NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1919, Page 6

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MAYORAL INSTALLATION. The installation of Mr. C. H. Burgesa n>. Mayor of New Plymouth took place at the Borough Council Chambers last night. After the elected councillors and the Mayor had signed the statutory declarations, Mr. Burgess oujngratulated the old councillors on taking their seats at the council table. '

Procee3ing, the Mayor said he would, as in the past, give the best service he could to the borough foi the next two years. He was pleased tQ see all the old councillors who stood for re-election back on the council, as it indicated that,, in spite of the criticism that had been levelled at the council, the people were satisfied that something had been done. He was sure, also, tha,t the new councillors would be of assistance tc the council, as each appeared to represent, as it were, different interests in the community. Referring to the past, the Mayor said they had been through trying times, and in some cases ratepayers had been inconvenienced, but a great deal of the trouble had been due to the war. Now that was over, labor should be available to put on to the works, and the council would be able to give more attention to the needs of the borough than in the past. He drew attention to the engineer's annual report, which showed that a great deal of work had been done, especially on the three main roads leading out of the borough. With regard to work to be done, he said there was still a balance in the £42,000 loan, and then there was the £IO,OOO loan. It was the intention to get on with the vorks provided for in those loan moneys as soon as possible. He felt quite sure the new councillors would be as anxious as the old ones to see that done. There were other works besides the loan works, but ratepayers would need to exercise patience. The footpaths of the town had been neglected in the past, but £2OOO had been set aside out of the £IO,OOO loan for that particular work, and he wanted the council to get on to that at once, and to decide immediately as to those to be asphalted and those gravelled. They could not all be done at once, and it would take some time to reach the outskirts with that work, but if a start was made something very much better than they had at present would soon be the result. Everything depended more or less on the labor available, and in this respect he thought the town would be very much better off in the course of a year or two.

Continuing, the Mayor referred to other matters which would need the immediate attention of the council, including a comprehensive drainage scheme. He did not suggest that the council would be able to complete such a scheme, but that what was done should be part of a completely planned scheme. He also referred in this connection to the proposed deviation of the Mansatuku Stream at Queen Street, and said it would be a pity to spend the £ISOO allocated for a culvert across the stream in Brougham Street if there was a likelihood of the deviation being carried out. The provision of public conveniences was a pressing matter, as was also the housing problem. In regard to the latter. the Mayor said he thought it more a matter for the Government than the municipalities. The borough was struggling, and it seemed hard that it should have to entertain the idea of providing houses for people who wished to reside here. It would be no use building a few —the matter would have to be gone into in a big way. It might be possible for the borough to do the work if the Government found the money. Big companies which employed large staffs might do something to provide houses for their employers, and the borough might do something for its employees; but that would not solve the problem for the people. The question of supply also came under consideration, and, while the Mayor did not suggest that the council would be able to solve it and the other problems confronting it, he thought they were of sufficient urgency to merit the serious consideration of the council. The matter of providing a town hall and the drawback to the town on account of the lack of such a building were also teferred to by Mr. Burgess. The Mayor then referred to the success of the borough electricity undertaking, and said that if the big' scheme for which the loan was authorised was got .going it would be an even greater asset to the ratepayers. The tramway service was also doing very well, in spite of the set-back at the time of the epidemic, and the new bus service showed good prospects. •! ' In the matter of finance the borough was now in a much better position than it was a few years ago. The benefits of the additional rates that had been put on were now beginning to be felt. He also remarked on the amount of revenue spent on plant, which was, in reality, a good asset to the borough. They would, however, want all the revenue they could get for some time to come to carry out the many works there were to do. He felt it was quite time now that the people in the outer areas got something in the way of a reward for coming into the borough. He had, however, no fears for the future of the town. They were carrying a fairly heavy load, but all the indications pointed in the direction of immediate progress throughout the district, and he was confident the town of New Plymouth would share in the general advancement. He advocated a. "hasten slowly" policy. What was wanted was, not a boom, but to go on steadily, and he hoped the old and the new councillors would work together to that end. (Applause.) Crs. Collis, Clarke, and Short congratulated the Mayor on his re-election, and thanked him for his expressions of confidence in the council, and assured him of loyal support in the execution of the council's programme.

ELECTION OP COMMITTEES. Subsequently, the following standing committees and representatives on other bodies were elected:— General purposes and estimates: The whole council. Electric light and tramways: The Mayor, Crs. Clarke, Hill, and Hayden. Reserves: Crs. Brooker, Collis, Griffiths, and Short. Abattoir, baths, and cemetery: Crs. Collis, Griffiths, Hayden, and Parkin. Streets sub-committee: The Mayor, Crs. Hill, Parkin, and Short. Finance: The Mayor, Crs. Clarke and Hill. ifelal sub-committee: The Mayor, Crs. Clarke and Parkin. Carifegie library and museum': Crs. Brooker, Hayden. Messrs A. H. Johnstone, P. .T. H. White, and four others to be appointed by subscribers Western Park Board: Crs. Clarke, Hill. #Bd CoUU, Hr, K. J, Sip*, uh four

others to be appointed bv residents of West End. REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES. Pukekura Park: Crs. Brooker, Griffiths, and Short. Fire Board: Crs. Hill, Brooker, and Hayden. Band: Mr. C. C. Ward and Major Sandford. Scenic Board: Crs. Collis and Mr. R. W. Davies. hjgmont National Park: Crs. Collis. Technical College: Cr. Short. Seaside committees: Crs. Hill (Kawaroa), Collis (East End), and Short (Ngamotu).