COUNTY COUNCILS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 14, 14 December 1932, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS

MONTHLY MEETINGS HELD. ' MANAWATU COUNTY. The Manawntu County Council met at Sandon yesterday for the monthly meeting, Cr. W. E. Barber presiding. Also present were Crs. D. W. Reid, J. H. Perrett and N. Morcom. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. J. F. MclCelvio, W. E. Pearce and J. Boyce. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Minister of Transport (Hon. E. A. Ransom) advising receipt of the resolution carried at the recent meeting of local bodies in Feilding in regard to the pooling of fines received from the action of the group inspector, and stating that the matter would receive careful consideration.—Received. From the Otago Power Board, asking for the council's gupport toward its move to have interest charges reduced. —Supported. From the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board, forwarding a copy of a legal opinion obtained in regard to the cost of the removal of the power poles, the opinion being to the effect that the work could only he done out of unauthorised expenditure.—Received. From Mr Cl E. Vile, Bulls, requesting permission to erect a pumping plant oil the county property on the Rangitikei River to provide water for stock purposes. —Granted, subject to the work being done to the satisfaction of tho engineer and during the council’s pleasure. From Mr W. F. Caithness, secretary of the Oroua-Downs School Committee, complaining about the speeding of motorists past the school and asking the council to give the matter its attention.—Agreed to, and also to ask the school teachers to bring before tlio children the danger of running on to tlio roads. It was further decided to draw the attention, of the Wanganui Education Board to tlio latter aspect, with a view to having teachers generally instructed to train the children against road dangers.

RATE COLLECTOR’S REPORT. Mr A. Anderson reported on the comity rates as under: “Since last meeting 53 payments have been made, the amount collected being £322 12s 6d. The position of current rates is as follows : —General, struck, £13,190 11s; collected, £3032 Is 8d; 12£ per cent, rebate, £370 9s od; 3 per cent, rebate, £ll4 14s 3d; outstanding, £9029 5s Bd. Hospital, struck, £2409 19s Gd; collected, £712 5s 7d; outstanding, £1697 Ills lid. Specials, struck, £1370 7s 2d; collected, £291 13s 2d; outstanding, £IO7B 14s. Arrears: Outstanding for three years at March 31, 1932, £2276 9s sd; collected, £BB2 5s 3d; outstanding, £1394 4s 2d. The arrears are coming in very slowly, but I anticipate that the payments will he better from now on.” —Adopted. TREASURER’S REPORT. Mr A. K. Drew, county treasurer, reported as follows on »tlie county I finances: —County fund account (dr.), £11,838 16s 8d; loan account (cr.), £1377 18s 3d; main highways'loan account (cr.), £76 3s 9d; net dr. balance, £10,384 14s Bd. The amounts shown available for expenditure are as follow : —Sandon, £250 4s 2d; Mt. Stewart, £166 8s 7d; Waitolii, £l7l 6s 6d; Rongotea, £249 10s 9d ; Carnarvon, £l3O 4s 2d; Kawa Kawa, £309 4s 7d; Awahou, £145 Is lid. Discussing the county finances the chairman said the figures were rather alarming. In reply to a question as to the council’s overdraft, the county clerk said the council was within its limit which was the amount of rates it had outstanding. The council then discussed, ways and means of getting the rates in and decided to sue for all rates outstanding after January 20. ENGINEER’S" REPORT.

The county engineer, Mr H. O. Bond, made the 1 olio wing report on the county highways:—Main Highways: The Wliirokino Itoad and bridge approach has been patched with pit metai; several chains ot banking has been completed and grading continued. The Shannon and roxton Beach roads have been surface graded. Lupin and prickly lettuce nave been grubbed on county reserves on the iLimatangi-itangiotu Bond. Grading and patching have been carried out and surface metal will be spread on the road before the holiday period. The usual grading and patching have been undertaken on the Himatangi-Sanson and the RongoteaLongburn roads. A few chains of banking has also been completed on the latter road. The decking to No. 4 bridge on the Awahuri-Feilding road has been repaired. Surface metal has been spread and the usual grading continued on this highway. Ad other metal-surfaced highways have been graded and maintained. Arrangements are being made to continue maintenance work throughout the holiday period. Ridings: In the Mt. Stewart riding surface metal has been spread on ltakeliou Road, and the portion of the Mangaone Stream bed on the road reserve has been cleared of all obstacles. Several chains of watertables have been cut on the Halcombe-Mt. Stewart Road and banking on Kawa Kawa Road continued. Several roads have been graded. In the Sandon riding, stream beds have been cleared, willows and other obstacles cut out from fence to fence under all bridges on Fagan’s, Speedy’s and Wilson’s roads. Several large stumps have been taken out of the metalled road on Freckiington’s Line. Several roads have been graded. In the Waitohi riding the following roads have been surface graded : Taipo, Awahuri, Penny’s, Hammond’s, Taipo, Rowe’s and Banks-Waitohi. The usual maintenance and repair work has also been continued. Several roads have been graded in the Rongotea riding, as follow: —Sanson’s, Banks, Leen’s, Tompkin’s and Ivaimatarau. Surface metal has been spread on Mill Road and the usual maintenance work continued throughout. In the Carnarvon riding “ail culverts and drains have been cleaned out from fence to fence. Riverbank, Rosina and Koputaru roads have been graded. Any necessary maintenance work has been undertaken in the Kawalcawa riding and Couper’s, Kellow’s, Milner’s and Taikorea roads have been graded. Repairs have been made to a large culvert on KelLow’s Line and to a small bridge on Taikorea. Road. In the Awahou riding a little surface metal has been spread on Motuiti Road. No. 2 Line and Sanitoriunl Road have been graded. The latter road is now receiving attention in readiness for the holiday traffic. The Main Drain Road has been graded and maintained. General: A small shed has been erected at Makowha.i siding to house the motor jigger. The tram track is being maintained as well ns possible with the small staff. —Adopted. TRAMWAY REPORT. Mr Drew, tramway manager, reported as follows on the Sanson tram : The tram made five trips to Himatangi last month, and the following freight was carried : —Grain 3} tons, minerals and manure 112 J tons, general merchandise 4J tons, eggs 146 cra.tes, sheep 4 trucks, hay 1 truck, metal 11 trucks, posts 1 truck, wool 35 bales. The accounts show a debit

balance of £36 10s 9d for the month’s working.”—Adopted. RATE ROLL. The following alterations were authorised on the county rate roll: —E. R. Capie to John Davey, sections 258262, Sandon; H. E. Hunt and M. J. Pipe/ 1 to H. E. Hunt, (1) Aorangi 3D, 2C 1 and 3D 2C 2,3 E No. 1,3 E No. 2, X pt. sec. 386, Carnarvon. (2) pt. secs. 338, 364, Carnarvon; J. G. Eliott to M. and 11. Cobbe, lots 7-8, pt. 6, of secs. 84-5, Sandon; A. E. Bottcher to W. A. Davidson, section 31, Blk. VII., Te Kawau.

KAIRANGA COUNTY. CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS The monthly meeting of the Kairanga County Council was continued yesterday afternoon when Or D. Collis presided. Others present were Crs Jos. Batchelar, M. A. Moody, R. A. Mercer, C. Anderson, W. G. Shannon, M. W. Voss and P. G. Mildon. An upology for absence was received from Cr W. R. Hopcroft. Tlie Manawatu County Council wrote agreeing to tho council’s proposed course relative to the proper control of the river bank at the Awahnri bridge, although it was not favourable to any large expenditure at the present time. —Tho engineer leported that the matter was under consideration by the Public Works Department and it was decided to await tho outcome before proceeding further. The Public Works Department wrote seeking particulars as to tho total mileage of roads, total value of loans raised and the estimated amount required to complete all roads in use in the county.—Loft in the hands of the engineer to attend to. The Otago Electric Power Board wrote suggesting that tho time appeared opportune to approach the Government to introduce a compulsory conversion of local bodies’ loans. —lt was decided to support the request, the chairman adding that without doubt a decrease in the interest rate would be forthcoming in the near future.

The Manawatu County Council, as controling authority, reported that the group traffic inspector had, since the inauguration of the scheme 12 months ago, traversed 12,431 miles, of which 2230 miles were in the Kairanga County. A total of 245 offences had been detected (93 in the Kairanga). Fines had been inflicted by the Court totalling £225 2s (£3B where the ICairanga County was concerned), while there were 28 cases to bo dealt with by the Court. The amount contributed by the county during the period was £44 13s 4d. —Received, the chairman adding that steps had been taken so that the local bodies in the group should all share equally. The Prime Minister advised that the Government had decided not to adopt tho proposal of the commission that the special highways account be abolished. In regard to the .representations of the council that all special motor taxation should be paid into tho account at the earliest - possible date, the Prime Minister added that these had been duly noted and would receive consideration.-—Received.

The Wellington Aclimatisation Society, wrote seeking the consent of tho council towards making two small lagoons adjoining the Manawntu Racing Club proclaimed a sanctuary. The engineer pointed out that a public road ran through one lagoon and he doubted whether permission could be secured. Pukekus, however, had given residents difficulty owing to their depredations in the gardens. Provided the Racing Club’s lagoon was included, it was decided to grant the request, provided that a permit was given to shoot pukekos. The town clerk, Palmerston North, wrote inquiring whether the council had any objection to the Palmerston North abattoir district being extended to take in tlio Longburn works. — The chairman mentioned that all meat sold in Palmerston North had to pay abattoir fees, whereas meat sold at the Longburn works to consumers did not have to carry any fees. All that the council received from the company involved was the £1 license fee. Cr. Anderson considered that it was opening up a big question and it was resolved to hold the matter over meantime so that further inquiries can be made. GENERAL.

The Fitzherbert ranger reported having impounded 48 head of stock during the month, while the Awapuni ranger reported having impounded 29 head during the same period. Cr. Shannon moved that the council’s workmen in future work a 40hour week at the rate of five days of eight hours, in lieu of live and a half days of eight and a half hours, the speaker explaining that it was necessary for the council to consider every avenue for the curtailment of expenses. Rationing the work by a reduction in the hours of the men was preferable to dismissing some of them. Or. Moody supported the contention, considering that the motion was a good one. Other councils lrad adopted the system, while he had been given to understand that in some instances the men were not paid for wet days ivlien they were unable to work. Cr. Anderson maintained that to curtail the staff would mean that the roads would go back and if they were to go back more rapidly, than they were at present the expense would be all the greater in the long run. Cr. Shannon said he could not see the roads going back very much. In the old days they had clay roads and bush tracks and they might have to go back to them. Cr. Mercer seconded the motion which was carried on the voices.

The next meeting of the council was set down for January 17, on which date a special meeting will be held to determine the statutory closing day for shops and offices within the county. Prior to the meeting concluding, tire chairman took the opportunity to extend the season’s compliments to the members, the council’s officers, workmen and the Press, and expressed the hope that the incoming year would bring with it brighter things. The good wishes were reciprocated by the members.

A request was received from the Defence Department that permission be granted a member of its staff, who is a volunteer, to go into camp for a week in March. The request met with the approval of the members and the necessary leave granted.