipav the deficiency up to £ls per annum.—Held over till next meeting, enquiries to 'be made in the meantime as tn charges in other towns. W. R. Payton, secretary of the fire brigade, requested a grant of £3 15s for usual boot money to 27 members at 5s each.—Granted.

Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, desired information as to whether the Council would supply plots to soldiers of the expeditionary forces, •who die prior to their discharge, free of Cos t. —The Mayor moved and Co. Hunter Veeonded "That the Council grant the plots as required." Malcolm Eraser, Government Statistician stated that his office did not collect statistics of retail prices in Stratford, and was unable to give any information. —Received.

E. C. Robinson, engineer, wrote offering to draw up a detailed map showing the whole of the Borough sections and subdivisions up to date. The cost was estimated at £3l. —It was resolve:! to bring down a report at next meeting. All. Drake requested the to improve the approach to his motor shed in Juliet Street, or else grant permission to use the footpath for a short distance—Referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. M. Lavertv, librarian, applied for an increase in her salary.—Referred to general committee to report to the next meeting.

WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee reported recommending that the workmen's wages be increased Is per day. They had leased from the Domain ©oard a part of King Edward Park for a corporation yard at £ls per annum. That the town elc-rk's salary be raised by £25, provided he is prepared to do the extra work of the electrical department with the present staff. That the engineer's Balary be increased by £25. Crs. Masters, Coleman, and Jackson approved of the suggested increase in wages. The Council would require to look after their men, and the extra Is per day would be a fair thing. ~ C'r. Thompson was not averse to the increase, but he inquired if the Council had allowed for same in the estimates.

Cr. Walsh expressed approval of the increase, which was carried on the voices. The suggestion that a ranger lie advertised for at a salary of £144 per annum .rented a little discussion. Cr. Thompson said a good man \yas required. but he thought '.lie salary offered was inadequate.—lt was resolved -to adopt the suggestion outlined bv the general committee, the (present ranger to receive one month's notice of termination of contract. The charwoman's application for increase in salary to '2.33 per week, with duties as per schedule, was granted. The increase of the town clerk's salary by £26 created considerable discussion. Cr. Masters moved that the matter be held over till such time as considered necessary. Cr. Lawson stated that he could not agree with Cr. Masters' motion. He would move an amendment: "That in view of the town clerk not making any application for an increase in salary, this be ■ deleted from the Works' Committee's report." Cr. -Hunter said he always believed in paying good wages, and thought any man was always worth all lie could get. He thought, however, in public works officials one reached the limit, and this was an instance 'where they might call a halt. He thought the town clerk should continue the work until Vie end of the present term. Cr. Coleman thought the town clerk deserved the increase. He detailed the extra duties the town clerk was called on to perform, and contrasted his duties with those of Ilawera and Xew Plymouth. He did not consider it a fair proposition to ask or expect the town clerk to undertake these extra duties without an increase in salary. Cr. D. J. Jlalone thought the Works Committee had made a mistake in bringing the suggestion forward. He rather objected to Cr. Hunter's inference that the town clerk was dissatisfied with his position, but he was in favor of granting the increase. C*. Thomson reminded the Council that about eight months ago the town clerk had been voted £'2s for extra work done in connection with the fjectric light. He thought the committee should not lmvo brought down the clause.'

The Mayor said lie would support the amendment. Tlie town clerk had made no mention,to him about deserving an increase. Mr. Skojlund had promised to carry out the work for a certain period, and under tho3e circumstances lie could not support the suggested increase. Or. Laweon said he would at the end of the term be prepared to reconsider

the matter, and, if the position warranted, to grant the increase then, and would gladly support a bigger increase than at present suggested. The amendment was put and carried. The last clause was one suggesting that the engineer's salary bo increased by £25 per annum. Cr. Masters moved in this direction. If they lost their engineer they would probably have to pay 75 per cent, more to secure another man. Mr. Sullivan liaa done good work in the past, and had the confidence of the Council. The Mayor moved as an amendment: "That the suggested increase in the engineer's salary be held over till next year for favorable consideration." He had received no increase during Cr. Masters' term of the mayoralty. Cr. Coleman relished the discussion that night. Evidently there was a great ncod for economy, and ho contrasted this with the desire of some to grant the 'band £IOO. Now it appeared to be a question of adequately (paying employees. Cr. Masters stated the engineer was worth more than £"250 per annum. The Mayor said he had no experience of the engineer, and could not conscientiously sav he was worth more. After further discussion the ment was carried, on the casting vote 1 of the Mayor. GENERAL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The General Committee reoommended that Messrs Wright, Reira, and Patrick be appointed a selection committee to the library, and that the librarian submit a monthly report; that the Daily News and Hawera Star Joe obtained for the library, provided they be obtained at half the ordinary subscription. Re the Town Hall, the electrical engineer's suggestion re protection of lights and a new box and padlock on the switchboard had been carried out. —Adopted. ABATTOIR COMMITTEE.

Tlie Abattoir Committee recommended Hie purchase of 500 posts, and that black hinau iposts be substituted for the concrete gate posts. That the erection of shed be held over. That erection of fence, repairs, and tree planting be left to Crs. Campbell, Walsh, and the engineer.—Adopted. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT. \V. J. Newton, electrical engineer, reported on the working of the plant. Preparations were well forward to experiment with the lighting of Broadway. He desired that the wages of one of the juniors should be improved from 30s to £2. Houses on Flint Road had been wired, and heating installations, and several additions to existing installations for both lighting and heating, had also been wired. For the month (he cash received for lighting, heating, cic., totalled £37S 15s Id, outstanding £39 7s lUd. —.Adopted.

BOROUGH ENGINEER. Mr. Ti D. Sullivan, borough engineer, reported on work done during the month.—Adopted. NOTICES OF MOTION. Cr. Masters moved: "'That resolutions restricting' limit of expenditure by the engineers to £.3 without the authority of tlic Council be rescinded, and that 110 expenditure be made <'.vitliout reference to the chairman of committees."— Carried. Cr. Coleman moved: That the traffic by-laws be revised by the Works Committee, assisted by the borough solicitor, at as early a date a3 possible."—The motion was briefly discussed and carried.

GENERAL. There are many renders of the Daily News who v:i':l lie pleased to hear that Lieut. "Bo'u" Woods lias bean awarded a further honor. A cablegram received by his brothcr-in-hv.v, Mr. Campbell Jackson, announces tha.t he has been awarded the Military Cross for work in tho action at Messines. In this action Bob received other souvenirs besides the medai, having been sltot through the thigh and check. Despite these injuries lie is now fit and ready for further work. Evidently the ex-Stratford footballer thrives on a lead and steel diet, as he was wounded at Gallipoli, where he succeeded in earning the King's Medal. Good luck to the Taranaki representative who is now filling the p<>siThe annual meeting of the Midhirst Dairy Co. takes place at Midhirßt Town Hall next Monday. The business to be discussed is very important, and includes a notice of motion that is certain to create some discussion. A large number of suppliers have been nominated for the directorate, so a change of controlling influences is probaule. The present Borough Council may not contain many orators, but there are several who do not hesitate to take the floor 011 any and every occasion. Consequently it was not, surprising that the meeting" did not adjourn till well 011 to the midnight hour. Ratepayers may rest assured that no proposal affecting tile borough is rushed through, but rather it is viewed from every point. At Monday's meeting of the Borough Council a letter was reccievd from the secretary of the Taranaki War Relief Association, expressing the Association s thanks for the Council's generosity in giving them the free use of an office ■during the year.

"Mr. C. 12. James' jewellery shop is still being besieged by buyers on the lookout for bargains. A visit to the premises shows Mr. James to be carryins very large stocks, and although the cost of gdods has been soaring of late, the proprietor I's been able to place his excellent range of miscellaneous articles before the public at pre-war prices.*