Akitio County Council

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 35, 12 February 1936, Page 2

Akitio County Council

MONTHLY MEETING ON MONDAY Tho Akitio County Council met on Monday at Pongaroa and there were present Crs. R. B. Robertson (chairman), T. A. Yeoman, D. W. Gray, D. R. Hall, C. P. Hunter and S. E. Whitta. At "the commencement of the meeting the chairman moved a motion of condolence to the Royal Family at the passing of Xing George V., the meeting rising and standing in silence. The Public Works Department advised that the Main Highways Board has approved tho issue of the following additional subsidies:—No. 61, Pa-hiatua-Pongaroa, £67 10s; No. 61, Ponga-roa-Akitio, £123 15s; No. 61, PongaroaAkitio, £150; No. 63, Masterton-Weber, £l6B 15s; No. 440, Rimu, £9O; a total of £BOO. The above additional subsidies are to cover extra maintenance up to March 31 next, and were rendered necessary by flood damage. Tho engineer (Mr. A. Theed) said he had found their subsidy had been cut and that they had extra flood damage early in the year to cope with so he had applied for help to keep up the maintenance work. The N.Z. Counties’ Association wrote asking the council to forward remits for the executive meeting of tho association to be held in March. —Received. Tho N.Z. Counties’ Association wrote regarding the .Government subsidy on rates. The chairman moved that the council was in favour of tho proposal that a subsidy be given on all roads in lieu of .a subsidy on rates. A further letter was receivod from the N.Z. Counties’ Association regarding tho prohibition of stock traffic on roads and main highways. The chairman pointed out that tho restriction would cause great hardship in the case of the Manawatu Gorge when Woodville stock was being taken to Feilding. Cr. Hunter moved that the council was only in favour of the restriction when an adequate route w r as available. This w-as seconded by Cr. T. A. Yeoman and carried. .The county clerk (Mr, S. W. Eunson) reported that Mr. P. V. Smith’s lease of the Akitio Ferry Reserve expired in March. The engineer said there was a suggested scheme to move the existing fence back to make a camping ground. Tho chairman thought it would be an unwarranted expenso if nobody applied for a lease. Tho engineer then explained that the cost, would be practically nothing as the present fence would be utilised and he thought Mr. Smith would supply any new posts needed. Cr. Hunter suggested that it would be best not to make the lease more than a three-year term which would govern the smaller sections also. The chairman thought if anybody intended building a cottage they would want something more permanent than a three-year leasehold. Cr. Hunter moved that the lease bo for a three-year term, saying that although times at present were not good conditions were improving and in three years the section might be more valuable. It was agreed to let the section for a three-year term and call tenders by means of an advertisement.

Road Repairs.

Cr. White reported on the repairs wanted on the upper portion of the Towai road. He and the engineer had inspected .the metal which was good and estimated that it would cost about 8s per yard, adding that this was a fair cost.

The chairman moved that Cr. Whitta and the engineer be appointed a delegation to meet tho Pahiatua Countv Council and come to some arrangement regarding the cartage of the metal ovet the Pahiatua roads.

The engineer reported that he had been in touch with Mr. Hutton, the Pahiatua county clerk, and the Pahiatua County Council was a little worried at the possible damage to their road and rather than have any trouble after they would like tho Akitio county to agree to bearing the cost of repairing any damage that might be done to tho road in question. It was left in the hands of Cr. Whitta to finalise arrangements with the Pahiatua County Council.

Council Employees Criticised,

A councillor stated that one or two of the men on the county staff were no good, whereupon Cr. Hall remarked that something would have to be done, saying the engineer did not seem to exert much influence over the men. The chairman and Cr. Hunter agreed that they would always get good an,d poor men anywhore. The engineer pointed out that he was losing his best men because the county wages were low. He had gathered in all the men he could to cope with the work. ti

Cr. Gray proposed .that the county adopt the Public WorJts rate of pay as follows:—Labourer Is 6d per hour, crusher driver Is BJd per hour, grader driver Is lOd per hour, lorry driver (over 30ewt) Is 9Jd per hour, quarrymen Is 7d per hour. The proposal was then agreed to and the increase will take effect from February 3, 1936.

Cr. Gray said he thought it would be better for the engineer if the roadmen gave fuller reports of the work done.

The council discussed the advantage of getting the flood damage all cleared up before the winter, and the engineer was instructed to get what men he could to do this.

Cr. Hall inquired why the Crooked creek bridge on the Glen Ora road had not been completed, or at least why the approaches had not been finished. The engineer explained that the contractor had not been able to obtain the necessary materials.