GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 August 1931, Page 9

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING At the monthly meeting of the Grey County Council held at the Council Chambers to-day, Cr. W. Ryall presided, Crs. A. Robinson, W. Ogilvie, J. Mulcare, H. G. Carter, A. McDonnell, A. Donnellan and G. Blair being also present. The engineer, Mr. J. Higgins and the Counts' Clerk, Mr. M. Keating, were also in attendance. Authority was received from the MSin Highways Board for: AhauraHaupiri £250, Grey Punakaiki £5OO, Public Works Department-Cameron’s Road £l5O free, £lOO £ for £. 1 The Lands and Survey Department forwarded schedules ffiiow'ing the amount of “halves” and “thirds” for the quarter ending June 30, 1931. The Main Highways Board wrote in reference to straying stock and asking for information in regard to the handling of such stock. The Chairman remarked that the difficulty in such prosecutions, was that the Council had to prove that the owner of the straying stock permitted them to wander on the roads. That was a question which required to be pointed out to Mr. T. A. Johnston, so that he might endeavour to have it remedied.

The Engineer stated that the persons prosecuted usually relied on the plea that the stock broke out of the holdings. The Clerk remarked that owing to some of the county roads being unfenced, it was a difficult matter for the stock to be driven. This required thp services of an expert stockman. •He had interviewed the Inspector of Police, who had promised that the police would do whatever they could to assist, and country police would be instructed to try and handle the position. The Chairman suggested that the Board should be acquainted with the cost to which the Council had been put, in trying to deal with straying stock. Cr. Carter said that the main objection was that it was too costly to put the cattle in the pound. Cr. Mulcare stated that the efforts of the Council to cope with the trouble, was looked upon as quite a joke. He instanced the case of a neighbour going to another and telling the latter to “put your cattle off the road, as they are coming up to-morrow.” The individual referred to, had stayed at the local hostelry the previous night, and it was soon known that he was in the district. It had never appeared to Cr. Mulcare that the Councillors were serious over the matter, which had simply been mentioned at the Council table, but was not followed by any real effort. It was resolved that the Clerk reply to the letter, along the lines of the discussion, and furnish all particulars as to cost. Acknowledgement of the Council s contribution towards the additional cost 'of metalling the Upper Grey Road was received from the Public Works Department. Advice was received from the Main Highways Board stating that they were prepared to subsidise the cost of marking roads with white centre lines. The Secretary of the Treasury notified that the rate of interest under “Local Bodies Loans Act” had been reduced by one-half per cent. Correspondence was received from the Prime Minister in reference to unemployment, Mr. Forbes urging t a wholehearted co-operation of the Local Bodies Unemployment Board and the community generally was essential m the present crisis. The Chairman remarked that the circular did not applylo the Giey rmincil as they were doing then pan, approximately 200 men being employed "Vhe’chairman ot the No. 5 Unemrloyment Scheme corresponded in reference to the employment of Single men on the Kopara Road, stating the it was impracticable/o keep gangs m camp when only two days work mas offering. It was stated that the land to which access would be given was only third-class land. The Chairman remarked that he understood the land had been under offer to the Government, and they were considering the purchase of it. Cr Robinson stated that it comprised some ot the best land on the West Coast. "Somebody must be giving them information,” he added. Cr Carter: It looks as though the Government are dodging the position, and the question of tackling the really big issues of developing the country. Everyone of us know that a big proportion of first-class land is there. Cr Mulcare said that it had been previously suggested that the numbci of days for relief workers be augmented by the Public Works Department, and such men be placed in work there. Cr Carter: If they only allow them two days each week, it would be a dashed sight better for some single men, than staying in the town. Cr Blair: Will they stop there? Cr Carter: That’s their business, but if the Government -would tackle it sincerely,'something good could be done.

Cr Blair:. I do not think that you would get the men to go there. Cr Mulcare stated that in the Nelson district unemployed labour was being used on tree planting. Camps for single men, and canteens, had been established, and were a success. There was quite a lot of useful work which could be carried out in the country, such as clearing paddocks having partly burnt trees. There were thousands of acres of such land that could be profitably worked, and the experiment should at least be given a trial. It was resolved that the Clerk reply along the lines of the discussion.

The New Zealand Counties’ Association advised that the Post and Telegraph Department was prepared to enter into an agreement with counties for the equal sharing of the cost of removal of telegraph poles. The Chairman stated that the Grey County Council had already entered into an agreement with the Department.

Tlfe Grey Patriotic Association forwarded a cheque for £lO, towards providing work for ex-soldiers who are unemployed. The Greymouth Automobile Association wrote Jn reference to the parking of cars at Coal Creek, and requested that the Council allow cars to be parked on one side of Wingham Park only. The Chairman remarked that the matter could probably be arranged without difficulty by the cars from Greymcuth parking on the town side of the Park,’ and the Runanga cars parking on their side, each set of cars facing in the direction of their return trip. It was left to the Traffic Inspector to confer with the League Centre Vi

an endeavour to arrive at a suitable arrangement, and report to the Council at its next meeting. The United Sawmills Ltd., asked that the road to Lake Brunner, and Te Kinga be improved.—Left to the Engineer. R. Methven and others advised that they had been clearing the track at Blackball Creek, to allow them access to carry out prospecting work, and asked whether the Council were prepared to pay for the MOik done, which amounted to a couple of days. Cr Mulcare said that he had been approached by two or three men at Ngahere, who were prospecting at Blackball Creek, and they had made the suggestion that the Council clear the track sufficiently to allow a horse to be used in carrying their foodstuffs, which at present had to be carried by themselves. Or Mulcare added that the Council could logically encourage prospecting, as it was known that there were possibilities there. He suggested that the matter be left to the Engineer, with power .to act. The Engineer considered that it would be advantageous to place relief workers from Blackball, on the Chairman remarked that it was not usual for the Council to make payment for work done, which it had not authorised, but he favoured some payment being made in the present CcLS6. Cr Robinson moved that the full amount be paid, provided that the Engineer ivas satisfied with the work which Ijad been carried out. This was seconded by Cr Donnellan and carried. i It was then resolved that the track be placed in a suitable state for a horse to go through, in carrying provisions for the men, and the work be carried out with unemployed labour. Cr J. W. Hannan was appointed to represent the Council at the election of Local Body representatives on the Technical School Board. Messrs Guinness and Kitchingham forwarded the following transfers: — A. Hall to P. L. James; W. Savage to Hobbp and Wareing; B. Ryan estate to S. Fairhall: B. Yaxley to B Cox. An agreement for a state coal lease between the Council and J. Cain was forwarded by Messrs Hannan and Seddon, for signature. On the motion of the Chairman it waij resolved to ask the Highways Board to impose the conditions on persons using count}' roads for the cartage of coal,-that it had imposed on others. In regard to the suggested superannuation scheme for employees, it was decided to defer the matter, with the object of first ascertaining whether the Government would formulate a scheme to subsidise such matteis.