WYNDHAM TOWN BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21604, 16 January 1932, Page 7

WYNDHAM TOWN BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING.

(From Our Correspondent.)

The monthly meeting of Wyndham Town Board was held on Monday evening. Those present were: Commissioners W. Richardson (chairman), H. Hunter, R. G. Carson, F. Ball, L. Harper and W. 11. Johnstone. The Department of Labour wrote relative to fixing the statutory half-holiday.— Left to the Minister to fix the present day, Wednesday. The Southland County Council, acknowledged a letter from the board with reference to a subsidy towards the cost of purchase of tools, also of insurance covering the unemployed relief workers on council work since the inception of Scheme No. 5 in the board s district, and informing the board that the application would receive serious consideration. The application had been referred to the county riding member and county engineer for further inquiries. u The chairman said that Messrs Golden and Basstian had called on the speaker, and they had discussed the matter. As a result the county would either take over the tools at cost price, or allow 50 per cent, depreciation on same. In connection with the matter of rebating rates on the Plunket Society’s property, replies were received from the Otautau Town Board and the Winton Borough Council stating, that no rates were charged. The chairman said that a small rate should be charged, say on the value of the section prior to the Plunket Society acquiring it. The society was entitled to some consideration.

It was decided to exempt the property from all local rates.

R. Milne applied for grazing rights of gravel reserve at the west end of the township and offered £1 for same. The application was granted, subject to special conditions being drafted by Crs. Hunter and Harper. The District Highways Council wrote stating that the maintenance subsidy of £3 for £1 was only for ordinary general maintenance of highways surfaces, and did not affect any other class of work chargeable to the reserve fund. The District Highways Council wrote stating that in future it would be necessary for the council to be fully aware of all commitments in the nature of contracts let involving the board in expenditure after March 31 next. It would therefore be necessary to obtain the concurrence of the council from now on before accepting any tender involving the board in any liability in way of subsidy after March 31. Inspector Strang was appointed dog-tax collector for the ensuing year, the fee to be the same as last year. The question of renewing the. loan of £3OO taken over from the old Wyndham Road Board and maturing on February 1 next was discussed. The clerk said there was a sinking fund of £199 towards repayment of the loan, leaving a deficit of £lOO odd. It was decided that application be made to the Loans Board for £lOO With which to complete repayment. The clerk said that so far the rates were not coming to hand satisfactorily, a sum of some £9OO being outstanding. Cr. Carson said the back rates and rents would have to be paid and the board would need to take some action in the matter. Cr. Harper said that if all their rates were paid by the end of March they would be in an excellent position. Cr. Johnstone pointed out that unemployed work had cost the board a lot of extra revenue this year. The chairman disagreed with this contention. He said the only material such work had required was sand and tar, which had run into £2OO odd. He thought the matter of rates should be gone into at a special meeting of the board. The chairman said the time had arrived when it would be necessary to go into the permanent appointment of a town clerk. As members would remember the present clerk had been appointed '»temporarily (until the balance-sheet and revaluation lists had been completed) ; and seeing that there was a little competition for the position at the time he thought they would be as well to advertise for applications. On the motion of Crs. Hunter and Harper it was decided to deal with the matter at a special meeting of the board; also to consider the matter of outstanding rates. A discussion took place on the question of providing a sinking fund for the Town Hall loan of £350, but no action was taken. Recreation Reserve. The secretary of the Wyndham Amateur Sports Society applied for the use of the cricket grounds for evening sports on a date to be fixed next week. —Granted.. The caretaker, Mr Sheehan, submitted the following report: During the past month a good deal of routine work was carried out on the reserve, with the result that various areas were in good order for the holidays. A pump was fitted to a pipe used years ago and a good supply of fresh water is now available at the cricket ground. A shelter was erected in the camping ground and should prove satisfactory for boiling billies for campers. The school committee and Caledonian Society held outings on the cricket ground during the month and I am pleased to report that the grounds were left in excellent order. Cr. Carson said he bad given Mrß. Patterson permission to cut up a log on the reserve, and also to take down a tree which was in a dangerous state. Mr Patterson was doing the work for the firewood secured, and as he made a good job of it he suggested that Mr Patterson be given permission to cut down more of the trees which had a dangerous lean.

Cr. Johnstone said it was too expensive getting the unemployed to do this work, and he was sure some of the wood cut last year had cost the board £5 a cord. The chairman said he considered they had got satisfactory results from the men employed, especially as they were not bushmen. He suggested that they meet on the reserve and see what work required to be done. This was agreed to.