BOROUGH STREETS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12077, 22 June 1932, Page 3

BOROUGH STREETS

The Mayor and Cr. Knight waited on the Efcetahuna Couhty Council with respect to the agreement concerning the work on the'Borough Streets. The chairman stated the letter received notified a termination of the contract. file Mayor said that was not altogether what was meant. It was desired in view of the lesser work that the present agreement lapse at the end of its currency but that the County Council should continue to do necessary grading. It was estimated that this would not be more than £IOO and in view of this it was suggested that the administration charge should be cut out. they appreciated all that the County Council had done and would carry on tlie grading. I lie engineer would l>e specially engaged for any special work. Ihe chairman: You are proposmg that we carry on without any administration charge. In reply to the Mayor the engineer estimated the actual grading Would run into about £9 a month. The Mayor stated it was not proposed to do any new metalline- this year. The chairman: It would he no hardship to the County to terminate agreement;; in fact, some of the Council .we«a not in favour of it in the first instance.- Uut you can t expect to get the work without administrative expenses. Cr. Hoiilbrooke; Would it- meet the case if we carried on as before and cut out the minimum (£62 10s). The chairman: That’s for the Council to decide. The Mayor: You people have the machinery and I don’t think there would be much of the engineer’s time needed. Cr. Perry thought that on an expenditure of £l(X>, the £62 10s charge was excessive. Still there should be some charge. The Mayor: That might be alright. The chairman: I notice you were reported as saying that Eketahuna was the most economically run borough for its size. Ihe Mayor: That is so, and we are going to cut expenses again tins year. The chairman: That points to good work by the County Council. The Mayor: Admittedly tlie County Council did good work for us. Cr. Perry: I>o you wish for an agreement lor only one year? The Mayor: Yes! I might be dead then. ■ After some discussion it was decided, on the casting vote of the chairman, tliai the administration charge he 12J per cent, on all work done, with a minimum of £4O, any specifications and supervision of contracts to lie extra. It was pointed out that the eugiueer was often called upon for opinions and that therefore an administration charge was only fair.