COMPULSORY MERGER OPPOSED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22103, 27 May 1937, Page 4

COMPULSORY MERGER OPPOSED

RANGIORA COUNTY COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE The Rangiora County Council met yesterday morning, with the chairman, Mr H. Tallott presiding. There were also present Crs. C. Rands, G. H. King, J. Brosnan, W. Smith, R. Macdonald, and F. S. Young. A welcome was extended to Crs. King and Young, recently elected to represent the Rangiora riding. The chairman and clerk (Mr S. G. Dalley) were appointed representatives to. a conference convened by the Rangiora Borough Council to discuss the extension of its free library service. The council favoured the planting of trees on East and West belts as a Coronation memorial, a commemoration suggested by the Rangiora Borough Council. Details will be discussed later between the two bodies. It was decided to suggest June 8 as a suitable date for a conference between the borough and county councils abiut the cemetery site on the Oxford road. , ~ The council agreed to support the Makara County Council in its endeavour to have the local body amalgamation legislation amended to provide for a poll of ratepayers on amalgamation. Cr. Macdonald said he was in favour of amalgamation, but did not agree to it being forced on counties. It was agreed to draw the attention of the Main Highways Board to the bad condition of the Main North road in the county, and to apply for the classification of Gresson's road. Waikuku, and the Ferpside-Swannanoa road as main highwavs. An offer by the North Canterbury Electric Power Board to reduce the annual cost of street lights by 10s each was accepted. The financial statement showed a debit balance at April 30 of £2014 18s 2d. Receipts for April totalled £ll7 12s lQd. apd expenditure £2324 10s lid "The year has been a very disastrous one for our roads," said the annual report of the foreman (Mr C. L. Dalzell). In addition to the flood in February, 1936. there was exceptional rainfall last summer, and the foreman said he had received several complaints. With another power grader the roads could be kept up to a better standard. Sneaking of the effect of the 40-hour week, the foreman said two metal trucks were idle 52 days in tho year, which would mean a loss of 2000 cubic yards of screened metal on the county roads annually. The grader was idle for a similar period, and meant a loss of grading 208 miles' of 1248 miles travelled to grade that distance properly.' In the last year 56 miles of road out of a total of 180 miles haH been shingled with 8906 cubic yards of metal. The power grader had graded 1180 road miles. Mr Dalzell recommended calling tenders for 1000 cubic yards pf crushed shingle in the Fernside area and for a similar amount in the Woodend area. About 6000 trees in the council's nursery were ready lor planting. It -was decided to call tenders for the shingle. Personal Mr H. Tallott was re-elected chairman at the annual meeting of the Rangiora County Council yesterday afternoon. Mr Tallott will represent the council at the annual conference of thp New Zealand Counties' Association in Wellington in August. The county clerk (Mr S. G. Dalley) will accompany him in an advisory capacity. ■■-■■ A motion of sympathy with Cr. G. H Kipg in the death of his son was carried by the Rangiora County Council yesterday morning. Basketball Draw Following is the draw for matches in the North Canterbury Basketball Assppiatipn's competition on Saturday:— Seftop v. Oxford B. at Sefton; Rangiora A v. Waikuku. at Rangiora: Clarkville v. Rangjpra High School, at Clarkvllle; Loburn' v. Rangiora B, at Lopurn; Qhoka v. Cust. at Ohoka; Oxford A v. Ashley, at Oxford; Tu Ahu- ; riri v. Balpairri, at Tuahiwi. i Loss in County Income Jf proposed legislation on the issue pf- drivers' licenses by the post office corner into effect, the Rangiora County Council will lose about £250 a year At its "meeting yesterday, the council decided tp protest against the legislatjpp pp this ground and to suggest that counties be treated in the same way as large towns that is, that part of the j income from the issue of licenses be ( grapted to the local authority. , Tqurnameflt The first matches of the friendly societies' card tourpamept for the Dr. McPhail Cup were played in the Rapglpra Oddfellows' Hall on Tuesday evening/ Results were: Rangiora Druids 382, Woodend 1.0.0. F., M.U. 305; Rangiora Foresters 358. Rangiora J.Q.Q.F., M-TJ-. §O7. Petitions to. Cffunty Council Two petitions were received by the Rangiora Coupty Council yesterday. Fifteen ratepayers asked for immediate attention to River road, west of Bell's road. The chairman (Mr H. Tallott). and the foreman (Mr C. L. Dalzell) were asked'to inspect the road. The restoration of two street lights on the Woodend road east of the council offices was asked for by nine rate- i payers living there. The request was granted. The clerk (tylr S. G,. Dalley) i said the tptal number of lights in the : county was now 26. the annual cost being about £93. '" ' l Rousing Scheme ty Ran&iora | "As it" is possible that the Govern- ' Sient may make an early start with the Uildipg of houses in Rangiora, I suggest' that a housing sphenip be left in abeyance meanwhile," said the Tqwn Clerk',' Mr J. M. Fra,ser. qt the meeting of the Rangiora Borough Council last evenini. "There is a strong possibility that the Government will undertake this work itself." This suggestion was adopted.' The council decided to consider building two houses for its owp employees. The-Mayor, Mr C. W. Tyler, presided and all councillors were present. A recommendation from the finance committee that the council protest against any alteration in the issue of mptor arivers' lipeppes was referred back to the committee. ' The wqrks committee's recommendation that regulation traffic signs be eiected and pedestrian crossings fixed was agreed' to. It was decided to commemorate the Cqfppatipn by planting lime frees oh the west side of East belt from North belt to North Brook road, and invite the RangiorEt pounty Council \Q plant tpe east gide. The engineer apd staff were congratulated on the success of the "Coronation illumii-atipns. l Twenty-nine applications' were received fpr a ppsjtion of labourer. A sub-committee was appointed to make a selectipp from three candidates chosen by the council. 1 CULVERPEN 14niES> RIFLE CLUp The button for the week!" shoot of the Culverden Ladies' Miniature Rifle Club was won by Miss Eva Black. The following are the* scores: —Mrs H. Hammond 70, Mrs R. Crewes 68, Miss M. Hamilton 68, Miss Mary Johns 66, Miss F. Mpck'ett 66, Mrs tf. Maw 66, Miss J. Morris 65, Miss J. Hoban 65, Mrs H. Preston 64, Miss E. Black 64, Miss Ethel Hooper 63, Mrs Woodward 62, Miss B. Hoggins §2, Miss. E. Bush 60," and Mrs P. Ramsay 58.