WAIROA COUNTY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18064, 15 April 1933, Page 14

WAIROA COUNTY

' MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING i (Herald Correspondent.) Thu Wairoa County Council met on Wednesday, sitting tho whole day, there being present Crs. A. C. Nolan, chairman, W. J. Hill, A. T. Carroll, J. Tuit, S. A. Dickie, W. Tait, G. C. Ormond and F. 11. Norris. The chairman’s reply to the letter sent by the Minister of Internal Affairs threatening the appointment of a commissioner to control the finances of the county, was read. The letter was a lucid exposition of the council’s position, largely brought about by the fact that while the freeholders have to pay rates, the tenants of tho Crown and the Crown itself were in default in not making provision for the payment of rates on Crown lands.—The council heartily endorsed the letter. The Treasury wrote advising that payment of £ISOO advance of subsidy on general rates for 1932-33 is being withheld in the meantime, and suggesting that it bo applied by way of set-off against interest due to the Treasury and State Advances Department.—A letter from tho same department dated five days later was received, advising that as the council had notified its intention of paying current year’s interest, the advance gf subsidy on 1932-33 general rates will now be paid. The Treasury advised that penal interest amounting to £7 5s 8d had accrued oil half-yearly instalment of interest clue to the Treasury on August 1, 1932, and requesting that the amount be paid to the credit of the public account.—lt was decided to reply that the position was still the same as that advised in the letter to the Ministei of Internal Affairs, the same intimation to be made to the State Advances Department and the Public Trustee. Tho Treasury wrote pointing out in connection with the cost of repairs ol earthquake damage at Wairoa Hospital that under recent legislation it will not be necessary to provide the whole amount in one year, but that with the consent of the Local Government Loans Board it will be possible to spread the cost over a period gf years.—The clerkmade a statement on the. procedure to be adopted in conjunction with the Hospital Board, and the matter was adjourned till next meeting.—Cr. Norris said he assumed this might mean raising the hospital rate, and probably l-10d would do.—The chairman said |d would do if they were sure they could collect it. The Napier District Highways Council forwarded forms for preparation of main highways estimates for the year , 1933-34 and requesting that estimates be completed and forwarded before April 29.—The matter was referred to the engineer. A letter was received from the resi dent engineer, Wairoa, submitting proposals under which the repairs to Mangawhero bridge at Rangiahua could be carried out, as follows: Contribution by Public Works Department, £345; Unemployment Board, £400; Wairoa County Council, £lls.—Tbe chairman said the bridge would cost about £BOO, and it was a most necessary work, but the council bad not been able to provide the contribution hitherto asked, and it should now lie gone on with, but li • preferred that the Public Works Department should do the work.—’lbis was agreed to. The resident engineer, Wairoa, wrote requesting that the council agree to supply free in future metal required from Tahaenui depot for maintenance of the section gf Napie.r-Gishome main highway in the Wairoa County, and make a charge of 2d per cubic yard for all metal obtained from the quarry and used outside the'eounty.—The engineer stated the first request was a fair one as the council now had no stripping to do. but no royalty on metal for outside the county, short of 4d, would reimburse the council for the wear and tear on roads and bridges.—’lbis was agreed to. , , The New Zealand Counties Association wrote advising that a meeting ol the executive of the association will he held at Wellington on April 21.—The chairman said it was too late to send in remits for the executive meeting but lie thought they should ask the association to" take up the rating question, 'especially in regard to Crown land-, and possibly to call a conference of all county councils to discuss same. —It ■as decided to do this, and at the same time to send in particulars of Crown Lands on which no rates were being paid, to the great detriment of the freeholder. A letter was received from the treasury, forwarding an outline of the provisions of The Local Authorities Interest Reduction and Loans Conversion Act, 1932-33.—Considerable discussion ensued, during which possible savings were dealt with. Eventually it was decided that the clerk and chairman should go into the matter to ascertain tho gains that might accrue; also to ask the Treasury and State Advances Department if they were willing to convert. The Public Trustee wrote, advising that as the result of the passing of the Act, notices of the next year's interest instalment and a note of future iiist.nli inents will be forwarded from the Public j Trust Office. — 1 lie clerk said that a. I portion of the debt carried a reduction lof 10 per cent, and part 20 per cent. The district manager of the I'ublic I Trustee wrote advising arrangements j mado to supply posts to repair earthj quake damage' in necessitous cases under the wairoa-Gisborne Earthquake relief fund. —The chairman stated that 50CO posts had now been delheml from Mr. Thomas' mill at Waikaremoaim. The committee met on Tuesday and made the. allocation in proportion to the needs of the settlers and the num'ber available. The Public Trustee advised that lie was only prepared to allow as a set-off against interest due him, rates due by Richardson and Sons for which the council has obtained judgment, and considers that the council should wait until after the distribution of this year s pool for the payment of 1932-33 rates. Ihe district manager of the tin I Trustee office wrote advising that the Public Trustee is not prepared to agree to allow a set-off against interest due to him, the rates on certain properties 1 in the county over which lie holds moit--1 • gages. i The Rank of New Zealand forwarded ' t for completion forms ol resolution alitlior--1 j ising the • :ot ll icil to borrow by way ol j ~ *

overdraft. —The usual formal resolution was passed. The council discussed for a considerable time the dispartiy of rate collections in the countv compared with adjoining districts, two things being apparent, either that the district was more heavily hit than any other part of New Zealand or else that the council was lacking in energy in the matter ol collection. —lt was decided to authorise the finance committee to take any steps necessary for the collection of outstanding rates. Mrs. X. Wliaenga waited on the council asking that body to apportion the rates on a block at Xuliaka, so that she should not have to pay tile whole £73 due in rates, but that the other u.viiers should pay their own share.- -The. ivhairiniui and'clerk said an apportionment could not he made as asked as the asessment appeared on the valuation roll. — The matter was eventually left to Cr. Carroll and the Kaliuiiguiiu Council to discover a way out by a speedy partition of the block. The health inspector reported only two cases of enteric fever during the month, and both had been sent to hospital. A large number of inspections had been made. The Wairoa Borough Council forwarded a cheque for £725 from the Mayor’s earthquake relief fund for d stiTbuticni among) ratepayers in tho county who suffered earthquake losses subject to | cunditi ms as to assistance to be granted | in ceitain specific cases named. —The j chairman ra.d lie thought all the upplica- j tarns were now in, but tho committee had no time that day to go into the i matter. Tnero would be no money l grants but only payment cf accounts for: r. pans etc., and all would to subject to audit. The applications would easily absorb £IOOO. ; The Borough Council submitted pro-p-sals for apportioning between the B nougli Council and the council tho cost of maintaining the local employment office.—After some adverse comment the c uiic-1 instructed tho chairman to interview the Mayor on the subject. Tile Borough Council advised that it had decided to again resume responsibility for supervision of the Main ll.mi way in tho borough as from April 1, 1933.—Received. Tho Hospital Board forwarded a copy of a letter received from the DirectorGeneral of Health, advising setting forth provisions to bo made to extend tho borrowing) powers of the boaid to meet the cost ol earthquake repairs. The board also forwarded a copy of a letter from tbe Director-General of Health in which it was stated that the board had no power to remit interest charged on overdue levies. Mr. G. M. Reynolds wrote requesting that the road from the Waiau River crossing at Otoi to Waireka homestead be formed by relief workers, and undertaking to legalise the road when called upon.—The chairman, supporting tbe request, said the road was now the subject of a report by tho Public Works Department. The council would be quite agreeable if the Public Works Department could use its staff and gear now near the sp ,t. The work was a very necessary one.—lt was decided to reply accordingly. Tile Nuhaka Unemployment Committee wrote requesting the council to consider the question of establishing camps on the Nuhaka River and TunanuiMalra roads for the purpose of knapping stone for metalling) these roads.—Tho chairman said the council was at present doing all it could on the roads mentioned. Quite a slioaf of letters was read in regard to overdue rates, penalties, etc., and with these there was submitted the finance committee’s report on the economies that might bo effected in the wages and salaries of outside and inside staffs, totalling £B7l 1.2 s 6d per annum. —Crs. J. Tait and W. Tait said the economies did not go far enough, both favoring contracts as against day labor, and a lower rate. —Eventually, on the motion of Cr. W. Tait, seconded by Cr. Norris, the report was adopted.—Cr. Carroll said there would lie some further savings in regard to machinery, but that would come on later. The traffic inspector, Mr. F. A. Phelan, reported having issued 12 drivin., licenses and 13 heavy traffic licenses. The clerk stated flint out of tile Enro- ■ -eiii rates £926 7d had been written off in 10 years, a good deal of it on s Idier setil.'incuts. There was a loss in that peri' ll of £20,000 in native, rates. Do now asked the, council to write off £612 9s 5d of native rates, leaving Cl £69 1s- ICd outstanding for six years.—This was agreed to.