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\ Page 6 'The Haileyburian n t g i 1 if Pe scesiliseribiiaitt os aa Se ¥ ¥ he RRS S e SS Ss oie Dave McLaughlin and Art Cooke are getting Co s axXla closer to the time when they will be selling co-axial service to television owners in Hailey- bury. Here the last touches are being put on the big antenna. That is not Mayor Cooke at the top of the pole. Cobalt Town Council Sets 1959 Mill Rate 'COBALT--Cobalt council trim- med its 1959 budget at a final fihance meeting held on Monday, and held\ the increase on general taxes to a modest 1 mill increase. But jumping 'school costs, out of the control of, council, lifted the pliblic school rates 15.4 mills over last year and the separate school rates by 24 mills. 'Public school commercial rates for 1959 were set at 167.4, resi- déntial 153.4; separate ~ school commercial 164; residential 150. Council had 'an unusual condi- tion to deal with at the special meeting called to give final touch- es to the budget. About 30 rate- payers turned out disturbed by reports 'that council planned, among other things, to reduce the High School to the status of a continuation school. For the benefit of the ratepayers, Councillor Jack Mathews reviewed the brief he had presented to council at the previous meeting. "We explored every avenue of saving," ihe said, "while avoiding the cutting of essential 'services to ithe town." Listed on the brief was the: can- eellation of the contract with the Ontario Provincial Police and sub- stituting a two-man, town con- trolled police force; a reduction of permanent) fire truck drivers by one; and: garbage 'collection' by contract. SAL = Enlarging on these: mattens, Councillor Mathews said -that the reduction ,of the police force, the permanent fire department staff and the ,work. department would save the town close to $6000 a year, about 10 mills. "T also' drew council's atten- tion to the great jumps. being made in education costs," said the finance chairman, "and. the report that the public school board had indicated that two 'addition- al rooms would be needed by next year." "T suggested they consider re- ducing the High School to a contin- uation school, and using the extra rooms in the conveniently adjacent high school for the upper grades of the Public School." "As these suggested changes would not effect this years bud- get the matter was dropped," ad- mitted Councillor Mathews. He also pointed out to the rate- payers that such a drastic change in the school pattern could not be made before the approval of the ratepayers had been obtained, the school board had agreed and the adjoining municipalities promised to absorb Cobalt students. Mayor Fulton Purdy again ex- pressed his opposition to the plan. Mayor Purdy also told the gath- ering. that any concern over the financial position of the town was unfounded. "We jare no worse off than most towns and better off than a lot," he said, "but we have been given the job of running the town as economically as pos- sible and that is what we are trying to do." He also referred to the matter of tax arrears and asked for Town- clerk Cyril Vezina's comment. Mr. Vezina said that a fluctua- tion. im arrears. was. usual. "Some, years ratepayers pay their, taxes. early. 'This year the unusual long and cold winter' has 'hit tthe' ratepayers hard' and some have delayed mak- ing payments, but we expect that in a few weeks the condition will return to normal." Most of 'the ratepayers headed for home: apparently satisfied, but a few remained to hear, a discus- |sion. regarding' the reduction of the fire force. Councillor George St. Hilaire fabled a motion to kill the idea of reducing the permanent staff, but. couldn't get a seconder. Most of council felt that the volun- teer force would understand their problem and, co-operate to keep the fire department 'working ef- ficiently. A delegation of Teenagers ask- ing. for use of the Community Hall for their. Friday night dances were told that: 'this was the prob- lem of the' Community Hall Board, but council promised to bring the request to the attention of the Board, with a recommendation. Since 1950 the average wage in manufacturing in Canada, in terms of purchasing power rather than in terms of current dollars, has inereased by 25 per cent. aii Budget Trimming» On General Rate COBALT -- At a'régular meeting of Cobalt Council held last week members tackled the tough job of cutting a threatening 30 mill in- crease in taxes in half. Chief culprit in a record hike in taxes for the Silvertown was the school budget which this year reached a record $24,427.64, a jump. of close to $18,000 in' the past eight years. Finance chairman Jack Mathews presented a brief outlining pos- sible economies which would keep the increase at sixteen mills, these included the retirement of a works department employee Pe is over 70 years of age, collection of town garbage-on contract, which, would .reduce, the work. staff. by: two men, the hiring of a town po- lice force of two men to replace the OPP staff of three. ~-Council ~ approved ~ all" these measures. and estimated that 14 mills. Gould. be- cut frony the 1959 tax rate with the savings made. Councillor Mathews* also asked Council to take a long look at the lincreasing cost of education, and reminded members that this. is}. not the end. "Every year there will be salary hikes,' he said, 'and present accomodation at the}, public school will be inadequate by next year." He suggested that Council should meet with board members to dis- cuss the possibility of making the High School into' a Continuation School, and sending Grades 11, 12 and 13 to a school in another cen- tre. Council was interested, but did not give sagcorhetact Geter, Said Mayor' Fulton' Purdy, "TI am against that plan. Few people will want to settle in Cobalt if we have no High School." The matter was then dropped. : f c THE MIGHTY MIDGET? THE WANT AD Will Do the Job for You FROM EARLTON -- Convenient departures by turbo-prop VISCOUNT MONTREAL 3 hrs. 35 mins. TORONTO 1 hr. 55 mins. Connections in Toronto for major U.S. Centres. Also TCA turbo-prop VISCOUNT service to ROUYN/NORANDA, OTTAWA, NORTH BAY, VAL D'OR -- daily except Sunday. Ask about big savings Canada and to the U.S. on family travel in FLY NOW -- PAY LATER, if you wish,.on any flight in North America or overseas -- minimum fare $100. "KK now Canada. Better with 1CA™ Travel \ phone TCA at: Earlton See Nixon, Begg and. 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