Nightcaps TOWN BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 23227, 16 June 1937, Page 8

Nightcaps TOWN BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING Mr E. Mason presided over the following commissioners at the monthly meeting of the Nightcaps Town Board: J. C. Wilson, F. Klemick and B. Rushton. The cleric reported that the response from the public to the King George V Memorial Fund had been very creditable. Thirty-one pounds had already been handed over and there were a few amounts still coming to hand. The treasurer of the Wairio Jockey Club (Mr J. A. Steans) forwarded a donation of £7 to the fund. The clerk reported that the crushing plant was due shortly and supplies of gravel were expected soon. The board’s surfaceman reported that various works had been carried out, crossings completed and some 106 yards of maintenance gravel spread. The report was received. THE FARMERS’ UNION Those present at the monthly meeting of the Nightcaps Branch of the Farmers’ Union were Messrs C. Speight (chairman), A. Sinclair, C. Church, S. Beck, J. J. Crampton, C. Keen, J. Ronald and J. Beck.

The county riding system came in for a good deal of discussion and the branch was of the opinion that many anomalies arose under the system. Settlers in the backblocks and outer areas were paying, by rates, more than their share for roads in more closely settled areas. The Wrey’s Bush bridge was mentioned as a glaring instance of such an anomaly; the Wairio riding of the Wallace County had been debited with £7OOO for this bridge, which served only a small portion of the riding. The branch resolved to support the abolition of the riding system in counties. It was considered that the matter of gorse on roadlines was probably too big for counties to be held responsible. It was stated that frequently gorse was spread by the counties, when gravel from riverbeds was put on roads; very often gorse appeared after such work, where hitherto the roadlines had been quite clear. A good deal of discussion took place about the Government taking oyer road motor services. It was _ considered that the service was not,, in many cases, as efficient as with private enterprise. It was considered, also, fliat as a monopoly would follow, freight and passenger charges would probably rise. Concrete instances of such happenings were quoted. The need for an extension to the scheme, at present conducted by the Women’s Division, for supplying domestic service to farmers, was stressed. The necessary finance for any great extension is not in sight and it was considered that a Government subsidy to wages paid to domestics on farms might overcome the difficulty. At one time the Government was prepared to sponsor an art union for such services but this suggestion ’ had been turned down by the Women’s Division. The new regulations about the accommodation of farm and station emwere read and it was considered that if these regulations were strictly adhered to, smaller run holders and farmers would be heavily taxed by such provisions. CRIB AND EUCHRE The weekly attendances at the crib and euchre tournaments conducted by the Convent committee are well attended. Recent winners were:—Crib: Mrs Barnfield and Mr E. Meadows. Euchre: Miss Hunt and Mr J. Fahey. METHODIST CHURCH The annual harvest festival services of the Methodist Church were conducted by the Revs. W. McDonald and Dunlop. The church was tastefully decorated for both services. A sale of produce was held, the church funds being augmented considerably.