ELTHAM COUNTY

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 7

ELTHAM COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL

There were present at the monthly meeting of tlie Eltliam County Council Crs. A. L. Campbell (chair), R. J. Ivnuckev, P. R. Brown, A. V. Mossa na, M. F. Barker. J. L. Campbell, W E. Carter, Cl EL MoGuinness and El. J. Gifford. ENGINEERS REPORT. The engineer (Mr. E, -»luggeridge) reported as* follows on the work ju the various ridings: South Riding.—The refacing and grouting of 12 chains of the old Mountain Road has been completed. A further length of! ISO chains were scaled with bitumen and the formation graded. This road is now sealed to the boundary. Bitumen patching and banking in> was done on the Boylnn Road. The unmetalled portions of the Rotokare and Campbell Roads were graded and overhanging fern cut back. On the sealed sections bitumen patching was. attended to. Maugatoki Riding.—Watertables and culverts were cleaned out on the Sheet and Hunter Roads and overhanging willows were cut back from the Mangatoki stream bridge on t-lie Lower Hastings Road. Forty chains of the Lower Stewart Road were treated with a first seal of road oil. and twenty five chains were treated with bitumen. On account of bleeding, a portion of the Lower Hastings Road was sanded. A start has been made to procure stone for the metalling of the Kapuni bridge approaches and in the meantime the road has been patched. 0111011 a. Riding.—General maintenance, consisting of watertnbling, clearing slips, metal patching, and raking up loose metal was attended to 011 the Rawliitiroa Road. On the Oiuona west hill, uneven lengths of metal were picked up, the large stones broken, and relaid. One sharp bend was widened. Three decayed culberts were renewed with concrete pipes and watertables cleaned out on the Mataiwhetu Road. Plans and specifications for restoring Barr’s and Kennedy’s fillings, and constructing the Moeawatea river bridge have been approved by the Public Works Department. When the Monetary authorities are received the work will be put in, hand. Kaponga Riding.—Bitumen patching and general maintenance work was attended to on the Eltliam and Manaia Roads. Metal patching was done on the Rowan Road and the Upper Auroa Road was clay blinded. The tractor and grader wiH he sent out early next week to clean up the watertables. in the riding.

Hlthani Riding.—Further bitumen patching was done on the Mangawlrero Road and day blinding was done on the Horoi Road. The grader was run over portions of the Mata, Mangawhero, Rotokere. and Tirimoana Roads. The stripping at the shell rock pit on the Hu Road has been completed, and a. start made to quarry rock.

GENERAL.

The telegraph engineer, Wanganui, wrote in reply to a letter from the county, advising that where the department’s telegraph poles were interfered with by County work the latter was liable for repairs and that the department had the right to run its lines along any road or street. It was added that the 50-50 arangement was considered quite, suitable for removal of poles, but apparently the council could not agree and this would be charged where removals were necessary.

The clerk said the department appeared to have very arbitrary powers. A councillor: The position appears to be ridiculous.

Cr. Knuckey isaid that in regard to the Rawhitiroa deviation, one pole would have to he removed at the cost o.f the county, but where the department had to straighten the lines, they would do. the work themselves.

The question of classification of the rpunty roads was briefly considered when the engineer provided a. suggested re-classification. It was agreed' to send: this schedule round to each councillor and to ask them to make a.nv alternations they recommend.

NOXIOUS WEEDS

Cr. Messana reterred to the need of taking, strict action against any defaulters- in dealing with the control of noxious weeds. He said: that it would bo of no use if ninety-nine did the work and one failed to do so. C'r. Tv mickey said that there were parts of Awalcfno- which were like a vc I low flower garden. He referred also to a case where a man whose lease was nearly up refused to do anything. Actually however, more, wo'rk to control weed's had been done this year. The few who do no work should be obliged to take action to get rid of the, weed. The chairman said that where the ranger saw any cases of neglect lie at once advised the Stock Department in Hawera.

RELIEF RATES OF PAY

NOT A MATTER FOR BOARD

STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN.

- “ORGANISED OPPOSITION

(By Telegraph —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. “Resolutions are being passed by different organisations throughout title Dominion criticising the Unemployment Board in .regard to the rates of wages on relief works. They are so similar in character that it would appear that they are being adopted as a result of an organised effort.” the chairman of the Unemployment Board, Hon. S. G. Smith, said. “The board itself is not an employer of labour and is not carrying out any relief works. Relief works are carried out by the Government and local bodies' under temporary emergency measures in which the board is granting subsides on wages. “The rate of wages to be paid is, first, between the employer and the employees on whatever rate may he arranged, but under No. 2 scheme the board is granting subsidies on a £l for Cl basis only up to 7:s a day. “It is not the function of the Unemployment Board to interfere with the rates of wages being paid by emnloyers, while the rates of _ wages paid hv the Government 011 relief works is a police matter for tlie Government, in regard to which the board cannot interfere.”

WORK OF THE BOARD

EMERGENCY RELIEF SCHEMES.

(By Telegraph—Special to "The Star.”' WELLINGTON, Jan. 10.

The Unemployment Board has been sitting daily during the week, devising means for the permanent operation of the Act. The constant pressure of the situation in many parts of the Dominion continues to receive attention and as a result of the board’s special emergency schemes about £85.000 has been'paid to unemployed workers who would otherwise have received no relief. This is equivalent to one-quarter of the levies from 227,000 contributors.