COUNTY COUNCILS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 23 May 1934, Page 7

COUNTY COUNCILS

STATUTORY ANNUAL MEETINGS. K AIR ANG A CHAIRMAN REELECTED, Statutory annual meetings of all county councils in the district were held at noon to-day. Cr. D. Collis was unanimously reelected as chairman of the Kairanga County Council. Warm tributes were paid by all the councillors to his efficiency, courtesy and able chairmanship. Returning thanks, Cr. Collis said the council was very economically administered, thanks to the councillors and staff, and its finances were in a very healthy position. The chairman of the council had always had the cooperation of the councillors, and he spoke in laudatory terms of their services. Subsequently the councillors were the guests of the chairman at luncheon. POHANGINA COUNTY. SUBSTANTIAL CREDIT RESULTS. At the annual meeting of the Pohangina County Council at Pohangina, Cr S. Strahan presided. Others present were Crs W. Howell, T. Close, I. E. Craine, J. Mackenzie, W. T. Pratt and M. Arbon. “In reporting on the year’s work, stated the chairman, “it is gratifying to note that the finances of the county are in a very healthy condition. The credit balance at March 31 last was £6891 19s 3d, compared with £5370 17s the previous year. The position of all the ridings is very sound, particularly Awaliou and Tamaki, where a considerable amount of money is required during the current year for bridge construction. We all know that in past years quit* a number of timber bridges were replaced with concrete structures, but owing to the number of large creeks in the district there are still several to be dealt with. The financial position of the two ridings will enable them, without the necessity of raising a loan, and with a very moderate general rate, to find their portion of approximately £3600 to replace four others with modern structures; one in Awaliou and three in Tamaki. The diversion of Digger’s Creek entailed a good deal of labour, but seeing the great amount of damage that was done to private property and the menace to the main road, it certainly was a very necessary job. “The Uumutoi riding is also in the very fortunate position of being able to reduce the current year’s rates and still provide £1 for £1 of the cost of building a concrete bridge on Mt. Richard Road, estimated to be in the vicinity of £4OO to £SOO, and there must also he taken into account the amount of metal put out, most of which was put through the crushing machine. Towards the end of the year a contract was let for building an up-to-date concrete bridge over the Oroua River at Te Awa. The work is being carried out very satisfactorily and is well under way. To meet the wishes of the settlers in a special rating area, within a radius of several miles of Pohangina, a public entertainment hall was built. With the largo amount of sawn timber and logs carted out of the district by heavy motor lorries . to sawmills in the direction of Eeilding and Palmerston North, also the cartago of sheep and firewood, it is quite obvious, with so great an increase in heavy traffic, that had the weather last year not been favourable it would have required a greater expenditure to maintain our roads in their present condition. “Although the council has tried to exercise economy in every direction,” concluded Gr Strahan, “the standard of the roads has been maintained and a very liberal allowance has been made in this year’s estimates for their maintenance in the ensuing twelve months.” TRIBUTE TO COUNCIL. The chairman made reference to the good work of Cr Mackenzie in helping to improve the finances of the Umutoi riding. Commenting upon the economic position, the speaker stated that, in view of the problems facing the country, he wondered if New Zealand would be able to retain its present standard of living, especially in view of the possibility of restricted export trade with Britain. However, he hoped that matters would improve to permit things to go on as previously. He extended his congratulations to the staff on the manner in which they had carried out their duties and thanked the members for the co-operation they had extended him during his term of office. Cr W. Howell spone eulogistically of the service the chairman had rendered the ratepayers. In addition to his duties of chairman he had represented a riding which had not enjoyed the best of returns. His duties as chairman had entailed a great deal of thought, yet he had carried out his office with credit to himself and to the benefit of the ratepayers as a whole. The speaker expressed pleasure that the council had been able to meet its commitments out of revenue, more particularly as many old wooden bridges had had to be replaced. He however, felt that the position of the permanent men, particularly the married men, should be reviewed so far as the finances could permit, pointing out that their economic position was an extremely difficult one, for they were receiving little. In Ins opinion the council should endeavour to give them at least a reasonable living wage. The speaker concluded by expressing appreciation of the work of the chairman and of the loyal co-operation of the Staff. . The chairman, in paying a tribute to Press, remarked that lie had gone into the matter of an increase in the wages of the roadmen with the engineer. The position was a difficult one for all concerned and, as chairman of a dairy company, he fully realised the difficulties being faced by the ratepayThe engineer (Mr D. Watson) and the clerk (Mr A. E. Qrgias) acknowledged the tributes paid to them. Later in the meeting the chairman, in referring to the wages of the pcimanent members, considered that it was the duty of the council to get as many men as possible back into work rather than increase the rate or pay unduly. It might, however be possible to give the men 10si per day. Cr. McKenzie suggested that the married men be given the benefit ot a reduction in their rent. . Following upon some discussion relative to the advisability of the council setting the standard rate of pay it was decided te defer a decision till the next monthly meeting. CHAIRMAN RE-ELECTED. On the motion of Cr. Arbon, seconded by Cr. Crane, Cr. Strahan was reelected chairman for the ensuing, term. , , . . In returning thanks, the chairman assured the members that lie would endeavour to again do his best for the good of the ratepayers and the council generally. . The regular meeting day ot the council was altered from the second Wednesday to the second Saturday in the month.