WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1936, Page 5

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. [OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HOKITIKA, February 12. The Westland County Council met yesterday afternoon. Present: Crs. B. Ward' (chairman), E. Dale, N. Brown, R. Chestrman, J. J. McKay, T. Donovan, W. Jamieson, J. Murdoch. An apology was received from Cr. Jeffries. Before the commencement of the meeting, the Chairman referred to the death of King George, members standing in silence. A deputation of the contractors for the La Fontaine Road was present.— It was decided that, in view of the promised assistance from the Department and the K.D.V. Company, that the tender of O’Brien and Party be accent■M, c--- 1 '.-.—»■ to the definite agreement c- minister. With regard to the tar-sealing proposals, the Chairman said that, in his opinion, tar-sealing of roads was a good thing, and that if the necessary money was available the project should be gone on with. Cr. Jamieson said that the Council should improve its road's to keep up with modern times and requirements, and tar-sealing was a great improvement. Cr. Chesterman spoke in support of tar-sealing, but mentioned that the road from Kanieri Bridge to Rimu should be one of the first pieces to be done. Mr Murdoch objected on the grounds that the Council’s proportion was too big, considering that the Westland County would receive very little benefit, while the main beneficiaries would be the Grey ’County Council and' the Greymouth Borough Council, while the Westland County ratepayers footed the bill. He supported the Kanieri-Rimu Road tarsealing.

Cr. McKay thought the Council was going in for extensive tar-sealing in too much of a. hurry, and objected to such expense at an increased rating, even though the road tar-sealing was such a success. He was not opposed to tar-sealing within the Council’s means. It was decided to await the visit of the Public Works Engineer and confer with him on the subject. With regard to the request from Bierwirth’s Gold Reefs, Ltd'., at Mount Greenland for additional expenditure

on track repairs, it was decided to ask the company to make a contribution towards the work. Regarding Evans Bros.’ (Waitaha) request for assistance, it was decided to grant £2/10/- towards the cost of drainage pipes. E. H. Hewer wrote, offering labour towards access to property if the Council would provide material. — Granted up to £5. E. T. Shirley wrote notifying that he had commenced work on Coal Creek bridge. It was decided, on the motion of -Cr. Donovan, to spend £2 on repairs to Gillespie’s cemetery. Cr Murdoch moved: “That the Council v consider the proposed schedule of revised salaries for the staff as follows:—-Clerk to £450; Engineer to £330 and expenses; assistant clerk and mining valuer, £276; motor mechanic and driver, to £252; grader niotornian to £240; roadmen to £210; typiste to £130; all increases to be from February 1.” Cr. Murdoch mentioned the improved conditions and altered circumstances which made the salaries revision possible and desirable. Cr. Jamieson, in supporting the motion, stated that two months ago Cr. Dale moved this motion, but it was deferred for a fuller discussion. He complimented the Council on the efficiency of its staff. Cr. Donovan suggested the engineer’s salary be raised to £350 and expenses instead of £330 and expenses.

Cr. Dale supported this suggestion.j Cr. Brown moved that the typiste’si salary be raised to £l4O instead of £l3O. Cr. Ward said that all the employees of the Council deserved their increases. It. all depended on the Council’s ability to pay it. With regard to a suggestion that the increases should commence with the next financial year, it was pointed | out that since the estimates were | made out at the commencement of last year several new helpful factors had appeared and made it possible for the increases to take place immediately. The motion was carried unanimously. Drainage work along Patersen Road was decided to be carried out. Cr. Donovan moved: “That a. grant of £lO be made by the Council to supplement the amount raised by the residents of Okarito district towards the cost, of preparing the aeroplane landing area, approved by the Public

Works Department.’’-—Carried. Cr. Donovan moved: “Th&t L. H. Jackson be appointed ferryman at Okarito, in the place of J. Thompson, reisgned.”—Carried.