COUNTY COUNCIL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18526, 12 October 1934, Page 14

COUNTY COUNCIL

WAIROA BODY MEETS (Herald Correspondent.) The Wairoa County Council met on Wednesday. Present: Crs. A. G. Nolan, chairman, G. C. Ormond, W. J. Hill, J. Tnit, A. T. Carroll, F. 11. Norris, and S. A. Dickie. The chairman reported that the meat boxes in use on the Waikokopu lino were not lit for the conveyance of frozen meat to the ship, and were in bail repair. The freezing company had asked him to got (he Government to put on proper meat vans, and he communicated with the I’uidic Works Department. Letters were read from the Rt. lion. J. G. Coates, Mr. M. M. Campbell, M.P., and the Prime Minister, the Rt. lion. (!. W. Forbes, all promising to do what they could in the matter. The council endorsed the chairman’s action. The Minister of Lands advised that an item lias been placed on the department's estimates for the current year to provide for the payment to the council of *■'2ls in lieu of rates on tho Kakariki settlement. The clerk said ibis included also tin* Power Board rate. The Miuisier is to be thanked.

The Minister of Lands also advised Unit (lie position of settlers in Awaniate settlement had been reviewed and certain remissions of rent and postponements agreed to. He suggested that the council should get in touch with tin* Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier, and arrange any relief the council could afford by way of rates. This is to he mne into when the rating committee meets, and in the meantime the eonimis sinner is to be written to for certain in formation. Tile engineer was ilisti lu ted to arrange fur the. survey of five acres purchased tor a roadman’s cottage on the. iMuhaka--1 *utere road at £1 2s 3d per acre. The Dannevirkc County Council wrote suggesting that a conference should be convened to arrange a basis of allocation of heavy traffic fees for the year 1933 34. The chairman favored the conference method and moved that the scheme lie worked out, at the conference and he operative for three years. This was carried. j The Hawke’s Bay County Council notified that the request for improvement in road access to Mr. G. W. Reeves’ property would receive consideration in due course. The assistant engineer of the Public, Works Department, Wairoa, advised that application for a grant of £SO, £1 for £l, Manga re warewa road, had been approved, but henceforth only very * pedal cases would he entertained and (others would require to stand over until next year. The chairman.. said the matter was already in hand and it was .decided to inform Mr. Martin that steps : would he taken to expend £IOO on his | paving in his promised contribution. • The health inspector, Mr. P. A. Milne, reported one ease of infectious disease for the month, tuberculosis, 76 general inspections having been made. The ranger reported having impounded one row and one horse during August. ! The Borough Council wrote asking .the County Council to appoint a deleIgate to attend a conference proposed to be held to consider the question of providing suitable ladies’ rest and Plunket rooms for Wairoa and district. The chairman and Cr. Hill were appointed delegates. The Wairoa Unemployed Association requested the council to define its attitude in regard to the use of unemjployed labor, and stated that the association was of the opinion that the 'council should, as far as possible, pay standard rates of wages for all work dono for the council. The chairman

said the council was not using the unemployed on road works, and the roadmen were getting standard rates of pay. If there had been no unemployment the council would not he employing any more men. Work was sought for them which the council would not otherwise do, and if standard rates had to lie paid the work would not be done. It was decided to reply that if the council had to employ •extra roadmen it would be paying standard rates, but it could not see its way to pay for what was being done at other than Unemployment Board rates.

Mr Matcroa and others wrote asking permission to put two gates on a short piece of road near Waihua Hill or to close it. Permission for the gates was given on the usual condiI ions, hut the engineer said the council had no power to"closo this road to stock.

The traffic inspector, Mr F. A. Phelan, reported having issued 35 drivers’ licenses and eight heavy traffic licenses. Tho Borough Council wrote suggesting that in future each body should attend to its own roads. This was referred to the engineer. It was decided to inform Messrs. Sharpe and Telford that a. 4 no royalty was being asked in respect to timber carting over Tangiwai road, they should take some metal up for repairs as back loading. It was decided, after tin 1 engineer’s report was read, to inform the Director of Education that when the Land Board carried out certain draining, as intended, flooding a: the Whakaki School site would he obviated. Cr. Dickie asked several questions in respect to Hereheretau metal, arid the Tahaenui road, and received satisfactory answers. The Public Works Department is to be asked to ballast a portion of its line on the Tahaenui road to enable cars to use it. Some metalling out of thirds, to he subsidised up tn £4O, for Matakuhia road was agreed to. On the motion of Cr. Ormond, the Government is to he asked to acquire the Kniwaitu block of 400 acres at Mahia for afforestation purposes.