WORK IN THE COUNTY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13179, 11 February 1936, Page 4

WORK IN THE COUNTY.

AKITIO COUNTY COUNCIL. YESTERDAY’S MEETING. The monthly meeting of the yk l ~ tic County Council "'as held in tlie County office at Pongaroa vesterclaj, •the chairman, O' R. B. Robertson presided. Other councillors present were Messrs T. A. Yeoman IJ. VV. Gray, D. R. Hall, C. P. Hunter, and S. E. Whitta. At the commencement of tue meeting the chairman moved a motion of condolence to the Royal lam—ilv at the passing of King George V., the meeting rising and standing in silence. The Public Works Department advised that the Main Highways Board has approved the issue of the following additional subsidy:—No. _6l Pahiatua-Pongaroa. £67 10s Od; Xo. 61 Pongaroa-Ak itio, £123 los Od; No. 61 Pongaroa,-Akitio-, £l5O Os Od ; No 63 Masterton-Weber, £163 15s Od; No. 440 Fimu. £9O 0s Od: a total of £6OO 0s Od. The above additional subsidies are to cover extra maintenance up to 31st March next, and were rendered necessary by flood damage. The engineer (Mr A. Theed) said he had found their subsidy had been cut and that they had extra flood damage early in the year to cope n ith so he had applied for help to keep up the maintenance work. The N.Z. Counties Association wrote asking the Council to forward remits for the executive meeting of the association to be held in March.‘ —Received.

The N.Z. Counties Association wrote re the Government subsidy on rates. The chairman moved that the Council was in favour of the proposal that a subsidy be given on all roads in lieu of a subsidy on rates. A further letter was received from the N.Z. Counties Association re the prohibition of stock traffic on roads and main highways. The chairman pointed out that the restriction would cause great hardship iu the case of the Manawatu -Gorge when Woodville stoc-k was being taken to Eeilding. Cr. Hunter moved that the Council was only in favour of the restriction when an adequate route was available. This was seconded by Cr. T. A. Yeoman and carried. PERRY RESERVE TEASE.

The County Clerk, Mr S. W. Eunson, reported that Mr P. V. Smith's lease of the Akitio Ferry Reserve expired in March. The engineer said there was a suggested scheme to move the existing fence back to make a camping ground. The c-hair-man thought it would be an unwarranted expense if nobody applit'd lor a lease. The engineer then explained that the cost would be practically nothing as the presence fence would be utilised and he thought Mr Smith would supply any new posts needed. Cr. Hunter suggested that it would be best not to make the lease more than a 3-year term which would govern the smaller sections also. The chairman thought if anybody intended building a cottage they wo.uld want something more permanent than a 3-year leasehold. Cr. Hunter moved that the lease be lor a 3-year term, saying that although times at present -were not good conditions were improving and in three years the section might be more valuable. It was agreed to let the section for a 3-year term and call tenders by means of an advertisement. ROAl) REPAIRS.

Cr. White- reported on the repairs wanted on the upper portion of the Towai Road. He and the engineer had inspected the metal which was good and estimated that it ' would cost about 8s per yard, adding that this was a fair cost. The chairman moved that Cr. Whitta. and the engineer be appointed a delegation to meet the Pahiatua County Council and come to some arrangement regarding the cartage of the metal over the Pahiatua roads.

The engineer reported that he had been in touch with Mr Hutton, the Pahiatua County clerk .arid the Pahiatua County Council were a little worried at the possible damage to their road and rather than have any trouble after they would like the Akitio County to agree to bearing the cost of repairing any damage that might be done to the road in question. It was left in the hands of Ct. Whitta to finalise arrangements with the Pahiatua Countv Council.

COUNCIL EMPLOYEES CRITI CISED.

A councillor stated that one or two of the men on the county stall were no good, whereon Cr. Hail remarked that something would have to be done, saying, the engineer did not st< m to exert much influence over the- men. The chairman and Cr. Hunter agreed that they would always got good and pool- men anywhere. WAGES TOO LOW Tile- engineer pointed out. that ho was losing his best men because the county wages were low. He had gathered in all the men be could to cope with the work. Ci. Gray proposed that the County adopt tho Public Works- rate- of pay as follows: Labourer l s 6d per hour, crusher driver Is Bii per hour, grader driver ls lOd per hour, lorry driver (over 30cwt) 1* did per hour, quarrvmeii ls 7d per hour. The proposal was then agreed to, and the increase will take effect from February 3, 1936. Cr. Gray said he thought it- would bo better for the engineer if the roadmen gave fuller reports of the work done. The Council discussed the advantage of getting the flood damage ail cleared up before tlie winter, and the engineer was instructed to get what men ho could to do this Cr. Hall inquired why the Crooked Creek Bridge on the Glen Ora road had not been completed, or at least why the approaches had not been finished. The engineer explained that the contractor bad.not been able to obtain

labour but had now done so and the would soon be completed Cr. Hunter asked the engineer to obtain a sign warning motori>ts of school children at the Ti Tree Point School. Ci\ I Tall mentioned the danger of Kerr s corner. File engineer ;»gre«*d " *th his view, and saud he would sec to the cutting back of these trees. FINANCES IN CREDIT. The clerk reported that flu Countv “ ad a credit balance at th« end < January amounting to £2243 2s counts amounting to £1364 13s 8d were parsed for payment