STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1920, Page 6

STRATFORD.

[Stratford Representative: W. I. Wilson, Broadway North. Telephone 33#.] BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING. June IS. The general purposes meeting of the Borough Council was held last night,' the Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) presiding. The New Plymouth Borough Council wrote, requesting co-operation in bringing pressure to bear upon the Government to increase the limit of loans to local bodies; also tliat it be compulsory, for local bodies to institute a sinking fund in connection with all loans. In the latter connection the communicatioa stated that the New Plymouth Council was at present paying interest on a loan I raised thirty-eight years ago.—Support accorded.

The Pahiatua Borough Council's resolution in favor of extending the powevs of the Housing Act to enable local bodies to purchase land for the erection of workers' dwellings was supported. In connection with tile plans of the new bridge to be erected over the Patea River, the Mayor Baid that representatives of local bodies had been invited to peruse the plans. It was decided to disctiss the question at the next meeting.

The Public Trust Office notified the granting of a loan of £2l,ooo.—Received. It was decided to support the resolution of the Hawera Borough Council, asking for the removal of the duty on children's footwear.

Several ratepayers and occupiers of properties in Regan Street West directed the attention of the Council to the grave state of disrepair of the road.—Left to the works committee, with power to act.

The engineer (Mr. T. D. Sullivan) reported that during the month 618 cubic yards of boulders and 167 cubic yards of shingle were crushed. The electrical engineer reported that the hydro-electric plant was running well.

The abattoir manager reported the following stock slaughtered for local consumption:—Cows 63, heifers 17, oxen 52 calves 5, sheep 362, lambs 47, pigs 74. Fees and sales brought in £72 14s 6d. Regarding the petiton for a continuous telephone service, the town clerk stated, in reply to Cr. Thompson, that the petition had been returned by the Department, the reason given being that there were not sufficient names attached. —It was decided to endeavor to secure further signatories. GENERAL.

• The proposed new post office for Stratford was the subject of considerable interest to-day, when the plans for the building were exhibited in the shop window of the Stratford electrical department. Representatives of various local bodies met to-day, and formed a committee to discuss the plans. It was decided to ask that the proposed accommodation for the public in front of the counter be increased from twelve to fifteen feet. A suggestion was made also that more of the frontage available for the building might be utilised. The Department is to be urged again to erect a clock tower over the footpath. In the : proposed building provision is made for only 250 private boxes, which the committee considered rather a low estimate, as there are 160 boxes in use in the present building. A recommendation was made to increase the number. The plan will be on view in the electrical department's window again to-morrow. The Borough Council's resolution in favor of a statutory Saturday half-holi-day has been endorsed by six counties .and twenty-three boroughs. The Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs has informed „ the Stratford Borough Council that as General Birdwood. proposes motoring through from New Plymouth to Wanganui on the one day, his stay in Stratford could only be a very short one, but definite information would be forwarded later. The Mayor and Cr. Lawson have been delegated to confer with the local branch of the R.S.A. regarding Stratford arrangements. The Mayor informed the Borough Council last evening the Defence Department had notified that three machine gun?, complete, had been allotted to Stratford. A resolution was carried thanking the Department, and stating that the Council would make itself responsible for the care V>f the guns. The Borough Council accepted with thinks an invitation from Rev. L. Ji. Nealo> Methodist Minister, to the Council to attend a citizens' church parade to be held next Sunday morning in the Town Hall. He stated it had been his custom to hold an annual service of this character.