COUNTY COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 278, 5 September 1936, Page 7

COUNTY COUNCIL

THE PROPOSED NE.W BUILDING.

TENDERS TO BE GALLED The Ashburton County Council continued its sitting yesterday after the “Guardian” went to press. After consulting the architects in committee, it was reported in open meeting that the Council had instructed them to call for tenders for the new County offices. At tho invitation of the Council, Mr P. A. Climio (organiser of the Canterbury Progress League), attended the meeting, being, welcomed by tho chairman.

Mr Frampton said that the Council’s idea was to have a talk with Mr Climic concerning works the Council anticipated. With regard to cleaning the rivers, ho considered the Government should clear tho rivers, and then hand ovcii- their maintenance to tho Council, if it were made the controlling body. However, little could ho done till tho Ashburton County River District Hill had been put through the House. It was considered that a lot of labour would bq required in the near future.

Mr Climie said lie was pleased that tho Council had moved in the direction of determining tho controlling authorities over the rivers. Other local bodies would have to move in a simliar direction. The League, he said, had moved in the matter of afforestation, and tho extension of irrigation work. The League had drawn up a five-year programme covering roads, bridges (otfrer than highways) and culverts, and those local bodies who had indicated that they wero prepared to co-operate with tho League were finding their share of tho expenses. XL- Climie added that ho was pleased to note that the new Government had made irrigation an important plank. After it had been stated that the Hill before the House regarding river control would in all probability ho put through in a few months, the meeting went into committee.

The Council decided to pay its share (£9O) in connection with the increased cost of the survey of the Ashburton rivers.

Tho tender of Messrs Iveir and Thompson, of Rangiora (£2790 12s 2d), for a high pressure water system at Methven was accepted. The Council expressed its appreciation that the Unemployment Board had agreed to 50 per cent instead of 80 per cent of men being drawn from the ranks of the unemployed for this work. The Engineer-in-chief and Undersecretary of the Public Works Department (Mr J. Wood) wrote that the question of using uneihployed labour on the removal of willows, gorse and broom in the Ashburton River had been discussed with the secretary of the Department of Labour in the light of a report prepared by the Public Works Department. Advice had been received that tho only assistance that would he made available by the Labour Department would lie represented by subsidies on the basis of £2 os and £1 10s per week for married and single men respectively, if such men were employed at full-time standard rate of wages. It was presumed that the required work Avon Id be included in the scheme it was proposed to survey under the direction of Mr T. G. Heck (resi-dent-engineer) and Mr Wood requested that the Council get into contact with the local officers of the Labour Department, to ascertain whether it was possible to put up a proposition for a scheme of work that would be portion of the scheme that was being reported on. The Clerk (Mr Kelly) stated that nothing could be done in this matter till tho Ashburton County River District Hill was passed. With regard to the scaling of the Ashburton - Methven Alain Highway, Mr F. T.angbein, of the District Highways Council, writing in reply to a letter' from tho Couneii; stated that the Highways Hoard had reconsidered the- Council’s application, but adhered to the general terms of his previous memorandum. The Clerk said that this meant that the Council had to raise its own finances for this work. The matter was held oyer till the next meeting, the clerk in the meantime to ascertain if it would he necessary for the Council to take a poll. Six ratepayers of tho Ashburton Road, Methven, wrote*that they desired to join up with the water main at Methven. If the Council approved it was asked to give an estimate of the cost.

The engineer was instructed to furnish the Council with a report. In connection with the application ol Mr J. Morgan, manager of the Mount Somers Estate, for a lease of the Tramway Reserve fronting and through the Mount Somers property, it was agreed that the engineer report to the Council. Mr F. Coop (president of the Canterbury Progress League) wrote expressing tho opinion that the. whole time of the organiser {Mr P. R. Climic) could bo utilised ' with great advantage by the league. He also considered that the time was opportune for contributing bodies to consider restoring their contributions to their former level. The Council decided to make a grant of'£lo7, which amount hail been placed oh the Council’s estimates. _ Mr C A. Clibborn, of Christchurch, forwarded a report of the conference in connection with the South Island Travel Association of New Zealand and stated that an urgent meeting of the Executive Council would he held on Wednesday, September 16, fit Christchurch. The Finance Committee of the conference had decided that an income of £SOOO would be necessary to enable the association to iunction properly, but that contributions and subscriptions he entirely on a voluntary basis, with special appeal to the private interests and organisations that would benefit by and desired to develop tourist traffic and travel, as well as to local bodies. The Finance Committee had recommended to the executive that in advertising for a director, a commencing salary ol not less than £ouJ should he offered. Mr Frampton said he was sure the Association would do good work. Mr W. G. Gallagher voiced Ins opinion in favour of the importance of the Association. He moved that the Council make a grant of £SO. ■ Mr J. Carr moved that tho sum be £lO 10s. This was agreed to. Most members agreed that Canterbury. Lyttelton in particular, would benefit as a result of the activities of the Association.