COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20878, 10 June 1933, Page 15

COUNTY COUNCILS.

HEATHCOTE

The Heathcote County Council met last night. Present: Crs. F. Flavell (chairman), W. W. Scarff, W. Kerr, J. F. Scott, A. G. Williams, E. Bowse, and F. W. Freeman.

The Minister for Finance wrote that the £2OO balance of the Cashmere 1931 sewerage loan, which no longer was required, would be cancelled. The district electrical engineer notified that the transformer at Heathcote Valley was considerably overloaded. The chairman said that the Cashmere riding had sold a spare 100 k.v.a. transformer to the Valley riding, and it had been installed on June 3. The action of the Cashmere riding members in selling the transformer was approved. Mr L. Shearman's application for a lease of the land at the Ferry bridge occupied by him for a number of years was agreed to. It was decided to instruct the council's solicitor to take the necessary action to sell a certain property in the Avon riding for non-payment of rates amounting to £23 7s 7d. The i anger reported that certain persons, who had received warnings, had not registered their dogs, and it was decided to prosecute them. It was decided to reply to Mr C. Finneran, Bowenvale, who asked on what conditions the road roller could be obtained to sterilise glasshouse soil, that the roller was not available.

Unemployment Matters.

Mr R. T. Bailey, Labour Department, wrote that complaints had been received from workers on a relief work in the county that the foreman in charge would not recognise the job delegate as approved by the Unemployment Board, and asking that the matter be looked into so as to obviate any unnecessary friction between the relief workers and the council. Cr. Scarff was asked to make enquiries as to the relief works referred to. An enquiry from Mr Bailey as to whether the council had any light work for class B men was referred to members of each riding to consider.

Removal of Tramway Loop,

The New Brighton Borough Council wrote enquiring &:, to the position which had arisen in consequence of the Tramway Board having removed its loop lines from that part of Page's road near the New Brighton bridge. Owing to the existence of this loop, only one side of the road was paved: now that the lines were removed half of the road remained unpaved and in a rough condition. The New Brighton Council wished to know whether the action of the board had any bearing upon the future paving of this portion of the road. It was decided to refer the matter to the council's representative on the Main Highways District Council and to ask him to urge that the portion of the road from which the loop had been removed be brought up to the standard of the other portion, and that the matter should be considered as urgent. RANGIORA. At the monthly meeting of the Rangiora County Council there were present: Messrs W. Stalker (chairman), H. Tallott. G. K. Crysell, M. C. Ormandy, A. Mcintosh, J. Brosnan, and J. M. Young.

Receipts for May were shown by the financial statement to have been £522 Is 6d, the principal items being: Refund relief workers' wages £207 2s fid, heavy traffic licenses £lls 18s, and drivers' licenses £75 ss. Payments totalled £564 13s Id, leaving a debit balance at the bank of £1994 lis 6d. The traffic inspector reported that six new licenses had been issued. The foreman reported that about 65 relief workers were engaged in draincleaning. Shingling had been started on the Rangiora-Woodend and Oxford roads. The wet weather had retarded the work of the grader, which was making the usual rounds. An application from a farmer for the assistance of two relief workers for cleaning creeks was granted. Subject to the approval of the Waimakariri River Trust a farmer was granted relief labour for removing willows from the Cust river. In reply to a request to be supplied with 8000 pinus insignis trees for planting by unemployed labour, the Commissioner for Unemployment advised that it was not known whether any trees would be available under the same conditions as last year, but the application had been noted. The Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs wrote asking for information regarding the books from the Flaxton Library, which had been closed. The letter stated that it was possible some of the books might be of value to the Turnbull Library or the General Assembly Library. In response to a request for financial assistance for the Rangiora Workers' Educational Association class, it was decided to reply that finances would not permit of a grant being made. It was decided to support the efforts of the Manawatu County Council to secure a reduction in the scale of charges made by the Audit Department.

A letter from the North Canterbury Hospital Board, asking for support in its request for the restoration of the 10 per cent, cut made in relief workers' time, was received. An application from the Cust Domain Board for the old timber from the Cust. pound was granted. It was decided to institute proceedings against the builder of a house at Southbrook for failing to comply with the provisions of the Health Act regarding the installation of drains. Accounts totalling £7lB 6s 5d were passed for payment. SPRINGS. The members present at the monthly meeting of the Springs County Council, held at Springston, were: Crs. J. S. Simpson (chairman), J. W. Kime, P. V. Bailey, C. H. Watson, J. H. Williams, and J. Woods. At the adjourned annual meeting, Cr. Simpson was unanimously re-elected chairman, and appreciative references to his good work during the last year were made. Cr. J. H. Williams was re-elected deputy-chairman, Cr. Simpson was appointed the council's representative on the District Highways Council, and Mr C. Wolfe was reappointed to the Selwyn Plantations Board, and thanked for his past services. Committees elected were:—Finance: the chairman, and Crs. Williams and Watson; works, all members, the chairman and clerk having power to deal with urgent matters; buildings and reserves, the chairman and Crs. Williams, Bailey, Kime, and Watson; horses and plant, the chairman, and Crs. Bailey, Watson, and Kime. . .

The finance report gave the balances as follows:—Springston riding, credit £552 2s 2d; Greenpark riding, credit £BB 13s. Accounts for payment totalled £320.

A very favourable report was received from the health inspector.

Mr F. E. Keast was granted a lease of the council reserve and residence recently occupied by Mr J. Benny. It was decided to purchase a boat for use in weed-cutting in rivers and drains.

The Manawatu County Council asked support for its remit protesting against the charge made for auditing local body accounts. It was decided to write to the Minister in charge of the department supporting the protest- ■* A The overseer's report was considered and adopted. Authority was given the overseer to procure shingle supplies for use on the Halswell river road, on Lincoln struts, and on other roads. The chairman referred to an inspection of the road at Selwyn Huts, portion of which it is proposed to have closed. An alteration in the alignment of the road had been suggested, and the council gave its approval.