“MUST NOT PANIC”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20253, 22 May 1940, Page 5

“MUST NOT PANIC”

COUNTIES & THE WAR COOK CHAIRMAN’S VIEW ROADING MUST GO ON MAINTAINING PRODUCTION The necessity l'or continuing essential roading work despite war conditions was stressed by Mr. W. G. Sherratt, chairman of the Cook County Council, in his report to the annual meeting of the council to-day. "Everyone must play his part and give of his best in every way so that tiie Dominion may play its full part in efforts for a victory that will bring a lasting peace,” Mr. Shcrratt said. “1 commend the men of our district who have volunteered for active service, and I know that you arc all behind me in that commendation, but I am persuaded that our Dominion's people as a whole do not yet understand what is before us. "I would, however, sav that we must not panic and do things now that would lead lo serious repercussions at a later date. For this reason Ido not recommend a closing down of county works in any way where such works arc necessary to the maintenance of our roads or for providing access to back-block settlers, for only by s<> doing can the production of the district be either increased or held a'l present standards. Rule Collections “The position in connection with the rates of this county is again very satisfactory. Of the total rates struck—general. separate. and special—£43.so(l, £45,109 was collected; £IO4O was allowed as rebate for prompt payment or written off. and there is therefore £2441. or 5 per cent, still outstanding. Of outstanding rates from previous years £2899 was collected and £537 has been written off. ‘‘The balance of the 10 per cent additional loan. £3300, ol' the Cook County Council special loan of £153,000 is being raised al a rate of 4 per cent interest. ‘‘The programme of now metalling works, particularly in the back-block areas, has proceeded very satisfactorily and Public Works Department subsidies have been utilised wherever they have been available. Most of the loan expenditure on back-block roads is now completed and a steady programme from general account, assisted by ratepayers’ contributions, is being carried out. The season, generally, has been remarkably good from a weather point of view and this has largely contributed to the successful season. No flood damage of any consequence was experienced, and maintenance costs generally were down to a minimum. Highway Improvements

“Considerable improvement lias been effected during the year on all highways under the control of the council, and wherever possible the council has co-operated with the Main Highways Board in the carrying out of maintenance on State highways. The amount provided by the Main Highways Board for main highways maintenance was £5170, of which £4711 has been spent, or 92 per cent of the total. "For the year ended March 31, 1940. £11,327 of public works subsidy was collected, which represents 03 per cent of the total amount of £18,390 appropriated. Considering the short season available for the expenditure this was an excellent result.

“Despite the increasing cost, the roads throughout the county were kept in first class order during the year. This was largely due to the very good weather experienced during the year and also to the improved mechanical equipment utilised for maintenance purposes. The expenditure was approximately £IO,OOO. “Very little progress was made towards the proposal to one-coat seal a number of the main roads throughout the county as no subsidy for this work was forthcoming from the Government and the county funds were not sufficient to permit more than about 00 chains of new sealing work, of which approximately 50 chains is o i the Waimata Valley road and 10 chains on the Hangaroa-Tahora road. Relief Works “Scheme No. 13 has been continued by the council during the past year, and approximately 100 men have been employed on the average. Most oi the work consists of drainage work; on the Poverty Bay flats, and as usual very little success has been achieved in utilising this labour in back-block road work. The total expenditure on relief works during the past year was £23,283 14s 6d, compared with £23,450 19s 7d expended last year. “The number of permits issued for buildings during the past year was 35, of which 21 were for new residences. The total value of the work was £18,373, compared with last year’s figure of £22,950 and that of 1937-38. £14,412.

about .the French Foreign Legion that set the standard for all Foreign Legion pictures—“ Beau Gesle.” To-day’s remake of this unforgettable melodrama is just as unforgettable and jusl as melodramatic. In a season when big films are showing every week. “Beau Geste" stands out as top-notch cinematic entertainment, and judging by the advance booking the Regent Theatre will be booked out by Friday, on which day the film will commence its Gisborne season. Older filmgociv will recall Ronald Colman’s magnificent porU-ayal in the central role, the name part. Then there was William Powell and a host of other famous names in the cast. In the 1939-40 version, lean Gary Cooper tops the bill, with Ray Milland and Robert Preston, who stood out so markedly in "Union Pacific,” in the principal supporting roles. The villainous Sergeant Markoll is brilliantly repainted by Brian Donlevy, one of the best “heavies” on the silver screen Susan Hayward and Heather Thatcher are delightfully fitted for the two slight feminine per-forma’-c-s in what is fundamentally a masculine picture. However, like so many virile screen stories, “Beau Geste” is far from being purely masculine in its box-nfTice appeal. All those great scenes which proved so effective in 1920 —the manning of the desert fort with corpses, their discovery by the relief foi'ce, the death of the sergeant, the escape from the Arab-beleaguered fort they are equally as effective to-day. Mr. Wellman has produced and directed “Beau Geste” as if he were conscious that he had been set an extremely high standard and was determined to surpass it. Patrons must be the jud''c~ as to whether he has been successful. The Regent management has arranged a first-class supporting bill.