COUNTY CLIPPINGS

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 15, 19 November 1948, Page 4

COUNTY CLIPPINGS

At the sitting of the Mangonui County Council on Wednesday last, Cr. Holder was given authority to form a committee' to be named the Allen Bell Memorial Committee. He was authorised to proceed with the aid of this committee to raise funds for the beautification of the ground and erection of memorial gates on the site next the Public Library granted by the Kaitaia Borough Council. ® When Mr. Wilton was called from the Chambers during, the sitting, Mr. Hales remarked : “Thank Heavens. That cuts Mr. Wilton out of this discussion doesn’t it, Mr. Chairman. He seems to have a shopping list. about a mile long.” “That’s a thought,” smiled the chairman, Mr. W. J. Steed, in reply. ® When a letter from a government department was read, the whole thing seemed to be far from lucid. “Send it back,” said Mr. Hales, “and ask them to let us have a letter a normal being could understand.” ® Following an appeal from the Institute for the Blind, it was decided to make a donation of*£2/2/-. ® There was some discussion on a letter from the Piako County Council, which body asked thac support should be given them in an endeavour to relieve the situation as to-the class and weight of vehicles using public highways and byways. This letter suggested that there was insufficient co-ordination between truck importers and operators. The Piako County was of the opinion that a committee comprising representatives of Transport Department, Internal Affairs Dept., Works Dept., Main Highways Board, Counties Association, Carriers Federation. Retail Motor Traders Association, Federated Farmers, Municipal Associations and any other bodies likely to be interested, should be formed, charged with the collection of evidence, and to prepare a report with recommendations and a recommended interim policy for construction standards, load limitations, finance etc., on rural roads, together with suggestions for the regulation of the load carrying capacity of vehicles approved for import. “It is not so much the overloading which destroys the roads,” stated Chairman Steed when discussing the letter and suggestions, “as the pace they travel at. It’s pace that kills.” “Something will have to be done to limit load and weight of vehicles to suit New Zealand loading,” said Mr. A. Maylin Theed, County engineer. “I can’t see truck manufacturers

building trucks to suit our roads,” said Cr. Wilton. “We must build roads- to suit the modem vehicle.” “That’s right. We can’t retard progress,” stated Cr. Bell in support. It was decided to give to Piako all support in the effort being made by that body. ® It was announced that the Public Works Department had made a grant of £355 on a ratio of £3 for £1 for the Waiwhero Stream Bridge, known as Olsen’s Bridge. This spans a proposed private road giving access to Paranui Lime Works end will make a saving in journey travelling of some 12 miles. ® It was resolved by the Council that in the matter of Miss M. Wilton who acts as wharfinger at Mangonui and has been receiving payment at the rate of £1 weekly for her duties, to increase this payment to £2/5/- weekly, this to be restrospective to April Ist, 1948. ® ' Council decided that the fee for bona fide rabbiting dogs be 2/6 annually. This will refer to dogs owned only by rabbitters employed by Rabbit Control Boards. ® With a petition bearing signatures of 67 residents of the township of Mangonui asking that Council reconsider its decision to make Domain Road a “one way” road, and suggesting that £4O spent on this road would be sufficient to widen it in places and give better visability, a letter from Dr. Alexander of that township was also read in conjunction. This letter expressed the earnest wish that the road be left as a “one way” road, and showed marked approval of the Council’s action. Councillors were of the opinion that they had followed the advice of their experts in such matters, Cr. Wilton staticg that he could get another petition that would overwhelm that which was then before the Council. An impressirp* he stated, had been given b - those sponsoi'ing the petition that the road was to be closed rather than made a “one way” road. Consideration of the petition was refused in view of the advice received from the Council’s- experts. ® After afternoon refreshment time, Cr. Dawson was about to leave to replenish his cup with tea. The County Clerk, Mr. Mackintosh, told him that the pot was empty. “I thought the Minister of Internal Affairs was supplying us now,” wryly laughed Cr. Dawson. “That’s right,” said Cr. Hales, “but there's a cut in it immediately.” ® During a discussion on by - laws, Mr. A. M. Theed stated : “County bylaws as a whole have been shot so full of holes by the Courts, that there is a movement afoot by the N.Z. Counties Association to bring in a new set of model by-laws for N.Z.”