COUNTY QUARRY AT MOSGIEL

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 24

COUNTY QUARRY AT MOSGIEL

r i TROUBLE OVER LEASE > At the January meeting of the > | Taiori County Council some trouble I i arose between the chairman and Cr i I M. Stevenson over the leasing of the Mosgiol quarry to the Nenchatel Asx I phals Company, of Auckland. Cr Ste- > i venson gave notice of motion to res ' find flic business done, and this moI I tion came before yesterday’s meeting C as follows;—“ (1) That the motion | carried at the last meeting—viz., ‘ that ! the lease of the quarry be granted to , . the Neuchatel Asphalt Company on the ■ j terms of the chairman’s minute, and j! that the solicitors be instructed to pre- . pare the agreement,’ be rescinded. , | (‘2) That tenders bo called for the sub- | lease of the quarry for one year, or \ for tho full term of the council’s lease i from Messrs Young Bros. i “ In moving this resolution,” said j Cr Stevenson, “ I am doing so as a 1 protest against the way the resolution | carried at last meeting was brought ' about. I consider all representatives I of the ratepayers on this council should i know what is to bo done and that should he done around the council table. Every member of this council has an equal right with the chairman away trom this table to transact any business he likes, and take the risk of tbo council endorsing his action. Take tho motion that was carried—That the Neuchatel Asphalt Company be granted a leace of the county quarry, ana that the county solicitor no’ instructed to prepare a lease.’ No mention is made of conditions, ami, further, no, mention is made of the lease being returned to the council lor its uerusal and approval, and, further, no mention is made of how the lease lias to be signed. The county has to pay Young Bros, a minimum rent of £75 a year, or 4d a yard royalty up to 4.oooyds, and 4d a yard over that, but j the maximum rent in no year to bo | paid by the county shall be more than £2OO a year. There is also a sum of i £25 annual charge lor use of siding. 1 understand tho Neuchatel Asphalt Company put in two tenders for this contract, and the second stipulated if the stone could be obtained from the county quarry its tender was in the vicinity of £1.030 less than its other tender. Surely the Taieri County is entitled to some share of the £1,030. The dork, Mr Logan, has informed me verbally that we are to receive some of the money, but lie has not told me from whom. If this is correct, I have no desire to push this motion. Wo should receive some benefit from our quarry, and 1 wish now to point out to this council that this quarry should bo in a better position for all the work that has to be done by the Highways Board on the main highway from Mosgiel to Balclutha by 6s per cubic yard over other quarries. But ns already stated, all 1 wish to see is that all the council business is done in a legal way, and that it is all done around the table. If it shoujd happen that sonic _un forseen thing should arise we should all ho consulted. Most of us are on the telephone, and if not can be got by | telephone. If the chairman can give j me some assurance that what I suggest will bo carried out in the future I shall *

be satisfied, and, further, 1 suggest ! that the lease of the quarry be gone into to-day, and some business proposition adopted, as to the perusal of the lease, and who are the councillors authorised to sign it. 1 shall then be pleased to ask the council’s permission to withdraw my motion.” Cr Stevenson gave reasons for his atttude, and assured his fellow-coun-cillors that' his only desire was to see that the ratepayers got the best bargain possible.' Cr Findlay said he was sorry the chairman was not present, but he felt that Cr Stevenson would bo consulted on all future occasions. The notice of motion was then withdrawn by the unanimous consent of the council, the chairman remarking tint he was glad to see a happy ending to the incident.