PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5454, 23 February 1917, Page 2

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

The following additional business was transacted at last meeting of the above Council : A NO Alt U A REQUEST A. Scherer applied for permission to set his fence on his Ngarua property out about a chain, thus allowing the formed road to be one chain only. It was decided to notify Mr Scherer, that lie could take the laud’ under the usual conditions, and thatthe same privilege be allowed toall other settlors on tho side of the--road. uaruottle’s road R, J. MeCausland aud others complained of the bad condition of this road, and suggested that the Council raise a special loan to utilise a quarry on Mr R. Hinton’s property. cussen's road P. Sheehan asked tho Council tv return his deposit a£ £5. He pointed: out that ho would have to pay more iu wages than when he got the con--tract. Granted. GRANTS FOR ROADS The Waiapu Couuty Council forwarded a long letter requesting the’ Council to co-operate iu a movement to abolish the system of Governmentgrants for roads as now iu operation. The Conucil suggests that assistance) of this kiud given to local bodies should be entirely automatic and! that it should take tho form of a subsidy on rato3 or its amount bo calculated on some reasonable aud acceptable basis in which the state o£ development or backwardness of tho distiict should ho taken into account, that it should |fo’-m part of the ordinary revenue of the local body and its expeuditure be free all special couditions. A protracted discussion ensued, the proposals receiving considerable criticism. Councillors wore strongly of the opinion that when a grant was madeit should be at ouce available, and; the Clerk is to put this poiiufc before the Waiapu County aud also’ othersuggestions.

E AD UPKEEP The McKenzie County Council' asked tho Council to support the following resolution :—“ That tho Government be asked to impose a Customs Duty of not less than 10 percent. ad valorem au motor tyres, the money so, collected to he refunded to local bodies for the upkeep of roads, on a basis of capital value or such manner as the Government may" deem equitable." A resolution was carried that the ’ Council approved of the proposal on j general lines. PAKARAU ESTATE The Lauds Department advised’ that the Pakarau Estate roads are legal highways, giving access to the ■ Crown subdivisions. Decided 'to apply to tho Govern l moat for a grant for these lauds.