NOTES FROM COUNCIL MEETING.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 26, 31 March 1933, Page 7

NOTES FROM COUNCIL MEETING.

There was a full Council table at the meeting of the County Council on Wednesday of last week. FINANCIAL Accounts amounting to £1434 were passed for payment. ROADS AND ROADWORKS The Riding Member and the Engineer were authorised to interview Mr. Hooper regarding the survey of Kohumaru Road and report to the next meeting of the Council, also to arrange with Mr. Graves regarding compensation for land taken for road purposes and to arrange for the necessary survey of that portion of the road. * * * * The Chairman reported that Mr. Smith of Herekino had offered to place culverts on his access road in position free if the Council supplied the pipes. The matter was left in the hands of the Engineer to see what could he done. * * * * Cr. Garton reported that he, with the Engineer, had gone into the position of Foster’s Access Road at Oruaiti, and Mr. Clem Foster had offered to form and metal portion of the road and fi 11“rng for £25. The Council decided to accept this offer. * * * * A letter was received from the Public Trustee stating that as soon as terms could he arranged with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, the question of Haskell’s Road at Pukenui would be finalised.

Mr. E. A. Garton, of Mangonui wrote regarding the access to his property by continuing Garton’s Road. When the Councillors were informed that the legalisation costs would be over £2OO they decided that they could not entertain the work at present. * * * * Cr. L. J. Matthews reported that the settlers on Quarry Road, Awanui, had asked that a small expenditure he undertaken on their road for the maintenance of the metal. The settlers were prepared to do the work at a minimum of cost. The Engineer was instructed to make an estimate of the work required and if satisfactory arrangements could he made with the settlers concerned, to put the work in hand. * * * * The disrepair into which the Far North roads had been allowed to get was discussed, it being realised that the riding concerned had no funds to maintain same. It was stated that the Public Works Department will shortly be expending a grant on these roads, and the question was then dropped. * * * * The Engineer is to see to repairs to the Mangonui Hospital Road. * * * * The Engineer is to see what repairs are required to Maria’s Bridge at Oruru. * * * * The Council is to see if a grant could he obtained to rebuild Veza’s Bridge at Herekino. * * * * In answer to a letter from Mr. F. Lisle, of Whangape, regarding road access to his property, the writer is to he asked for fuller information as to which of his properties he means as it was pointed out that a metal road leads to the property on which he was residing. GENERAL Mr. H. M. Rushworth, M.P., wrote stating that he had endeavoured to get a grant from the Back Block Settlers Road vote on Fryer’s Road, as requested by the Council. He also stated that the Public Works Department were obtaining a report on the

suitability of establishing a camp for unemployed for work on the Motutangi and Selwyn Swamps.

All rates irrecoverable by law are to be written off, also several sundry debtors charged in error.

The application of Mr. N. G. S. Shepherd for a Slaughterhouse license at Peria was recommended for granting.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote stating that bis department bad no funds available to purchase gelignite for the use of settlers to clean drains on the Motutangi Swamp.

Messrs Sulenta Bros., of Waipapakauri, wrote to the Council requesting that it recommends to the Unemployment Board that a grant be set aside to enable their firm to wash gum for diggers by a new process that they had evolved. The grant to be used for advancing against the gum and the amount to be repaid when the gum was sold. Messrs Sulenta’s forwarded samples of the washed gum and said that they had a market for the output. Cr. Berghan said that gum had practically no value in Auckland at present except when an order from overseas was received. If there was any demand for the class of chip as submitted, it would be filled at once as there were hundreds of tons available. Gum was like wool, butter, and all other products, there was practically no demand. The Council decided to take no action in the matter. NOTICE OF MOTION Cr. Holder gave notice that at next meeting of the Council he would move that the Engineer’s and Clerk’s salaries be reduced by 71/6%. Cr. Garton gave notice that he would move that all bridges over 30 feet in length be a County charge. Wandering Stock A letter was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands regarding wandering stock breaking fences and damaging gardens of settlers adjoining the sandhills on the Ninety Mile Beach, and suggesting the appointment of a ranger to cope with the difficulty. The Commissioner is to be informed that the Council was not in a position to appoint a Ranger to impound stock wandering on sand dunes on Ninety Mile Beach. Taipa Bridge Regarding repairs to the Taipa Bridge the Minister of Public Works stated that his Department did not favour repairs being carried out on the present structure but considered that the bridge should be re-built. This year it was impossible for the Government to do anything but next year they may consider a £ for £ grant for a new structure with concrete piles, steel joists and timber top. The bridge is 664 feet long. Champion’s Access Road A letter was received from the Minister of Public Works regarding Champion’s Access Road. The Minister stated that his department’s engineer had reported that the easiest and most economical proposition to get Mr. Champion’s access was to legalise the route that he was already using, the Council would have to pay for the legalisation. The alternative route on the legal road was too expensive to form and bridge. If the Council woqld legalise the former route then the Government may consider a grant if funds permitted. The Riding Member and the Engineer were authorised to examine the two routes suggested and present sketch plan cf same

to next meeting of the Council. Mr. Jenkins, of the Public Works Department, is to be asked to accompany them when making the inspection.

No Government Subsidy on Rates In response to an inquiry from the Council through Mr. H. M. Rushworth, M.P., the Prime Minister stated that there would be no margin available from petrol taxa'ion enabling the payment of a special subsidy on local body rates for the current year. He added that the relief during the current year would be confined to the 10% stamp duty on local body interest but it was hoped that further in'erest reductions would be enforced next year and so be a further relief to the ratepayers. Regarding the non-payment of native rates and the ex'ra burden this imposed on European rampayers, the Prime Minister sta ed that the representations of the Council were duly no’ed, which Councillors thought did not help very much. Regarding the reduction in Interest, the County Treasurer, Mr. C. McKinnon, reported that the total interest bill of the County was £'3273 7/11 per annum the saving for the year just ending was £353 3/8 and next year the saving would be £754 12/-. Appreciation of Work of Officials After the County Ranger’s report had been read, Councillors expressed appreciation of the manner in which he was carrying out his duties. There is no doubt, said Cr. Berghan, that the Ranger is using common sense and tact in the way in which he is administering his duties. He is carrying out his duties with a firm hand but giving all the people a fair spin. Crs. Vickers, Holder and Matthews expressed the same sentiments, the latter remarking that the ranger was giving people a

warning and if they did not heed it then he did not hesitate to impound the wandering stock. * * * *

The Chairman reported to the meeting that by u ilising unemployed labour 1800 yards of metal hsd been spread on Owhata Road, Herekino, with a £125 £ for £ grant. The men employed had given good service and were to be commended.

That the Engineer and all who were concerned with the work were to be greatly commended said Cr. Holder, and these remarks were endorsed by Cr. Steed.

The latest return relating to wool production in Australia shows that the clip for the season 1932 was a record. It was about 997,000,0001 b. in weight, compared with 912,000,000 in 1931.

Decreases ot 14.5 percent in tne /lumber of employees and of 23.2 percent in the total ot wages and salaries paid are shown in the statistics ior the manufacturing industries of New Zealand when the figures for 1931-32 are romofO’ed with Ihn?-e for 1930-31.

Roy L. Smith—“ Some people would rather argue about religion than demonstrate it.”

Mr. Augustine Birrell—“lt doesn’t follow that a man is a fool because he isJ a Cabinet Minister, and we ought to recognise it ; nor does a man cease to be a fool because he becomes a Cabinet Minister.”