NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1918, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL

SB, MONTHLY MEETING. , The monthly meeting of the NewPlymouth Borough Council was held last nijjht. The Deputy-Mayor (Cr. W. A. Collis) presided, and there were also present: Crs. J. Clarke, J. W. Hayden, W. F. Short, E, Grilliths, R. J. Deare, and G. W. Browne. Apologies for absence were received from his Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess) auu. cr. F. 3. HiU, . REPORTS. ' The reports of the borough departmental officials, and committees' reports (as already published), were received and adopted. In connection with the motion fw the adoption of t'he Finance Committee's report, Cr. Hayden drew attention to an item of payment to Mr. F. Black, for a sum of £66 10s fid, He said the amount included a charge of £42 10s for five days' services in New Plymouth, which he considered grossly excessive. He moved that the amount should be referred back to the committee for wrther consideration. Cr. Short seconded the amendment pro forma.. Cr. Browne considered the money wa9 well spent, r "n-. Black's services had been of great ,ae to the. council. He had been the means of enabling the council to secure exemption from military service of its electrical and tramways manager and the car-shcd foreman, and he thought that if they desired to appeal for any other of its electrical or tramway employees, the same evidence would ba available. Cr. Clarke: New 'Plymouth pays for the evidence, and the whole Dominion will have the benefit of it. Continuing, Cr, Clarke said he thought they could not ask Mr. Black to reduce his charge, but they had a remedy, and that was, not to employ him in future. He said if any j agreement was made with Mr. Black, or 'any other engineer, in the future, he [would see, if he was on the council, that it was on a different basis from that made, and the council would know how much the work was to cost them. Cr. Griffiths considered t'he charge was not excessive for a man in Mr. Black's position. He did not think they could go and ask him to reduce his charge or refuse to par him the amount. Cr. Hayden, in reply, said if the eoun?il was of opinion that the charge was too high t'hev should not be afraid to tell Mr. Black so On being put, the amendment was lost on the voices, and a resolution was passed detailing the terms of the letter to be sent to Mr. Black. Owing to the r/isence of the Mayor and Cr. Hill, consideration ot tne pronosed exchange of property between the the council and the Education Board was deferred. WORKS COMMITTEE. Subsequently a meeting of the Works Committee was held, the same councillors being present, when t'lie following matters were dep.lt, with: BAND RECITALS. The secretary of the New Plymouth j Citizens' Band wrote enclosing a copy of an amended programme of recitals to be given during the current season, which provided for 10 concerts for which they asked for a subsidy of £SO, with £lO for the extra two concerts. —The programme was approved. Tlie band was also granted permission to take up a collection at a recital at Kawaroa Park on Sunday next in aid of the Copper Trail. INTERNMENT OF ALIENS. The Hastings Borough Council wrote forwarding a scries of resolutions regarding the necessity for the internment of enemy aliens, as follows:—(1) That the sinking of the Wimmera exposes the folly of permitting enemy aliens to be at large in the Dominion. (2) That the Government be strongly urged to cause all enemy aliens to be immediately debarred from working on or about i wharves or shipping, notwithstanding that they may have been licensed f.y (>e _ police to do so. (3) That- the Government be strongly urged to take steps to intern all enemy aliens with as little delay as possible, and (o employ all the able-bodied oner, upon work of public utility in some place of safety. Support was asked for the foregoing resolutions. It was decided to receive (lie letter, the council having previously expressed its opinion on the question. GENERAL. Replying to Cr. Browne, the engineer stated that plans for the public conveniences to be built in Brougham Street were almost completed and -would be submitted to the ne\i meeting of the council.