MANUKAU COUNTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21493, 17 May 1933, Page 14

MANUKAU COUNTY

RATES ON CROWN LAND .AMENDMENT TO LAW URGED The matter of unpaid rates on properties' mortgaged to the Crown was discussed yesterday by the Manukau County Council. A remit is to be presented at the Counties Association 'Conference urging that the present law relating to rating be amended in so far as it affects properties mortgaged to, leased or rented by the Crown, with the object of giving local bodies power to collect rates on such lands and deal with them in a manner similar to privately-owned land. The chairman, Mr. F. M. Waters, was appointed a delegate to the conference, which is to commence in Wellington on July 25. The engineer, Mr. J. R. Page, reported 'that the roads generally had been kept in reasonably good order during the summer. In some localities, however, it was plain that the reduced expenditure of the past two seasons lad resulted in weaker surfaces. Authority from the Main Highways Board to carry out repairs to the Panmure Bridge to the extent of £2OO, on a £3 for £1 basis, had been received/' Arrangements to start work next week were in hand. It was reported that the parties engaged in clearing the Papakura Stream had proceeded with the "work as well as weather conditions .permitted, but "the frequent flooding of the stream had given rise to the question of continuation. The question of suspending the work until after the winter was left to the chairman, tho engineer and tho riding member, Mr. C. S. McCallum, .with power to act. The building inspector reported that permits involving a total value of £2212 lad been issued for the period from April 8 to May 10. Tho sum was made up as, follows: —Papatoetoe, £1235; Mangere, £457; Wairoa, £420; Papaiura, £9O; Turanga, £lO. A member reported that rifle shooting ■was taking place in a quarry reservo near Clevedon and that bullets ricochetting off the rocks would bo a source of considerable danger to residents in tho locality. The engineer was instructed to inquire into tho position.

A request for membership was received from the Auckland Boys' Employment Association. It was decided to accede to the request, and to donate ,the sum of £5 os.