Roll of Council for 1936-7 Mayor
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ROLL OF COUNCIL FOR 1936-7 MAYOR – J. Langdon, Esq., J.P. Alderman J. L. Leal, J.P. Alderman H. S. Hatwell, J.P. Alderman T. Green, J.P. Alderman F. Worrell Alderman A. A. House Councillor F. G. Phelps, J.P. (Strangways Ward) Councillor J. Mason (Strangways Ward) Councillor M. Waston, J.P. (Musgrave Ward) Councillor E. T. Isley, J.P. (Musgrave Ward) Councillor W. H. D. James (Jervois Ward) Councillor O. R. Turner (Jervois Ward) Councillor J. Sandow, J.P. (Torrens Ward) Councillor W. H. Edmonds, J.P. (Torrens Ward) Town Clerk & Surveyor – C. E. Wyett Assistant Town Clerk and Collector of Rates – W. H. Brady Lady Clerks – Miss M. M. Matheson, & Miss E. A. Martin Medical Officer – Dr R. G. Burnard (Dr A. J. Clarkson – Locum Tenens) Auditor – W. H. Willsmore A.I.A.S.A. Working Overseer – W. H. Baker Town Hall Porters – L. Woodlands and L. Minear Curator – J. Matheson CORPORATION OF THEBARTON MAYOR’S ANNUAL REPORT 18th June, 1937 The Members of the Town Council Thebarton, and Citizens of the Town of Thebarton, Ladies & Gentlemen, In presenting this my fifth consecutive report as Mayor, I want to say, at the outset, that as I am not a candidate for the Mayoralty at the forthcoming Elections, I wish to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Mayoress and myself, to thank everyone who assisted us during the past five years and seven months. While the duties appertaining to an official position of this nature have necessarily taken up a considerable amount of our time, and occasionally caused us some anxiety, we both feel that it has been well worth while in that we have, by personal contact with hundreds of people in all walks of life, made many friends, whom we trust will remain so during the years to come. The Coronation of His Majesty the King is now History, but it is fitting that mention should be made of it in this report. The wonderful spontaneity of loyalty by millions of adherents in England and all British Dominions must have a good effect in the near future by giving other European Nations food for thought should they be contemplating precipitating another World War. Thebarton’s part in the Coronation Festivities took the form of Decorating and Floodlighting the Municipal Building on Taylors Rd, a Coronation Ball in aid of the District Trained Nursing Society, and providing for a Wireless Broadcast in the Assembly Hall for all who cared to attend. Getting down to mundane matters, your Council has established another milestone in the continued progress of the Town by the construction of a Refuse Incinerator at the northern end of the Town, the contract price being £4,986. The Plant was officially opened by me, as Mayor, on April 23rd. It has been working very satisfactorily and economically. A Woodville Engineer who has recently visited all the States, reports that the Thebarton Plant is by far the best for its purpose he has seen. Too much credit cannot be given to Cnr M. Watson, a member of this Council, and a qualified Engineer, for his untiring efforts in supervising the erection of the plant. It is pleasing to report that the West Torrens Cricket Club have again won the Cricket Premiership. Their home ground is the Thebarton Oval. The West Torrens Football Club, while not successful last year have made a better start this year, and I wish them the best of luck. The Members of your Council attended the Anzac Service in the new Town Hall and have also accepted invitations to attend Sunday Services in other Churches. It is pleasing to note that the Anzac Service continues to gain in importance, rather than diminish as the years roll by. Once again it is very gratifying to notice that unemployment is diminishing, and the good prices obtained for our wool and wheat have greatly benefited the State of South Australia and Australia generally. This year 140 unemployed applied to work for the clothing provided by the Government, whereas, at the height of the depression, the number was over 500. During the year, Ald Leal, who for many years has been a Member of this Council, and has occupied the Mayoral Chair, resigned his seat on account of being appointed Chairman of the Municipal Tramways Trust Board. Mr A. A. House was elected unopposed to fill the vacant position. Ald Hatwell was again elected by a substantial majority as a member of the Central Board of Health. Our Medical Officer of Health, R. G. Burnard, has been on a visit to England, and while there passed the necessary examination to qualify for the important degree of M.R.C.B. At this Council’s suggestion a conference between representatives of the West Torrens, Henley & Grange, and this Council took place, the object being to suggest to those Councils that they make application to the Fire Brigades Board to be included in The Thebarton Fire Area, which would mean a saving to this Council in their contribution to the Fire Brigade. The matter has not been finalised. The Headmaster of the Thebarton Central School, (Mr Jacobs), who made himself very popular while in charge, has had to retire owing to attaining the age limit. I am pleased to state that a pupil of the Cowandilla School, Edmund Kennett, of Gladstone Road, Mile End, was top of the whole State in the Qualifying Certificate Examination. Your Council recently made extensive additions to the room at the rear of the Old Town Hall, and these have been handed over to the Thebarton Branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers League, at a nominal rental of 1/- per year. The Thebarton Band came second in the November Band Contest, the winner being the Melbourne Fire Brigades Band, which the Adjudicator considers the best band in Australia at present. Our Band did well to come second. In my last report I mentioned that I had received a cheque for £224 from the Adelaide & Suburban Relief Fund. Of this amount I gave £100 to the Thebarton Womens’ Service Association, and the balance, with the exception of approximately £50 has been spent in providing boots and shoes for school children, relieving distress, and donations to the Unemployed Workers Association, and Old Age Pensioners Association. Improvements are being made to the Post Office on Taylors Rd. My Council made every endeavour to persuade the Postal Department to erect a new Post Office in a more Central position, but were unsuccessful. An important alteration to the Local Government Act is that now only those ratepayers will be debarred from voting, who owe “arrears” of rates, this is rates declared 12 months previously. Ratepayers can now vote if the rates declared in July last are not paid even if a fine was added in December last. The Thebarton Committee of the T.B. Soldiers Button Day, of which the Mayoress was Convenor, were successful in collecting £55-4-7. This amount is outstanding so far as Suburban collections are concerned. I officially opened the Floral Society’s Centennial Show last September, and the Society is to be congratulated on the success of the function. Thanks are also due to the members of this Society for decorating the front of the office block during the Floral Festival Week. An employee of this Corporation, Mr M. Menz, obtained 8 first prizes and 2 seconds at the Flower Show, and at the Society’s Show in April last Mr Menz was successful in obtaining 15 firsts, 4 seconds, and the Champion Show Dahlia prize. In connection with the Floral Pageant held during the Centenary Celebrations, I wish to say that, while this Council’s entry was not successful in winning a prize, the fact remains that Thebarton was the first Council to notify the Central Committee of its intention to enter a Float, and this fact no doubt influenced other Councils to also enter. Moreover, the novelty of having our float drawn by a team of bullocks gave pleasure to thousands of sight-seers, and some good was achieved by my having the Float taken to the Childrens Hospital and the Memorial Hospital; but the main feature of Thebarton’s entry was the fact that the late Col. Light was honored in the procession. Too much praise cannot be given to the following Societies and Associations working in the Town, namely the Women’s Service Association, the District Trained Nursing Society, the Mothers & Babies’ Health Association; Boy Scouts Association, Girl Guides Association, Returned Solders Association, Central School Committee, Infant School Mothers Club, Thebarton Municipal Band, Thebarton Municipal Orchestra, Thebarton Choral Society. In addition to their Council duties, Members having official positions are :- Ald H. S. Hatwell, (Chairman Finance Committee, President Suburban Municipal & D.C. Association, Member Central Board of Health. Cnr J. Mason, Member of Infectious Diseases Hospital Board, Chairman of Finance Committee of that Board. Cnr Sandow is a member of the Municipal Association; Cnr Isley the Suburban Municipal & D.C. Assoc. The National Safety Council representative is Cnr O. R. Turner. Ovals Assoc representatives Cnr Watson & Cnr. James; The Mayor, Municipal Assoc. Cnr Phelps is Chairman of Our Health Committee; Cnr Isley Chairman Works Committee, and Cnr James Chairman Oval Comtee. Ald T. Green is a Member of the County Board. The Collection for the Childrens Hospital in Thebarton in May amounted to approximately £73 making a total of £137 collected in Thebarton during that month, the other Societies benefitting being The “Flying Sisters” Fund, and The District Trained Nursing Society. The Registration of Dogs during the past year has exceeded any previous year, the total being 1202, including 965 Males, 200 Females, and 37 Alsatians.