WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3812, 23 September 1936, Page 5

WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL

SEPTEMBER MEETING. . GENERAL BUSINESS DEALT WITH. Cr. S. C. Macky presided at the monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council on Monday, and also present were Crs J. T. Johnson, G. S. Clarke, W. McGee, G. S. Hall, J. S. Fisher, R. J. Graham, E. F. Peacocke, N. Reid, I. L. Onion, D. B. Livingstone and T. Church. The clerk (Mr T. Grant), and engineer (Mr J. W. Civil) were in attendance. Waikato Hospital Board Levy: The secretary, Waikato Hospital Board, forwarded a statement showing the levies on local bodies in the Waikato Hospital Board area during the past ten years.—Received. Sealed Governors: The Minister of Transport advised, in reply to representations made by the Council, that the controlling of the horse power development of an engine and the limiting of the engine speed not desirable, but the governing of road speed oi cardan shaft revolutions may have some features worthy of consideration. He states, however, that he does not know of any such satisfactory type of governor; also that it must be realised that no speed may be considered a safe speed, and while a satisfactory governor, if it were available, would be a step in the right direction, yet a mechanical governor of speed cannot be regarded as a panacea of all traffic evils; that a safe speed depends upon the conditions apertaining at that time, and he believes that the adequate enforcement of traffic control under the new Government regulations will do much to meet the position.—Received. Noxious Weeds Eradication: The Director, Live Stock Division, Department of Agriculture, drew attention to section 31 of the. Finance Act, 1936, which enables county councils to borrow for the purpose of dealing with the eradication of noxious weeds. The term of such loans is not to exceed 10 years. Kopu • Raglan Main Highway: The chairman. Main Highways Board, forwarded counterpart of agreement in lespect of the advance made by the Board by way of loan for the purpose of reconstructing and paving the Kopu-Raglan main highway (Waipa County Division). —Received. Rates of Wages: The Main Highvzays Board’s representative, No. 2 District Council, forwarded a schedule of rates of pay applicable to workmen on main highways in terms of the Public Works Workers’ Agreement, 1936, which agreement came into op eration on Ist June, 1936, and shall remain in force until 30th May, 1939. The agreement applies to workmen employed on construction works, but not to workmen employed regularly on the maintenance or operation of existing works or services, i.e., surfacemen on highways or roads, etc. The new rate ol pay for surfacemen (highway or road) is 2s lid per hour. The writer states that it is occasionally necessary for surfacemen to patrol their lengths on Saturday and to attend to any necessary work as at present. They are to work a 40 hour week, Mondays to Fridays inclusive, and if they have to turn out on a Saturday monling they are to receive their ordinary hourly rate oi pay for the Saturday time, but not overtime rates, seeing that they are paid wet and dry. Motor Accident, Kihikihi-Te Awa mutu Main Highway: The Commis sioner ot Transport advised that with reference to the accident which took place on 23rd August on the Great South main highway, south of the Te Awamutu borough boundary, the Police Department recommend that a guide railing or fence at the corner where the accident occurred would be of considerable assistance in avoid- . ing similar accidents in future.—Received. Te Mawhai Railway Crossing: The secretary, Te Mawhai Hall Association, on behalf of his committee, desired to bring to the notice of the Council the bad condition of the Te Mawhai railway crossing, and requested that representations be made to the Railway Department with a view to making the crossing less objectrble to traffic.—Agreed to. Health Stamp Campaign: The Director General, Post and Telegraph Department, advised that his department is taking an active interest again this year in the health stamp campaign to raise funds for children’s health camps. It is pointed out that last year's campaign resulted in a nett total of £11,793 18s 8d being credited to the various health camp committees throughout the Dominion, and that in consequence the committees have been able to extend their work considerably and give lasting benefit to thousands ot children, ,who otherwise could not have been taken into the camps. This year the stamps will not be placed on sale until 2nd November, but it is the desire of all concerned that the campaign be commenced forthwith with a view to raising for this humanitarian work an amount at least equal to that obtained last year. The support given to last year's campaign by all local bodies assisted greatly in the success achieved, and it was with confidence that the writer approached the Council on this occasion with a request that permission be given to the local health camp committee to hold a street day in the county area. In view of the fact that all moneys raised in any district will be spent on the children of the district, it was suggested that the Council consider helping the campaign by using health stamps on its correspondence for a period, or by giving a donation. The chairman commented that it was a very worthy cause, and councillors agreed, but they differed as to how much the contribution should be. Finally the chairman and clerk were asked for a recommendation at next meeting. Amending Legislation: The Under Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, called attention to the provisions of the Local Elections and Polls (Temporary) Amendment Act, 1936, which was recently introduced into Parliament by the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs and has become law. The purpose of the Act is to enable defaulting ratepayers to vote, to nominate candidates or to be nominated gc candidates at local body elections, A/7f their rates are paid up till 31st March, 1934. The restoration of the qualification does not apply if any rates owing by the ratepayer concerned during the financial year ending 31st March, 1934, have been remitted or compounded (except remission or postponement of the 10 per cent penalty). The Act remains in force until 31st December, 1937, The same

writer also called attention to section 32 oi the Finance Act, 1936, which authorises local authorities to remit the 10 per cent penalty on unpaid rates for the year 1935-36; also to section 33 of the Fiannce Act, 1936, which restores to the 1931 level the lates of subsidies payable on rates collected by borough councils. Cr Onion pointed out that there was no reference to the 124 per cent rebate on rates. “That is another evidence of the Government’s kindly interest in the affairs ot the farmers!” said Cr Livingstone. Comment was made on the author isation of unfinancial ratepayers to vote oi to seek election, and one councillor remarked that the present Government has such a majority in Parliament that it can do anything it wants to. “We can only leave it to the good sense of the other voters not to elect to office such people who cannot, or do not, pay their rates or reasonably manage their own affairs." Waikato Hospital Board Loan (£43,000): The secretary, Waikato Hos pital Board, called attention to tho Board's proposal, and requested the Council's approval to the raising of a loan of £43,000 for the following purposes: New central block £29,600, administration office £12,400, Rotorua Hospital £l,OOO. After the Council’s representative on the Board had given fuller details the desired approval w r as given.