NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH. COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1918, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH. COUNCIL.

■'»■■ WORKS COMMITTER The works committee of Uie New Plymouth Borough Council met last, night, when there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess) in the chair; Crs. J. Clarke, J. W. Hayden, F. J. Hill, W. F. Short, E. Griffiths, W. A. Collis, R. J. Deare, and G. W. Browne. ADVERTISING SIGNS. Wm. Falconer, for the Taranaki Amusements, Ltd., wrote regarding the borough inspector's claim for £4 license fee for small exhibiting boards in different parts of the town. He stated that a fee of £7 10s had been paid for the company's hoardings, and suggested that the fee for the small hoardings should be made only a nominal one. The inspector reported that the company had 8 boards approximately 4ft. each (aft. 3in. by 13in.). Section 164 provided for a liceuse fee of 103 per 50ft. and he had asked for payment on that basis. He stated that the boards had evidently been overlooked in previous years. It was eventually decided to charge 2s Cd per year for each such board. It was decided to charge another lirm, Which had painted a sign on the side of a building in Devon Street, the spacecharge provided by the by-laws. LIGHTS ON VEHICLES. The question of lights on vehicles after dark was mentioned by the inspector,who reported that several cases were pending, but as the magistrate had held that statute law must over-ride by-law, and that statute law allowed half an hour's grace after sunset, and as some of the cases to be taken were within that time, he suggested that the cases should be placed in the hands of the borough solicitor. This brought Cr. Short to his feet with a protest against the prosecution of people proceeding to their homes just after five o'clock in the evening because they did not carry lights. He did not think it was ever dark enough so early as to really require a Jhjit. He hoped the council would not prosecute people for such trivial offences.

The Mayor said he disagreed entirely with the view expressed by Cr. Short. He had on many occasions noticed people driving and riding without lights after sunset, and it was most difficult to avoid accidents or collisions. He thought the by-law was necessary, and should be enforced in the interests of public safety. Several other councillors expressed similar views, and it whs decided to proceed with the cases and test the bylaws. AVENUE ROAD. The borough engineer reported that, with regard to Avenue Road, he was having the metalled portions repaired. The actual road..•(•■• was constructed very close to the boundary fence and line of poles. He suggested that as the road was to be tarred, room should be left for a pathway, which would necessitate shifting over the outside metal sft. westward between Mr. Penn's and the junction of the old Avenue Road. The cost would be approximately £f>o. The width of the road at present is 110 links. It was decided to authorise the work proposed by the engineer. TRAMWAY SHELTERS. Cr. Browne asked if there was any likelihood of shelters being erected along the tramway route at an early date. Ho pointed out that the winter was near at hand, and if shelters were not erected ho was of opinion that the revenue of the tramways would suffer. The Mayor pointed "out that the committee had the matter in hand. STANDING COMMITTEES. With the exception that Cr. Browne was. appointed to the Pukekura Park Committee jn place qf Cr. Collis, the standing committees of the council were elected the same as for last year.