NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1919, Page 6

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE. The General Purposes Committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council,met last night, there being present—the Mayor (Mr. Jus. Clarke), Crs. F. J. Hill, W. F. Short, R. L. Parkin, A. E. Sykes, V. Griffiths, and W. A. Collis. Permission was given to the Catholic Bazaar Committee to hold a "Mart Day" in town on January 17th. Acting upon special legal opinion obtained, the Council deoided to accede to the request of the New Plymouth High Schools' Board of Governors that the lease of Lots 1 and 2, Borough Reserye, Avenue Road, be offered for sale at auction in one lot.

On the recommendation of the engineer to the electrical extension works (Mr. G. A. Lee), Mr. R. L. Pearless, of Palmeraton North, was appointed clerk of works for Central No. 1.

The borough engineer reported that the price of gaol gravel had been increased by 6d per yard. Messrs. Boon Bros., on behalf of Captain Hartnell, applied for a sewer extension to his property. The engineer reported that an extension of 110 ft would be necessary, and that a oin. main for that distance would cost £3O. The application was granted.

An application was received from Mr R. 0. Ellis for the connection of his property, which was outside the Borough, with the water mains. The engineer reported that the length of pipe main required would be 3 chains 40ft, and 38ft of service connection, the cost being £2l 12s.

It was decided to reply that if Mr. Ellis paid the cost of the extension the Council would Connect thereto.

SUPERANNUATION FUND. The finance committee reported as follows: • . (a) The committee conferred with the Superintendent of the National Provident Fund (Mr. R. E. Hayes) in regard to the proposal for the Borough. to join the Government National Provident Fund. The position appeared to be as follows: — The number of employees eligible to join the scheme when particulars were forwarded to the Department was 63. The t'otal amount payable to the Fund for the whole of the above would be per annum £1715. The Borough's proportion would be £902; employees' proportion, £813; total, £1715. Eliminating all Employees now over the ago of CO, tho Borough's contribution would be reduced to £620 per annnm. The number of employees who have expressed their willingness to join is .15. The total amount payable in respect to these would be £902, of which the Borough's contribution would be £566, and the employees' contributions £396; total, £962. Eliminating all employees over the age of 60, the Borough's contribution would be reduced to £290 per annum. In the above, employees employed on daily or weekly engagements are not considered unless they have been continuously in the Council's service for nine months. Mp Hayes thought that -this might be increased to twelve months to bring the scheme into line with the majority of the other schemes. The tramway employees engaged upon an hourly basis were nol dealt with in the above, but Mr. Hayes stated that there would be no difficulty in including them should they and the -Council so desire.

A subsequent meeting of the committee decided as follows:

(b) That the Council be recommended to join the National Provident Superannuation Scheme provided that M. Maher and H. Ford, and also all employees at present over the age of 60 years, arn.eliminated from the scheme, and that the scheme comes into operation on Ist April, 1920.

(c) That each Department make provision in next year's estimates for the necessary contributions to the scheme. (Ascertained liability in regard to those known to be willing to join, £290 per anwith pos-'ible increase to £626 if all except tramway motormen and conductors join). (d) That the Electrical and Tramways Engineer take steps to ascertain if motormen and conductors wish to join the scheme.

(e) That no employee employed on a daily or weekly engagement be eligible to join the scheme until he has completed one year's continuous service. The report was adopted.