DRAINAGE OF LAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 82, 5 March 1935, Page 5

DRAINAGE OF LAND.

MANAWATU BOARD MEETING

GLASSIFICATION DISCUSSED

The Manawatu Drainage Board met yesterday, those present being 1 rustees P. G. Mildon (chairman), J. Collis, A. W. Hamlin, W. E. Thomas, D. Prouse, R. Tanner and F. J. Russell. The chairman reported that lie had not yet interviewed Mr N. H. Mackie, Government valuer, as to how much a reclassification of the land in the hoard’s area would cost. Personally, said Mr Mildon, he thought some of the lands were not correctly classed and lie instanced several areas where land was paying rates in one class when it should lie paying under another class. It was many years since the last classification had been carried out, and another one was overdue. As the board had had a surplus last year, tho matter should be attended to now, said Mr Tanner. Mr Hamlin moved, Mr Collis seconded, tlmt the chairman make enquiries as to the cost of a reclassification of the whole of the hoard’s area. Mi- Hamlin commented that 90 per cent, of the rates would be unchanged, hut some of the properties wore not correctly rated. That should be put right. . The clerk (Mr N. I. Nielsen) saul that if the reclassification were carried out the rates for the coming year would not bo altered. The change would apply to the following year's rates. , , . The chairman thought the reclassification should be carried out before the next election, in November, if it were to ho done, the other members agreeing. The motion was changed for a special meeting of the board to ho held, Mr Mackie being invited to attend so that the whole matter could be discussed. Tho motion was passed in its amended form. Mr A. Griffith (Feildiug) wrote objecting to the amount of his rate, saving he knew that his land would not receive a. penny’s worth of benefit. A liew classification was long overdue. The letter was received. BICYCLE ALLOWANCES.

The chairman reported that, as agreed at the p’revious meeting, the Mangaone Stream banking job bad been inspected and it had been agreed that the transport allowance should he dd a day to all men employed there. Later in the meeting, Messrs J. It. Flavell and L. Currie waited on tho board asking that the allowance be increased. . _ In reply to a question, Mr Currie said tho men would be satisfied, he thought, if the sum were brought into line with that paid to the unemployed on the city’s works. At the Hospital farm job they were paid 5d a. day. When the deputation had withdrawn the mooting decided, on the motion of Mr Collis, seconded Mr Tanner, that the allowance be 5d a day to all meU ‘ OVERSEER’S REPORT. ' The overseer (Mr M. Wilson) reported as follows : —lmprovement work.— Stopbanking Hamilton’s Line: Woik is still being carried out in section 11 of this scheme, reasonable progress bein" made considering the dryness ot the ground. The culvert work has been completed. Main Dram: The work ot improving and grading tins dram is being carried out, work commencing from 8 below Alve’s bridge. This should be carried out to Foxton Line Diain. Burke’s Drain culvert: Three of these culverts have been completed. M oik on the remaining one is wel! m hand. Mangaone Stream: Stopbanking is still being carried out, the woik being in the vicinity of Mr Bennett s shedAt present there is an average of ldo men on the aliovo work.—The lepoit was received. BOARD’S FINANCES. The No. 5 scheme wages to be refunded totalled £172 17s for the week ending February 23 and £l6O foi the week ending March 2, stated the clerk. The overdraft at the bank at March 4 was £1132 14s 3d. Since the last meeting No. 5 scheme wages liau amounted to £712 ss, motor lorry expenses to £2O ss, No. 5 scheme expenses to £3O 2s 10th Hamilton s Bend expenses to £95 19s Id, Burke s drain culverts to £65 14s lOd, phis drain maintenance to make a total ot £IOOS 14s 3d. Lodgments since February 4 had totalled £1642 14s 3d.—The report was received. CORRESPONDENCE.

The board’s solicitors (Mesrs Cooper, Raplev and Rutherfurd) forwarded a certificate showing that the necessary formalities as to loan conversion had been carried out..—The certificate was received. The clerk said all the debentures lmd now been issued. The secretary of the Palmerston North branch of the National Unemployed Workers’ Movement (Mr C. J. Mandeno) wrote asking that support be given to a motion passed at a meeting''’ of the branch protesting against cuts in Lite amount paid to unemployed men with a wife and one child, also against the building up of a surplus by the Unemployment Board, and urging that all payments be increased by I.os a week.—The letter was received.