WAIMATE WEST COUNTY

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 25 May 1932, Page 9

WAIMATE WEST COUNTY

REPORTS FOR THE) MONTH. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. Members of the W annate West County Council present at the monthly meeting at Manaia to-day were Ci's. E. Long (chairman), F. Mourie, J. Knuckey, H. H. Buxton, S, H. le Fleming, J. Leslie and T. A. Bridge. The engineer, Mr. J. A. Hansen, reported that the surfaced portions or Rama and Auaioia Roads had been patched with bitumen. Two culverts were lowered 011 Kearns Roftcl £ind *tlso to aorossj the Main South Road. The crusher was now set up ou the Mam South' Rload and the staff were busy crushing metal and widening this road. A start had been made on the grading of the road into Mr. J. D. Bashfotrd’s property at OtakUho. The tractor broke down so this work had to be left for a time. While the plant was at Auroa some work was done for the Kaupokonui Dairy Co. at the Auroa factory. ROAD CLASSIFICATION.

Some discussion took place, on the question of lorry traffic and classification of roads. The chairman said that there was. a definite feeling against big lorries coining into the county. The board was out> to secure control of the weight of 1 the. lorries. The council liad classified its roads as second and third class) and now would reduce them ah to third class. The whole question would be considered by the Local Bodies Association on June 1.

Or. McKay remarked that the Waimate West County was in the position of being a feeder area to the railway. The Engineer: The intention of the board is. plainly to endeavour to place heavy traffic on the rails.. Tiie Chairman: The tendancy all over the world is to have lighter and faster lorries which do no injury to the roads.

The engineer said that the limit was six tons, lorry 24 tons and load up to 3 \ tons. After the present heavy lorries were worn out, no more would be allowed. It would not be fair to insist on scrapping at once.

Cr. McKay: They are doing no harm to our roads.

The chairman said the council must use its discretion in regard to the weight or lorries. It would be necessary to rescind the previous resolution in regard to classification of roads. There were classes down to the fifth.

A Councillor: And no road at all. Notice of motion was given to rescind the previous resolution in regard to classification and to reclassify the roads.

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF. Reference was made to the work carried out in the district under the unemployment relief scheme, the chairman stating that the number of registered unemployed had increased to 63, which made it a big job for the engineer. He had to supervise the men daily, and it was right to say that this was not the council’s job at «11, but was undertaken personally by the engineer. The detail involved was such as few men would care to tackio. Mr. Hansen said it had started in a small way and had grown steadily. In regard to the No. 5 scheme he considered every farmer could and should ■do something to help the board. GENERAL. Slaughterhouse licenses were granted on the usual conditions to Messrs L. C. Harrison’ J. A. Pettigrew aud L. A. Walters. It was resolved, on the motion of the chairman, to procure the necessary

plant to heat bitumen on the roadside, the matter to be left to the works committee.

Referring to the proposed model bylaws, the chairman said that when they came up for confirmation it was found there was something which needed incorporation, and on liis motion it was agreed by the association to hold over the matter until the return of the Counties Association’s solicitor. Attention was called to some cases of boxthorn and gorse hedges which needed cutting and if was agreed that, if necessary, notice should be given and the work done at the fanner’s expense. Cr. MioKay mantained that the council should insist on the work being done.

Cr. McKay complimented the en- j gineer on the work done on the Main J South Road towards Inaha, stating 5 that though half the road was tom up, | it was finished so that no one couid j tell where the junction was made. , In reference to the Hospital Board subsidy, Cr. McKay said the hoard; had no idea what amounts would be available. He assumed that the reductions in salaries made by the hoards would be deducted and a little more, from the usual subsidy. I The Highways Board advised that the maintenancei subsidy of £3 for £1 would he continued in the future. It was decided to hold the next meeting on Thursday, June 16, in lieu of tlie second Thursday, which fell on jubilee week. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the council was held after the disposal of the routine business. On the matron of Or. McKay, seconded by Cr. Buxton, Cr. Long was reelected chairman and Cr. McKay was deputy-chairman. In acknowledging the compliment the chairman said that nothing appealed to him so much as to have the confidonco of liis fellow councillons with whom he had worked for years. Lie recalled that most of the councillors had known him for 40 years and he appreciated very much the compliment paid to him. ‘The position was one of honour and his re-election by men he had known all liis life was a great satisfaction.