ROSS NOTES

Grey River Argus, 9 November 1931, Page 2

ROSS NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held on Thursday evening. It was decided on the motion of Cr A. Thompson to. support the White New Zealand League. On the motion of the Mayor, Mr J. Murdoch, it was decided to draw the attention of the Lands Department, through Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., to the fact that certain lands from which tho Council had formerly drawn revenue had been taken from it, and to request their restoration to the Council. Cr Thompson suggested that the Council should not go into the question of licensing cattle to graze on the streets until they had further Information. Cr Hedwig proposed and Cr Blacklow seconded that the Council license cattle to graze on

the streets, stating it was a waste to allow the fine grass to go unused. Cr J. Thompson disagreed with the proposal. It was decided to hold over the matter until next meeting. It was resolved that the Town Clerk write Mr Alcock regarding noxious weeds on his section. The application of Mrs McFarlane for use of the hall for a dressmaking class was granted, one month to be gratis. It was decided to hold over till next meeting the matter of the provision of a car for Inspector Sloss. On the motion of Cr May it was decided to ascertain from the Prospecting Association how many men would use the Donnelly’s Creek bridge. On the motion of Cr A. Thompson, seconded by Cr Whittle, it was resolved that certain ratepayers be put on borough works to enable payment of rates to be made. Cr Hedwig said he would like to move that the specifications for the dam should include the proviso "used for mining purposes,” and that the dam should be let to bona fide users of the water. The general opinion of 'members, however, was that the specifications as now drawn would meet the position. Tenders were then opened as follows. T. Walsh £1 6s per year; Jones Bros. £5 ss; G. Muir £2 2s; Stuart and Chapman 2s 6d weekly, £6 10s per annum. Cr May stated that he did not intend to vote on the matter. The tender of Messrs Stuart and Chapman was accepted. Cr Douglas intimated his intention of resigning, but Cr May moved that he be asked to withdraw his resignation and resume his seat. All of the Councillors agreed with the motion, speaking of the good work which Cr Douglas has done as chairman of the Works Committee, of which he had been the best, ehairman for some time. The Mayor agreed with the Councillors, whoso plea, was successful. It was resolved that the Town Clerk engage two men to fence the reserve between Messrs Nolan and Hewer’s places. Crs Hedwig and Thompson proposed a reduction in the Town Clerk’s salary, and Cr Whittle moved an amendment, stating he had not come on the Council as a wage cutter. The amendment was carried by three votes to two. Cr May stated the Town Clerk had been in the service of the borough 19 years, starting at a salary of £125 yearly. His hours, fixed at 24 weekly, had been more like 74, whilst the total cost for any time he had off was no more than £5. They should rather compliment the clerk on his 19 years’ service, instead of finding fault as a section had sought to do.

i At the Borough Council meeting Cr May made a complaint as to your correspondent’s reporting of the previous nheetin o- , stating he had not been fair.ly reported. Cr Hedwig expressed the opinion that the report had been fair, while Cr A. Thompson said it had not been quite what ho would have liked Cr J. Thompson said that reporting 1 should bo prohibited unless it was fair. I In reply to Cr May, I may say I leave to those who were present at 'the mooting in question to say if the I report was not quite a fair one. Cr May at a previous meeting complained of a previous reporter in very qiiestionable terms, but he should realise | that nobody is perfect, and that for | public men, even more than for those ■ of the public who are not in a position l to reply, it a duty to try and see oneself as others see one. i PROSPECTING AT ROSS. The Ross Borough Council, Ross I Prospecting Association and Ross Unemployment Committee recently held a combined meeting to devise ways and means of utilising suitable unemployed miners and others in the search for gold. Arising out of this meeting, certain recommendations were made to the Government, and it is to be hoped that these will meet with favourable consideration. The Ross Borough Council feels, however, in view of the , publicity recently accorded to pros--1 pecting in general and to the Ross scheme in particular, that a note of 'warning should be sounded in order I that men at present unemployed should i not be led to believe that work of this nature is immediately available in the I Ross district. Until such time as the 1 Government has had time to fully con- ’ aider the recommendations of the Ross bodies, and until such time as a defin- ' ite scheme is actually in operation, the Council feels it would be distinctly unwise for men without means to come to Ross in the hope of finding work.