MANIOTOTO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19803, 31 May 1926, Page 3

MANIOTOTO COUNTY COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the council was held at Naseby on Wednesday, all the members being present. On the motion of Cr Aitken, seconded by Cr Scott, Cr T. Ramsay was' re-elected chairman for the ensuing year.—Members paid a tribute to Mr Ramsay’ o last year of office, and expressed the view that one year in office was insufficient, and that continuity was in the best interests of the county.—Cr Ramsay briefly returned thanks i the honour conferred on him and the support accorded to him in the previous year by the councillors. MONTHLY" MEETING. Following the annual meeting, the ordinary monthly meeting was held, there being present: Cr T. Ramsay (chairman), Crs Nicolson, Davis, Morgan, Scott, Lowis, Bleach, Hall, A.itken. . The Chairman congratulated Crs Oavis, Bleach, and Scott, on their return at the recent election. It was moved by Cr Nicolson and seconded by Cr Lowis —“That Cr E. Morgan be appointed as this council’s representative on the District Highways Council, Group 16.” The mover stressed the fact that Cr Morgan had always watched the council’s interests closely and took a keen interest in highways matters as well as his own riding and the county in general. —The motion was carried unanimously.— Cr Morgan thanked members for their confidence in him and the nleasure it ga\ e him to represent them. The Chairman, Crs Morgan and Bleach were appointed a Finance Committee, the last-named takiqg the place of Cr Hall, to whom a vote of thanks was accorded for past services on the committee. The Engineer’s monthly report was read and adopted.—Cr Aitken moved that the engineer’s recommendation to dress the Patearoa-Styx road with gravel be carried out at the estimated cost of £l2. — Agreed to. The Engineer submitted proposals for main highways expenditure and Government grants for consideration. In considering these, it was necessary for the council definitely to decide whether highways expenditure should be charged as formerly to the general fund or to riding accounts. If to the latter, then exenditure would have to be restricted in some ridings. The matter had been recently discussed, and though expressions of opinion were given a definite decision was now required to enable the expenditure to be allocated and provided for. —Cr Nicolson moved —“That all main highways expenditure be a charge upon the general fund of the county.”—Cr Bleach seconded this motion. —Crs Hall and Aitken expressed opinions against th. proposal, holding that it was unfair to ridings to bear expenditure which they did not incur on roads they did not use.—The Chairman put the motion to the vote, and it was carried, Crs Nicolson, Bleach, Scott, Morgan, and Lowis (5) supporting the motion, and Crs Aitken, Hall, Davis, and chairman (4) voting against it.

The Clerk submitted a tentative statement showing the riding accounts balances, and these showed an approximate increase in debit balances, which evoked some discussion, "hese balances did not include the proposed adjustments for bridge expenditure, which had been previously charged to ridings instead of general account.—The Clerk explained that Audit _ Office had sanctioned the adjustment if required by the council, as the period extended over.the past five .years.— Cr Aitken moved that the report and adjustments recommended by the committee on bridges expenditure, as submitted, be adopted.—Cr Alorgan seconded, and this was carried.

The Engineer outlined proposed expenditure for the ensuing year, together with grants it was proposed to apply for, and suggested a scheme for carrying some of the work out by loan, and also for a further loan for the purchase of plant. The matter was discussed at some length, Cr Aitken then moved that a committee be appointed consisting of Crs Alorgan, Davis, Lowis, the mover, and the chairman, to consider the report of the engineer in relation to the suggested loan to provide funds to bo spent in the purchase of road-making plant and storing materials and also bridging works; further that the same committee inquire into the question of riding accounts. Cr Lowis seconded. Cr Hall moved- an amendment that the matter- be deferred for six months. Cr Scott seconded. The amendment was lost, and the motion catried.

The ranger’s report showed that 17 head of catue had been seized, the fees amounting to £2 13s 6d.

On the motion of Crs Hall and Morgan the engineer’s report and ranger's report ■were received. The Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association forwarded copy of a report of a conference dealing with noxious weeds. The discussion was deferred till next meeting to enable each councillor to be supplied with a copy. The Hon. O. J. Hawken wrote stating that the council's request for the conntinuation of the Nasebv Forest Reserve had been received and it had been decided to retain the nursery on its present basis. Mr J. Horn, M.P., also wrote forwarding a similar communication from the Minster and Commissioner of the Forestry Department.—lt was resolved that the clerk reply conveying the council’s •/hanks for consideration of its request, and sho support given to it. , The Vincent County wrote stating that it vnas proposed to hold a conference in Dunedin to consider the allocation of heavy traffic fees, and that a separate conference fo» by-laws was suggested at Clyde, but debarred for incoming council to consider.— Received. Tjhe District Engineer forwarded list of unaupended balances of grants.—Received. Tire Hamilton Borough forwarded resolutiorfa; respecting motor traffic and roads expenditure urging legislation to place the burden on the users of the roads, and asking aipport.—Received.

The* Dunedin City Council wrote arranging at conference on June 1, to consider heavy l traffic license fees, apportionment and consideration of (he, amended regnla tions. 'i Jje chairman was appointed as dele gate attend the conference The SJfaniototo branch of the Farmers’ Union submitted a resolution “That the council be requested to prevent the erection of fences cm road lines consisting of only two barb wires.’* The union pointed out that this -class of fence damaged fat lambs and caususd considerable inconvenience in driving.—VDeferred, pending the legal position being ascertained. 1 The Distulct Highways Council forwarded a copy of Order-m-Council declaring Kyeburn portion (Shag to Swinburn) of mam highway to- be a Government road.— R The C< Maruototo Hospital Hoard submitted a COVJ' of the estimates for the current, year for approval, the county council’s portion of levies amounting to £2642 10s 6d r The Clerk pointed out that the heavy increase would necessitate the present ,mte of id being doubled. Councillors w. vere members of the board explained this was due the cost of the proposed renovations, £2500 being included. . , , , The Clerk stated that when he was secretary of the beard he had pointed out a method by which this expenditure could be financed without any increase in the rate if care wertp taken. If the board approved of the - estimates now before the meeting it wfl'«|ld be committed to an expenditure of £2\?42, almost double that of last vear. He lf?It it Ins duty to point out that the increased rate could be avoided if the master were dealt with carefully. . • ... , , Cr Davis said the money might not be required, and the department was mgmg that the estimates adopted at once. If the money were Jflit required by he board the rate need hot be collected The Clerk stated th at this was not the position. The board levied the amount, and the first instalmaot became due on June 30. Thus £660 would have to be paid in a month’s tin;ie, ana a further £660 by September 30, : before the rates were coming in. If the rate ueic not collected; where wvts he to obtain this money after it wasi paid? Every penny of the general ra le was required. Moreover, the council woijld have to levy the rate to meet the hospital levy. If the board did not spend Jbe money, or was not certain that it >was going to spend it because it mig;rt change its plans it would be unfair To ratepayers to collect an increased rate*. An interesting discussion > followed tins explanation. In reply to C'v Aitken, the Clerk stated that the boa.y,d could not expect to collect the rate a jid also raise the bank overdraft. If the- council did not pay its quarterly levy within 14 days the board would be compelled to charge the council interest at 64 pqr cent. Cr Bleach: the bank is prepared to -usist the board, I understand, and give every assistance. The Clerk: Then why charges ratepayers an increased rate when it can lie financed without doing so? ' , ' . Cr Aitken: Gould wo adopt these estimates* and collect id rate as ■ now and rftisc lbs overdraft i

The Clerk: No. If these estimates are passed you commit yourselves at once. You must pay your quarterly instalments, and to do this you must increase the rate from Jd to Jd for hospital levy. Cr Morgan: Do you suggest the rate can be kept at id and provide for reno■vations?

Cr Davis: It cannot be done. The Clerk: I am confident it can be done. Last year same £ISOO was provided for and paid out —nearly . £I2OO for other boards, £l5O for operating table and equipment, which will not be required this year, as against which there is only approximately £SOO due to other boards. The amount required for renovations can be raised by way of overdraft at the bank, on a guarantee to pay by instalments to be levied. Cr Aitken: What is your proposition?

The Clerk: That the estimates be referred back to the board for reconsideration, with the suggestion that the amount required for renovations and alterations be provided for by way of bank overdraft over a period of two or three j-ears on a guarantee by the board to levy on tin* contributory bodies accordingly. Councillors expressed favourable opinions to the-clerk’s suggestions, and on the motion of Crs Lewis and Bleach, the estimates were referred back to the board on the lines indicated by the clerk, who offered to assist if required, with a view to avoiding any incerase in rates. The following motion was moved: “That owing to the absence of a surfaceman in the Kyeburn Riding for three months, and owing to the frequency of floods in the Kyeburn River, crossings have been allowed to get into disrepair; that two men be at once engaged to repair and make passable for ordinary traffic the approaches to and the crossing of the river at the following places: Clunie’s, Pearson’s, Coyle’s, Hore’s, and Scott’s crossings.—Cr Hall seconded.—Carried. It was moved by Cr Bleach, seconded by Cr Lowis—“That Crs Hall, Lowis, and Davis inspect the fencing on Gimmerhurn Reserve and report to the council.” —Carried.

A number o f requests for attention to roads was referred to the engineer for attention.

It was moved by Cr Scott —“That in order to give the ratepayers _ of this county an opportunity of obtaining the fullest information possible of the business transacted by the council at any and every regular and special meeting, the clerk be instructed to supply to the Otago Daily Times within one week after the date of any meeting a full and correct report of all the business transacted as it appears in the minute book, provided that any matter of a private or confidential nature may, with the consent of a majority of the members of the council present, be withheld from publication.”—Cr Morgan seconded, and the motion was carried. The clerk was authorised to sue for all outstanding rates after final notice had been issued. It was moved by Cr Aitken, and seconded by Cr Scott —“That the chairman be appointed delegate to the Counties' Conference in Wellington on July 20. The Chairman remarked that the clerk’s application for increase of salary was deferred from last meeting for the incoming council. Cr Aitken moved, and Cr Morgan seconded —“That the clerk’s salary be increased to £3so.”—Crs Nicolson, Lowis, and Hall supported the motion, which was carried.

Accounts totalling £754 3s 4d were approved by the Finance Committee, and passed for payment.