CARTERTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1938, Page 9

CARTERTON

MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL K SUGGESTIONS FOR CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL., QUALITY OF WATER CRITICISED. (“Times-Age” Special.) The Mayor, Mr D. L. Taverner, presided at the monthly meeting of the Carterton Borough Council, held last night. Others present were Councillors J. Udy, O. Wolters, C. J. DeLacey, H. Mortenson, E. McKenzie, R. A. Copeland and W. Hart. Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L. Clark and C. E. Stevens. The financial statement showed that cash received since last meeting amounted to £458 Os 3d and for the period April 1 to December 16 to £3204 3s 2d, as compared with £4283 2s 2d for the- corresponding period of last year. Expenditure from April 1 to December 15 was £6758 12s 4d, as compared with £6170 3s lOd for the same period of last year. There was a bank credit balance of £lO2 9s 7d. At the same date last year there was a credit balance of £637 17s lid. Accounts amounting to £482 16s 8d were passed. A letter, was received from the Local Bodies’ Labourers’, other Labourers and Related. Trades Industrial Union of Workers proposing that, as the present award expired on November 9, it be renewed for a further term of twelve months with the addition of a 10 per cent increase in wages to compensate for the increased cost of living. The Town Clerk, Mr P. A. Cole, said he had, on the advice of the Mayor, replied that the council regretted that the smaller boroughs were placed in a somewhat different position to the larger and wealthier towns, the rising costs on every hand making it practically impossible to .make ends meet without further increasing the present high rates. The council, therefore regretted that it was unable to see its way clear at the present time to agree to the proposed increase. Mr Taverner said he considered that the increase requested was neither justified nor necessary. The Clerk’s reply was approved. The Wairarapa P. and A. Society applied for a rebate in respect of the water rates chargeci against the society. In previous years, it'was stated, the council had made a rebate of £5. It was decided to make the same rebate. It was decided to order copies of proposed standardised sets of by-laws as they are compiled. “Our present bylaws date back to 1887,” stated Mr Taverner. • After a discussion on a possible local centennial memorial, it was decided to invite suggestions from the public and to donate a prize of £1 Is for the suggestion accepted by the council. • Referring to a request for a list of persons who settled in the borough or were born there from 1859 to 1869, the Town Clerk said that as far as he was aware none of those pioneers were still living nor were there any descendants of the same name living in the borough. It was decided to advertise for a list of early settlers and their descendants. The council approved of a suggestion by the Mayor of Masterton, Mr T. Jordan, that a regional committee be set up, under the provisions of the Town Planning Act, to investigate the general conditions of the district with a view to discussing amalgamation of local bodies. “We get very good service from our volunteer brigade,” remarked the Mayor, when referring to a decision to purchase a patent fire extinguisher for the fire brigade. “Our water is a disgrace,”, observed Councillor Hart. “At times,” he added, “it is filthy, dirty, brown and black.” Mr Taverner: “One of the worst sufferers at present is our Town Clerk.” Councillor McKenzie: “What is the remedy?” Councillor DeLacey: “A lot of people get dirty water who do not complain.” Mr Taverner said some people got a dirty supply and others did not. When there was a flood in the river the sediment settled in the pipes. He could not see a remedy nor how the trouble could be obviated. Adverse comment was made by the Mayor on the present wastage of water. Carterton averaged 200 gallons per head of population in 24 hours as compared with an average in most other towns of 70 gallons. Restrictions on the use of garden hoses were the only way to prevent indiscriminate waste of water. It was decided to advertise hosing restrictions. . In reply to a question it was stated that there were at present 8 to 14 unemployed men working for the borough. At one time there were 20. The Clerk reported that the increase in the price of coal and higher freight rates would mean an additional expenditure to the council of about £6O a year. The caretaker of the swimming baths applied for leave on Christmas Day. He said he could make arrangements with the Swimming Club to control the baths from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., provided it could take the proceeds. Councillor McKenzie considered the council should close the baths on Christmas Day. The Swimming Club should not be allowed to hold a pistol at the heads of the council. Councillor DeLacey: “The club should not be allowed to .dictate to the council. Over a period of years the club has got everything and the council nothing.” Councillor Mortenson: “It is like their cheek. They get good service from the borough and if they cannot work in it is a pretty poor look out.” Councillor Hart said the council would be no worse off if it let the club take the proceeds than if it closed the baths. He did not think there would be much revenue forthcoming on Christmas afternoon.

Councillors: “It is the principle not the revenue.” A motion to let the club control the baths and take the revenue was defeated as was also an amendment that the club be given half the proceeds. It was decided to let the caretaker make his own arrangements.

The Season’s Greetings. At the conclusion of the Carterton Borough Council meeting, the Mayor (Mr D. L. Taverner) extended the season’s greetings to his fellow councillors, to the Town Clerk and his assistant, and to the borough staff. Councillor McKenzie (Deputy Mayor) suitably acknowledged and returned the greetings. The Clerk (Mr P. A. Cole) returned thanks on behalf of himself, his assistant and the borough staff. Parking of Cars. During Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve the parking of cars will not be allowed in the shopping area of the borough of Carterton between Pembroke Street and Belvedere Street. The restriction is to be rigidly enforced. Personal. Mr and Mrs N. A. Rush will leave Carterton for Hastings on Friday. Mr Rush, who is Borough Overseer, is on annual leave and will be absent a fortnight. Mr J. A. McCash, who recently was senior clerk at the Carterton Railway Station, is now stationed in the inwards parcels office, New Zealand Railways, Wellington. • Christmas Trade. Although the weather conditions during the past month have not been what might be expected at this time of the year, it is not dulling the spirit of the residents or the business people of the town. Preparations are being made to brighten up the town in many ways. The Borough Council has played its part. Most of the streets have been cleared of weeds and grass, new footpaths have been asphalted, vacant sections have received attention, the borough’s parks have received attention and a clean up of the whole borough of rubbish has been done. On the top of this tradespeople are showing activity and shop windows have been attractively dressed for the Christmas season. Goods of excellent quality at reasonable prices are displayed and local residents should adopt as their slogan “Shop Early and Shop in Carterton.” Beside window dressings some of the shops have had installed coloured lights by the Power Board staff and everything is ready for a bright and joyous Christmas.