COUNTY COUNCIL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10857, 9 July 1932, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL

Rates on Natives’ Land.

C.VrTLK GRAZING OX ROADS

The ordinary monthly meeting of .j ie yauranga County Council was , i,i ; n the Coronation Hall yester- ” present; Messrs S. H. MacDouXp i chairman i. W. F. Sinclair, C. £ S. Cane, J. M. Darragh, C. Lally, •, ]! Morton and J. N. Blaymires. The Chairman apologised for the absence of Cr G. H. Mends, who is indisposed.- - Leave of absence was granted. Governor-General's Visit. Tlie Official Secretary to His Excellency "the Governor-General wrote J.udcr date June 17 advising that Their Excellencies the Governor- Gen,j' a l and the Lady Bledisloe would the district at the end of June. The County Clerk (Mr H, Lewis) reported on matters associated with vice-Regal visit, which have been published. Woodlands Road. The Chief Surveyor of the Department of Linds and Survey, Auckland, wrote acknowledging the receipt of nlan, "hi l I* lo Council's consent endorsed. in regard to a portion of Woodland's Road through Section II Block VIII, Aroha Survey District. —^Received. Settlement of Lands. The Coimnisionor of Unemployment. Wellington, wrote acknowledging tlio receipt of letter in reference to the settlement, of hinds in the district. He sttifed that the terms of the resolution passed by he Council have been noted and will receive consideration. The letter was received. Insurance of Relief Workers. The Commissioner of Unemployment, wrote advising that the various insurance companies have decided not to proceed with the proposed "pool,” but to reduce the rate in respect to relief workers to a flat rate of 25s per cent. Local bodies will, therefore, deal direct with the insurance office of their choice.—Received. Interest Rales. The Hon. G. W, Forbes, Prime Minister, wrote acknowledging letter concerning the representations made by the Whakatane Borough Council urging that the provisions of the National Expenditure Adjustment Act, be applied to the rate of interest charged by the banks. He stated that the matter received the very careful consideration of the Government, both before the introduction and during the progress of the Bill through Parliameut..„but in view of the fact that the Brfnks voluntarily agreed to reduce their overdraft rates, it was considered both unnecessary and undesirable to impose compulsory measures. It would, moreover, be appreciated that in respect of loans repayable on demand, it would be possible for the lenders to avoid any compulsory reduction by caling in the loans and re-lending at , the same or a higher rate. Under , these circumstances, the Act referred to was not made to apply to interest rates on Bank overdrafts. The Chairman said the reply was mere camouflage. Comities Association.

The Secretary of the New Zealand Counties’ Association, Wellington, wrote stating that a meeting of the Executive would be held on July 29, and asked that any remits be forwarded. Cr Gane said there was a movement on the East Coast with a view to reducing the number of local bodies. The letter was received. Railways Board.

Mr P. G. Roussell, General Manager of Railways, wrote advising 1 that the Railways Board would visit the district between July 5 and 9.

Particulars of the visit have been published. The County Clerk, reported that he had attended the deputation which waited on the Board on Wednesday evening. Transport Licensing Act. the Commissioner of Transport, Wellington, forwarded circulars dealing with the Transport Licensing Act. Explanations bearing on various clauses were given by the County Clerk. Loan Statistics. __ The Government Statistician, Wellington, wrote notifying that it had been decided to discontinue, for the present, the collection of quarterly statistics relating to loans and loan authorities.—Received. Unpaid Kates. Messrs Sharp, Tudhope and Wilson, solicitors, forwarded certificate for execution by the County Chairman in respect to a judgment for rates. — The laud concerned is in the Kairaai district. Cr Darragh moved —That the Chairman sign the certificate. —Seconded by Cr Sinclair and carried. Natives’ Kates. The Registrar of the Waiariki Maori Land Board, Rotorua, wrote regarding rates, amounting to £7O 18s 2d, owing on the Pukehina L No. I. C No. 3 Block. He forwarded cheque for £S 17s Cd representing Payment on account of the rates for the year 1931-32. He added; “With regard to arrears owing, I have- to advise you that the Board is prepared to do its best to meet the arrears behalf of the native owners out of rents received from time to time by it. in the meantime, however, I think that it will be a resonable request to ask for a compromise of the arrears. I would suggest that the balance owing bo compromised at, sa y, £3O. The Board would then be Prepared to pay this amount out of the next two half-yearly instalments of rental to be received by it.” The Chairman said the land was now in European occupation. He moved—That the request of the Board be acceded to. The motion was seconded by Cr Darragh and carried. A Katikuti Kond. Mr W. J. Broad, Paeroa, wrote pointing out the condition of the road leading to his farm at Katikati. The County Clerk stated that the road was included in the Katikati by-roads improvement scheme and he had forwarded a reply to Mr Broad.— The action was approved. Cambridge Kond. Petition, signed bv E. Pruden, T. r- Bidder. A. C. Bidder, W. P. Bell, A; A. G. Marsh, M. Wallis and R. wallis, was read. The petitioners that more metal be placed on the Cambridge Road, which, at times 18 in a bad state. The Engineer reported that metal ould cost about ten shillings per lard.

The matter was referred to Cr arragh and the engineer.

Stiles of Properties. The following sales and leases of Properties were notified: Lot 74, Parish of Te Papa. H. Benne‘t to V. E. Johns. Pan Lot 52tt, Te Papa, C. M. L. a rubles to H. Hastings.

Part Ohauiti No. 2 Block, P. McKenna to J. H. Riddington. r Part Section I, Block I, Katikati North, Finance Corporation of New Zealand, Ltd., to A. \V. T. and A. Hayes.

Part Lot 9, Parish of Tahawai Finance Corporation of New Zealand Ltd., to L. Cuthbert.

Section 147, Te Papa, Taurantra Borough Council to W. A. Bennett. Part Lot 4, of 192. Parish of Te Puna, G. F’armer to I. G. McKenzie. Part Lot I of 2G, Parish of Te Puna. 8.G., AV. R. and M. A Armstrong to M. C. Covell.

Sections in Block 7, Tauranga Survey District, Edward Corrigill Banks to Edward Cedric Banks.

Subdivision of Lots 169 to 171, Parish of Tahawai, N. F. Blomquist to J. S. T. Stenhouse and others. Lot 159, Parish of Apata, to M. Kelly.

Te Puke No. 2 B No. 1 to T. P Lemon (lessee). Section 5, Pukehina M,, to I. R. M, Corrigan and G. A. Duncan. Pukehina L No. 1. C No. 3 to F. H. and R. A. Young.

Pipe Line for Buttermilk

Mesrs D. and S. Ross wrote applying for permission to lay a two-inch galvanised pipe line along the road from a section at the lower end of the Ranginru Road to a point on the Rotorua-Te Puke Main Road, in the Te Puke direction, for a distance of, approximately, half-a-mile. until it comes in contact with the railway line at the nearest point from the Ranginru Road. It would run parallel with the main highway and would cross it at one point. The pipe line will bo used for pumping buttermilk from the Bay of Plenty Dairy Company’s factory. The line would save a considerable amount of traffic on this portion of the road, as otherwise it would be necessary to cart the buttermilk by way of motor lorry.

Cr Morton moved—That the request be granted subject to the consent of the District Engineer of the Public AA’orks Department.—Seconded by Cr Blaymires and carried.

Gate Across Rond, Mr M. W. Griffin, Te Tumu, wrote applying for permission to erect a swing gate across Kara.na Road, Te Tumu Block. Tlie advertising conditions had been complied with. Cr Blaymires moved-—That the request be granted.—Cr Davragh Seconded. Cr Rally said he had been informed that there were other gates on the road. The motion was carried. Katikati By-Roads. Matters in connection with the improvement of Katikati by-roads under the loan scheme were considered and referred to Cr Sinclair, the clerk and the engineer with power to act. Subsidising of Ratos. The Clerk to the Matamata County Council wrote stating that the following letter had been forwarded by the Council to the Prime Minister: “By direction of the Matamata County Council I have the honour to inform you that, while greatly appreciating the aid given by the 12i per centum, subsidy paid under the provisions of the Finance Act, 1931 (No. 4), the Council is of opinion that considerably greater relief to the rural ratepayer is a vital necessity, and respectfully urges that all county rates be subsidised to the extent of at least thirty per cent, in the future.” The Matamata Council would very much appreciate any support that the Tauranga County Council could give in the matter. Cr Gane moved —That the Matamata Council’s letter be supported.— In doing so he said it was a step toward derating. The motion was seconded by Cr Darragh and carried unanimously. Road at Ohauiti. Mr W. J. White waited on the Council and asked that improvements be effected to. Dumbell’s Road, giving access to his farm. He said it was about twenty-five chains long and in frosty and wet weather was almost impassable. If the Council would provide the metal he would be responsible for the spreading. It would help the road if the noxious weeds were cleared from the road frontages. Mr Benham said metal would cost in the vicinity of 12s 6d per yard. Cr Morton moved —That the sum of £lO be expended in metal for the road.—Seconded by Cr Rally and carried. Relief Workers. The Unemployment Commissioner, Wellington, wrote acknowledging a letter with reference to representations made to the County Clerk, by the Rev. Mr Palmer, of Katikati, regarding the allocation of funds for the Katikati district being insufficient to provide a full ration of work for all eligible workers. The Commisioner stated that Katikati was not being treated differently from other places similarly situated, the amended scales and conditions of relief being confined to the four main centres. It wasn’t possible to standardise these conditions in all parts of the country, but the matter of placing allocations on an improved basis was at present being gone into by the Unemployment Board. Any adjustment possible in the Katikati allocation would, therefore, be advised the local certifying officer with the least possible delay. The letter was received. Defaulting Ratepayers.

Cr Gane moved —That members be supplied with lists of defaulting European ratepayers at June 30 last, for their respective Ridings, including amounts and periods of arrears, with relative information regarding arrangements for payment, etc. —Seconded by Cr Darragh and carried. Cattle Grazing on Roads.

Cr Blaymires said he had been told that a large mob of stock was being grazed on roads in Maketu Riding, under the charge of two drovers. The Chairman said he had seen the cattle grazing. There were about one hundred and fifty head. Reference was made to damage to fences and drains by cattle on the roads. The matter was referred to the county clerk with a view to taking action;