Y.M.C.A. DEBATING SOCIETY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8538, 19 September 1907, Page 5

Y.M.C.A. DEBATING SOCIETY

MOCK BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A mock Borough Council was held by the Y.M.C.A. Debating Society last evening. The Mayor (Mr A. Donald) occui pied the chair, and the following Councillors were present:—Cr Prentice (Mr W. Kemp), Cr Elliott (Mr A. Billington), Cr Pauling (Mr E. Burrows), Cr Yarr (Mr J. McLean), Cr Ewington (Mr A. Rees), Cr Morris(Mr A. Shute), Cr Temple (Mr L. Daniell), Cr Haughey (Mr J. Sieverson), Cr Pragnell (Mr B. Sieverson), Town Clerk (Mr D. Hebenton), Borough Engineer (Mr S. Earee.) There was a good attendance of the public, who seemed to enjoy the proceedings. A bulky volume of correspondence was dealt with. "James Francis" wrote asking that the trees on the sunny side of Short Street might be cut down. "Cr Prentice" moved that the "Engineer" be instructed to deal with the matter. "Cr Temple" thought that the street \ should be widened first, and moved an amendment in the direction of instructing the "Town Clerk" to write to the property owners in the street asking them if they would be prepared to give their land for the widening of the street. The amendmen was carried unanimously. Another correspondent wanted the state of Devon Street improved. If this were not done, he suggested that a high boarded fence should be placed around the road which could then be turned into the swimming baths. The letter was referred to the Works Committee. The "Town Clerk" drew the j "Mayor's" attention to the fact that he was breaking the standing orders by not rising from his seat in addressing the Council. The "Mayor" ruled himself in order, as custom I differed from the standing orders. | A number of complaints from indignant ratepayers, regarding the state of various streets, were referred to the Works Committee and the "Eneineer." The Council absolutely refused to deal with one letter, and with regard to another the "Mayor" laid it on the table, because one Councillor alleged that the writer had a "finger in the pie," and wantd to sell some of his land for the widening of a certain street. Mr W. L. Falconer attended as a deputation, and addressed the Council at some length on administrative matters. The Mayor, after informing the.speaker twice that he had taken up too much of the valuable time of the Council, said Lis complaint would be carefully considered. A report was received from the "Engineer." A large scheme for the drainage . of Kuripuni, involving an expenditure of about £35,000, was advanced. "Cr Elliott" brought up the question of continuing Herbert Street through to Makora Street, and urged that immediate steps should be taken to have the work .put in hand. "Cr Haugl ey" reminded the Council that the last speaker lived in Herbert Street, and the letter was forwarded to the Works Committee. j The improvement of the Kuripuni | Triangle was the grievance of "Cr Morris," and, despite the protests of "Cr Haughey," who persisted in keeping the question of Short Street trees before the Council, "Cr Morris" succeeded in having his grißvance forwarded to the Works Committee for favourable consideration. "Cr Ewingto:-." moved, by notice, in the direction of having a portion of the ten acres adjoining the Park converted into a recreation ground. The speaker complained of the lack of amusement grounds in the town, and criticised the Council's past administration of the Park Oval. "Cr Prentice" moved an amendment to hold the matter over until some great personage in New Zealand died, and then the 10 acres could be improved as a memorial to him. "Cr Haughey" did not believe in having the recreation grounds all "in a bunch," and would like to see another ground near the railway station —in the Bishop's Reserve, for preference. He moved an amendment in this direction, and succeeded in having it carried unanimously. "Cr Pauling" moved that a municipal coal depot be established in the town. "Cr Temple" considered that the mover was a Socialist, and opposed the motion, which was eventually lost on the casting vote of the Mayor. "Cr Yarr" moved that the Coun cil establish a municipal fire insurance business. He considered that with the profits accruing from the i business the overdraft would soon be wined off. ! "Cr Haughey" asked the Council to be consistent. They would not sanction the establishment of a municipal coal depot, but here was a motion to commence a wider municipal business. "Cr Temple" asked where was the capital coming from to start the business. The "Mayor" said that the matter needed careful consideration, and for that purpose he moved that a special meeting of the Council be held a week hence to deal with it. This was carried unanimously. A motion was moved by "Cr Prentice" that steps be taken to complete the drainage of the borough. This was necessary in view of the alarming spread of disease. The motion was carried, and the "Town Clerk" was instructed to call a meeting of ratepayers. At this stage "Cr Morris" moved the adjournment of the Council, but the motion was defeated by eight votes to two. "Cr Temple" moved that a loan of £12,000 be raised for the gasworks and threatened to lower the price of gas if the motion were carried. He further moved that the manufacturing plant of the gasworks be removed to a site near the railway station. The motions were seconded by "Cr Ewington" and unanimously agreed to. The Council then adjourned.