POHANGINA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 11, 10 December 1937, Page 4

POHANGINA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the - Pohangina County Council was field on Wednesday. Those present were Crs S. J. Strahan (chairman), W. McKay, W. Howell, M. Arbon, J. Mackenzie and J. T. Montgomery. Cr McKay reported on a meeting of local body representatives held in Palmerston North recently which had been addressed by the Mayor of Wellington (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) and the manager of the Centennial Exhibition. Cr McKay advised against the council’s taking shares, as had been requested, and the council endorsed that view. CORRESPONDENCE. The joint council of the New Zealand Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John wrote appealing for contributions to the Ear East _ Relief Fund.—The clerk (Mr A. E. Orgias) reported that the subscriptions received at the county offices had been forwarded. The New Zealand Counties’ Association advised that there was unrest and doubt as to the men employed under the No. 13 relief scheme (£4 a week subsidy per man) being classed as permanent employees when they had completed three months’ work. The executive had discussed the subject, and the feeling was as follows: (1) That the word ’‘permanent” >be not used in connection with relief workers, employed under the scheme on completion of three months’ service j (2) that the men be not allowed to receive any of the concessions granted permanent employees; (3) that on completion of three months’ service the men be paid £4 5s a week; (4) tliat they are entitled to any statutory holiday observed during the period of their employment, and (5) that on completion of their term of employment the men be paid a proportionate share of the week’s holiday.—The letter was received; the matter did not affect the council. The New Zealand Counties’ Association wrote suggesting that the subscriptions to the County Councils’ Union of Employers be increased to £5 a year so that the union could join the Employers’ Federation.—lt was decided to reply, pointing out that the cost to join each body individually would be £4 in all, and not £5 as proposed. Advice was to hand that the Counties’ Association would deal with all disputes affecting county councils.— Received. A further communication from the County Councils’ Association enclosed a legal opinion that county councils were not liable for the maintenance of footpaths on State highways.—The letter was received and no action taken as there are no State highways in the county. The New Zealand Standards Institute forwarded a copy of a report of a conference at which the standardisation of local body by-laws had been discussed, and asked if the council and its officers would co-operate in such an undertaking.—The letter was received, the chairman expressing the opinion that there was no great amount of representation from the county councils on the committee. Amalgamation might bring about big alterations in the county councils. The chairman of the Parliamentary sub-committee taking evidence on the Local Government (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill (Hon. W. E. Barnard) wrote enquiring if the council wished to submit evidence on the principles and provisions of the Bill.—The chairman said the Counties’ Association would care for the counties’ interests. The letter was received. The District Health Inspector (Ulr S. B. Reed), submitting his quarterly report, stated that tu r o cases of infectious diseases had been' reported from the county. The writer had been notified of only one building being erected, and he suggested that the information regarding new dwellings

to be erected be forwarded to him so that the by-laws would be complied with.—The report was received and it was decided to forward the information in future. , , c The Palmerston North branch of the Bank of New Zealand advised that the council’s county fund account had been set at £4OOO for the current financial y^ar.—Received. The clerk advised the transfer of sections 3 and 14. Block 14, 1 ohangina S.D., from Messrs Stevens and Painter to C. J. Stevens. —Received. The Apiti Health Camp Committee wrote suggesting that the council buy a quota of health stamps.—lt was decided to buy £5 worth, half at the Apiti Post Office and half at the lohangina Post Office. TREASURER’S REPORT. The treasurer (Mr Orgias) reported that the cemetery account held a credit of £34 Is 4d, and the loan account a credit of £443 Is 6d. The county fund account was in debit by £1620 6s Bd, which would be reduced to £1286 6s 8d on the payment of a subsidy due from the Main Highways Board. The estimated expenditure for the year had been £5537, and to date £2453 had been expended, leaving a baln’ce of £3084. The plant account held a credit ol £527 6a Bd. Various loan account's held the following credits: Coal Creek riding culverts loan, £37 6s 2d; Tamaki riding culverts, £l2B Is 7d; Mangapiko riding bridges, £156 2s 4d; Awahou riding bridges, £lO3 14s 7d, total, £425 4s Bd. A suggestion was made by the clerk that the dog tax be collected about June so that it would be shown in one balance-sheet instead of in two.- —The clerk is to make enquiries and report to the next meeting. Tile council approved of the plans for the deviation at Raumai and the plans are to be sent to the Public Works Department. The chairman extended the compliments of the season to the other members of the council, the inside and outside staffs, and the Press. Cr Howell returned thanks, as did Mr Watson, the engineer.