BOROUGH COUNCIL

Feilding Star, Volume 7, Issue 2136, 15 February 1929, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCIL

THE MONTHLY MEETING

COILRESPONDENCE AND OTHER

MATTJSRS

Air E. Fair (Mayor) presided at the meeting of the iioroTigU Council held last. night, and there were present Crs. C. E. Taylor, T. Collins, A. ALcCorJvi.ndale, J. Hill, J. Carpo, V. E. Smith, H. Stewart, and D. Fryde. An apology wais reeeived from Or. S. D. Pearce, THANKS The Salvation Army forwarded a letter thanking the Council for the use of Johnston Park for the Life Saving Guard camp.—Tfcjc Mayor said it was nice to know" the Salvation Army appreciated the faciliitie s of the park.—letter received. MANAWATU GORGE ROAD Pahiatun County Council suggested that the iGovornment should be asked to take up the loan liabilities in connection with the Manawatu Gorge road- It was pointed out that the Alain Highways Board had taken over the road, recognising it as a national highway, and the Government gliopld take full responsibility. The .Mayor said the Council should join any deputation, but he- thought the surrounding local bodies should bear some share of the loan oast. Perhaps, the local bodie s might find one-third of tbe loan cost. Replying tof Or. Taylor, the Alayor said Feildifig’s share iof the cost was £1645—-til:at was the amount of Joalithe Borough had borrowed. Cr Smith thought the Council should try and.get out of tie responsibility, as the Man Highways Board recognised the road as a oia* Itional one., It was decided to be represented on the proposed deputation, the Mayor to he the delegate. (v AIUNICIPAL CONFERENCE For the Alunicipal Conference to be held at AVanganui in Alarch the Mayor, Cr Taylor, and the Town Clerk were appointed a s delegates. The Alayor said last year Feilding sent forward four remits, two of which had been adopted, and made the* law of ther land. He thought the Council should againi (tend. a remit reconunending thai‘,l a Public Works Engineer bo appointed to exaiiiine plans and estimates for borough works stick as water supply and sewerage. Cr Collins opposed the remit, claiming that any local contractor of repute would give a more reliable estimate than any officer of the Public AVorks Department. Cr Stewart supported the remvt, saying the local bodies had lost lots of money through not having proper advice. The remit was adopted

'Ci- SmjjilL) said it had been stated the Local Bodies (Loans Board was now insisting on a. 3 per cent, sinking fund* on. all-loans. That was too high, and lie thought the matter might bei brought before the Alunicipal Conference. The Council thought! there was some mistake, as the sinking fund depended on the life of the construction for which thd loan was raised.

Cr Taylor suggested the 10 per cent penalty on unpaid rates should bo reduced to 5 per cenjtl in the discretion of the local body. He pointed out that the Government had reduoed the penalty on unpaid land and income tax to 5 per cent.

1 1 -I was pointed out that the Council now had power to remit rates in cases oi hardship.—TLfe remit wa g not pro posed. 1 TOWN CLERKS The annual conference of the Town Clerks’ Association is to be held in AVanganui on March 5, and tlie Council was asked to facilitate- the attendance of the Town Clerk.—AT Harding to attend AORANGI BRIDGE Kiwi tea, County Council wrote declining to contribute £3OO towards, the cost of the proposed Aorang bridge.—Received. The Alayor said he had spoken t Hie chairman of t'L’c Oroua County Council, and they agreed that the best way out wa s by the appointment of a. Commission. FJItE BOARD Cr Smith and Air A. H. Sutton were ire-appointed tho Council’s representatives on the Feilding Fire Board. MAIN HIGHWAYS Levin Borough Council, forwarded a copy of a. letter from the Minister of Public works regarding the permanent work done on main highways before the Alain Highways Board began to s'Daro the cost. The Alini: ter’s letter was against the boroughs. The Alayor said he had spoken to the Hon J. G. C-obbe, w.ln;> had prom-

ised to lay any representations before Cabinet.

Cr Taylor said thi s was an ini] taut matter lor this borough. IT fore the Main Highways. Board bega to give financial help towards the eo of permanent roads, /(ibis borough had laid down permanent roads. Those road s ha.<l since become: Irghways, and the Council asked that the Alaii Highways Board should pay from ho; on the intercut and sinking fund the Joans The positan was that thus which waited till now t make .their permanent roads wool receive help from the Board, wberca: Feilding eoiuld not doj so. It wa, inequitable. He thought the Council should go further ;\<‘.th the. matter. I|t was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Alayor in t!. moa n time-, LICENSING BENCH The Returning Officer informed the Council that the triennial election for the Orp.ua. Licensing Committee was due in Alarch If an election were held, it would cost about £450, and the Council’s share woud be considerable. The Council expressed the hope that there would' bei just the required number of nominations, -so that there would.be no need for an election. BAND PROGRAMME The Alunicipal Band Conductor wrote asking for permission to sell fce-cream and soft drinks cm Kowhai Pork oil Sunday, when the band would be playing. —The> Alayor proposed that permission be given. Seconded by Cr AlcCorkindale. The motion was carried, Crs fayor, Corpe, and Smith voting against.