STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1920, Page 6

STRATFORD.

[Stratford Representative: IV. J. Wilson, Broadway North. Telephone 328.] BOROUGH COUNCIL. May IS. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan), and Crs. R. H. Cameron, A. Stewart, J. H. Thompson, W. J. Newton, T. Lawson, C. Jackson, C. B. Walsh, S. B. Hunter, and W. H. H, Young, With reference to the Lawrence Borough Council's letter asking support for a resolution to have hospitals maintained out of the Consolidated Fund, it it was decided to take no action in the matter. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER. Colonel G. Mitchell, M P., wrote on 'beIn: 1 * of the Central Progress League, :aton, stating that he had arranged with the Minister of Public Works to receive a deputation on the hydro electrical development of Waikaremoana and Mangahoe, on May 27, and inviting the Council to join in urging the immediate development of these two works.

The Mayor remarked that unfortunately Taranaki was not united as a province. New Plymouth seemed to be satisfied with its own scheme, and tad practically let the rest of Taratiaki down. Unless the province was united he did not think they could do much, but at the same time the Council should be represented on the deputation, and should also ask the local member of Parliament to attend. The town clerk would be in Wellington on the date of the deputation, and he would move that the matter be left in the town clerk's hands.

Cr. Jackson said that as the Council had decided to support the New Plymouth scheme there would be little use in attending the conference.

The Mayor replied that the Council should be represented at the conference in order to ascertain the Government's intentions.

Cr, Jackson: Mr. Coates said at Stratford that it would be years, and years before the Government scheme would get going.

Cr. Hunter expressed the opinion that New Plymouth had not half enough power to supply Taranaki, and. even though attached to New Plymouth, the Council should not tie itself down if the Government could supply the current quicker and cheaper. The more tlic public pushed the Bcheme the sooner they would get the currentThe town clerk pointed out thai one reason why the Council should attend the conference was to get the Government to push the Arapuni scheme, which was of the greatest benefit to Taranaki.

Cr. Cameron supported the proposal to attend the conference, and suggested that the Council's delegate should be well armed with arguments in favor of Taranaki. It seemed to him that the Progress League was more concerned with pushing the interests of Wellington, and they should be careful in dealing with the matter. RegaTdinir the Mew Plymouth scheme he gathered that it would require another loan of £120,000 before they could supply Eltham and Stratford. He wanted to push the Government scheme because it would be cheaper than the New Plymouth power, but they could possibly arrange to get current from New Plymouth until the Government scheme was completed.

Cij. Newton doubted if Stratford had much to look forward to from New Plymouth, because with the development of the ironsand and other industries, New Plymouth would need all the power for itself.

Cr. Thompson said that the cities were evidently fighting for their interests, and Taranaki should keep up its end of the stick.

The Mayor's motion that the matter be left in the hands of the town clerk to deal with was then carried. On the motion of Cr. Cameron, it was resolved to write to the HydroElectric League asking w ], a t the League was doing in regard to the conference. . ESTIMATES FOR 1920-21. The borough treasurer (Mr. p. Skoglund) submitted the estimates of receipts and expenditure for the ensuing year, as follows: Receipts.—General rate arrears £BO, 10 per cent, additional on rates £2o] water rate arrears £ls, rents £lloo' Government subsidy on rates £2oo| licenses fees £OSO, sanitation fees £4soj refunds and sundries £3OO, extraordinary water charges £435, water rate £IOOO, hospital and charitable aid £260, lighting rate of %d in £ £O4O library subscriptions £135, Town Hall rents £250, abattoir fees, etc. £OOO electric light account £7OOO, rubbish removal £2OO, general rate £3130; total £16,765. ' EXPENDITURE. . Salaries.—Mayor's honorarium £SO town*clerk (proportion) £3OO, assistant £IBO, sanitary inspector £ls, caretaker £2B, inspector £192, poundkeeper £l3; total, £753. Administration.—Office expenses £3O | Stationery £OO, accident assurance £3 miscellaneous £lO, audit £2O, fees' £lO, telephones £l3; total £146. Printing and advertising, £IOO. General Expenses.—Licensing £'lo<f valuation fees £IOO, elections and polls £2O; total, £l3O. Reserves.—lnterest and sinking fund £585, insurance £22, miscellaneous £ao, caretaker £104; total, £741. Prince of Wales' visit £IOO- - Streets and Public Buildings. Streets £550, public buildings £SO repairs and maintenance £75- total £670. ' ' fire Prevention.— Grants £25, plant, repairs, and maintenance £150; total £I/o. • ' Waterworks and Drainage.—Engineer (proportion salary) £75, caretaker" £2O, ■telephone £l u , maintenance £l2O, plant £2O, interest £020; total, £B7O. eet ! , ~~?J lgineer (P ro P ort 'o» salary) £3OO boulders £360, shingle £75 gravel £SO, wages £2IOO, timber £SO cement, tools, pipes etc. £IOO, accident £337' n ° e £o °' sundries 3:227 J tota! > Horses and drays £3OO, library and reading room £2OO, Town Hall ' £220 Hospital Board £260, hank interest and charges £320, sundries £l5O, sanitation charges £SOO, rubbish removal £2OO, by-laws £250, electric light account £6500, abattoir £800; grand . total £10,705. 8 The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the estimates, remarked that the expenditure was much the same as last year, and there had been a slight advance in rates in order to obtain the necessary revenue with which to carry on. It was quite apparent that there was not much money available for new works, and he advocated very strongly the carrying out et the loan proposals

in order ili.il permanent, improvement.; could he made. Crs. Jackson, Hunter, and Thompson referred to the fact that no provision was made in the estimates for the Domain. The Jlayor explained that with the Domains coming under the control of the Council, a certain amount of revenue would also be received from rents, etc., and he understood the old Domains Board had a small sum in hand. The motion for the adoption of the estimates was carried. THE KING'S CINEMA THEATRE. A big double star programme will lie screened at the King's Cinema Theatre Stratford to-night. Douglas Fairbanks' the popular Paramount star will he seen in "Wild and Woolly," a Paramount picture. Broncho Billy sinks into insignificance when Douglas Fairbanks gets astride a nag, and with a lariat in his hands proceeds to "put over" a few of his own stunts. He breaks all previous records in "Wild and Woolly." Also will be shown a 2000 feet Paramount Arbuckle comedy starring the king of comedians, Fatty Arbuckle. "Ob Doctor!" is said to be one of the funniest and merriest comedies that Fatty Arbuckle has appeared in. The prices for this double star programme remain as usual. Seats may be booked at the Marble Bar, Stratford. At last night's meeting of the Borough Council the Mayor gave notice of motion that the following rates be struck for the year 1920-21: General rate of 3£d ■'| the £; special rate of Id in the £ ( £17,800 loan); special rate of 1 l-8d in the £ (£51,000 Broadway loan), and lighting rate of 3d in the £ on the unimproved value, hospital, and charitable aid rate of l-8d in the £ on the capital value, and water rate of 9d in the £ on the annual value. The date of the complimentary social and dance to be tendered to Mr.' Robert Masters, M.P., and Mrs. Masters, in the Stratford Town Hall, has been fixed for Tuesday, May 23. Particulars are given in our advertising columns. Although the function is being held under the auspices of the Liberal-Labor League, the promoters wish the fact to be distinctly understood that it is nonpolitical in character, and everybody is cordially invited. To this end it has been decided that no private invitations will be issued. Tickets will be on sale in the course of a day or two.

The long winter evenings will be cheerier and more instructive if you have the new educational eard game of "Corner," suitable for three to six players. Full instruction:- are sent with each box Send a postal note for 2s Od, and receive this entertaining game l.v return post, from IT. J. Hopkins, Bookseller and Stationer, Stratford.

Now is the time for motorists to prepare for comfortable and cosy travelling during the winter months, by having the hoods of their cars seen to. C. D. Matthews, Page Street, Stratford, carries full stocks of the best materials for hoods, and will guarantee the best workmanship at the lowest possible price. Every family should have its picture history. How about yours? Photographs of the children never grow up. They will be a never-failing source of pleasure and interest in years to come Make an appointment with McAllister, of Stratford. You'll never regret it.