LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3812, 23 September 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Reporting to Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council on the proposed easing of corners at the intersection of Te Rahu Road with the Great South Road, the engineer (Mr J. W. Civil) said the propertyowners had met his wishes willingly, and obstructing hedges had been cut back.

During the discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council on roadside culverts at gate entrances, the engineer said it was not wise to allow property-owners to construct the culverts themselves, for in his experience many farmers had used inferior timber and in a faulty alignment,- thus damaging water-tables.

“Rabbits soon become a pest. A year or two ago, 1 had difficulty in finding enough rdbbits for a pie, but lately they have increased,” said a w'ell known member of a local body this week, when reference was made to the rabbit pest. He was promptly bombarded with the statement that he would have to take steps to have a rabbit board created! In discussion with a farmer long resident in this district our representative was told the only effective way to control rabbits was to form rabbit boards. He told of 560 rabbits being secured in one nights trapping only a few years ago on a thirty acre grass paddock, near fern country “and now we cannot get a rabbit for the pot. Those 560 rabbits ate as much grass as 100 sheen, so you can see what eradication means.” He went on to tell that now his farm is all in grass and free of rabbits; he milks a fine herd of 110 cowls, whereas only 50 cows could be grassed on the same area a few years ago.

Accounts presented and passed for payment at Monday’s meeting of (he Waipa County Council totalled £7492 10s.

“ Surely to goodness more ratepayers will buy sodium chlorate more freely this season than previously, in view of the fact that the cost is now only about half what it was,” commented a councillor at last Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council when ragwort eradication measures were under consideration.

“ They did not know their own mind! ” commented a councillor at Monday’s meeting of Waipa County Council when the chairman reported that 17 other local bodies had merely “ ” Waipa’s communication in favour of providing for all heavy motor vehicles to be fitted with governors to restrict speeds. The chairman added that 21 local bodies had supported Waipa’s contention and 13 others had opposed it.

The new building and health bylaws approved by the Waipa 'County Council, reference to which was made at Monday’s meeting, are to apply, according to the chairman, in the county within a radius of two miles of the Hamilton borough boundary or within half a mile of Te Awamutu borough boundary.

What is the correct name of the side road between Te Awamutu and Kihikihi —‘‘ St. Ledger’s ” or “ St. Leger ” 1 For years all references to the road have been “St. Ledger’s,” but it was noticed that in a communication to the Waipa County Council on Monday half a dozen settlers on the road wrote it as “ St. Leger.” Questioned on the subject, the county engineer said he could give no authoritative statement on the subject, but in all his records it appeared as “ St. Ledger’s.”

Some rapid-fire placements were recently recorded at a King Country placement office. While a man was enrolling .a sawmill owner inquired over the telephone if a “ropey” was available, and the mlan stated that he wjas a “ropey.” Particulars were exchanged, and the man Was engaged. Also in the placement office were two hauler-driver's, a farmer,, and a mill owner. The drivers were quickly placed, an appointment between a farm hand and the farmer was made, and a “breaker-down” was communicated with and introduced to the millowner. Subsequently both workers were engaged, and a very busy day was fittingly terntinated by the enrolment of a man with a wife and twelve dependent children!

An iron-moulder who had been in receipt of sustenance for a considerable naturally would not bear the usual smoke mark of the trade when he returned home from his quest for work, and that fact would hardly escape the notice of his children. One such tradesman enrolled under the placement scheme, and was quickly provided with a job in a foundry, and on his return home after his first day’s work his little girl exclaimed: “ Oh, mum, it’s lovely to see dad with his face black again ! ”

“We have had no rates off this property for fourteen years, to my knowledge,” said the clerk-treasurer at Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council, after reading an offer by a ratepayer to pay the whole of the current year’s rates and half the overdue rates in consideration of being given a full clearance from indebtedness. It was explained that till recently the property was Maoriowned. The Council decided to accept the offer.

Te Awamutu-owned and trained horses were again prominent at the Avondale meeting on Monday. Mr L. Hodgson’s gelding Valpai (trained by Mr J. H. Mcßae) won the Grey Lynn Hurdles; Mr M. E. O’Connor’s British Nation (trained by Mr C. Lewis) ran third in the Nursery Handicap; and Mrs S. L. Parson’s colt Gallio (trained by Mr A. Cook) won the Avondale Guineas in convincing style.

All this talk by the Government about relieving county councils by taking over miles of main arterial roads makes little impression on me,” said a member of the Wlaipa County Council at Monday’s meeting. He explained that the councils were certainly to be relieved of control and upkeep of the roads, but there was the probability of fees hitherto paid to local bodies being filched by the Government, thus by no means improving matters.

“ If the Government takes over the heavy traffic fees now held by the local bodies a very serious position will arise,” said a councillor at last Monday’s meeting of Waipa County Council, and he suggested that it was probable that the Government would claim these fees in consideration of taking over about 4000 miles of main arterial roads. If that was done county councils would be “ up against it ” by having to pay antecedent liabilities on road construction.

The Council’s policy in connection with provision of culverts in front of settlers’ gateways' was again discussed at Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council. The engineer said the position was becoming acute, as so many properties were being sub-divided. If settlers were allowed to provide culverts for road-side water-tables the work might not be done satisfactorily, and thus watertables would become blocked. He suggested that such culverts be erected by the Council at the cost of the landowner. The Council would main tain such culverts. A councillor remarked that the ratepayer, if a bona fide settler, should be provided with one access, but where sub-divisions occurred the cost of culverts should be borne by the sub-divider. If the Council bore the whole cost it would become a fairly heavy aggregate cost. It was remarked that rating on unimproved values now obtained, and the cost of providing culverts would be far in excess of rates collected. Another councillor advocated insisting that the whole cost be borne by the property owner, and that the work be done by the Council or to the satisfaction of .its engineer. Mr Civil explained the practice in the past, where cost to the property owner varied very appreciably. The chairman said the new by-laws provided for the Council’s staff constructing the cul vert at the cost of the property owner. This was approved, the property owner to be charged bare cost.

A request for remission of outstanding rates was made to Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council, but after reviewing the circumstances the request was refused.

The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of train arrangements and cheap excursion tickets to Claudelands in connection with the Waikato trotting meeting on Saturday, 26th September.

The Ngahape branch of the League of Mothers held its usual monthly mee ting at the residence of Mrs Peck on the 16th inst. -During the afternoon the prasident, Mrs Sapsworth, read a splendid article, “Forgotten Children, the Endowment of Motherhood,” by M. Irwin. The thought for tho month was given by Mrs J. McIntyre.

.Following the recent controversy over the question of Sunday play in Te Aroha Domain grounds, the Minister in charge of the Tourist and Publicity Department, the Hon. Frank Langstone, advises that after giving due consideration to the various representations made, he has approved the playing areas being thrown open on Sundays. From about the middle of December to the end of April tennis, bowls, and croquet will be played between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sundays.

During a discussion on the Transport Estimates in the House of Representatives, Mr W. J- Broadfoot, M.P. for Waitomo, said that many, roads required widening and reforming in his district. There had been many slips, and the clearing of them was a heavy burden on the slender resources of the local bodies. He would like to know whether a report bad been made in connection with willow clearance in the Waipa watershed. The scheme was a big one, and it would be well if the Minister would tackle it.

It was shown in correspondence before the Waipa County Council on Monday that the present valuation of a property in the southern part of the county was now less than onefourth of the previous rate, which was fixed by an arbitrary assessment on the sub-division of a large holding. The clerk explained the position, and said the mistake had obviously been made by the Valuation Department. The Council decided to approve the concession asked for.

It is a well-known fact that budgerigars can be tamed and trained to do many things, but it is not very often that they lare trained as “watch dogs” or travelling companions. This appeared to be the case of a pretty green budgerigar seen complacently preening its feathers, while sitting on a small specially-built ladder, fixed to the dashboard of a large limousine in Palmerston North the other day. The bird hopped from its ladder on to the steering wheel and then back again, quite unperturbed by its unusual surroundings.

When a suggestion was made by a Rukuhia ratepayer that the chairman and the riding member should attend a meeting in the district to explain the increased rates in Rukuhia riding, the chairman said it had been suggested that the increase in rates was another way of obtaining revenue to make up for its promise not to increase rates for the Great South Road. Actually it was the altered valuations of certain properties. He would attend the meeting and set out the position as clearly as he could.

The cricket season in this district will begin very soon now, and the Frontier Road Club intends to hold its annual meeting on Wednesday of next week, and the Waipa Country Association’s annual meeting is being arranged for a week later. So far as can be learned, all the clubs in the Association last season will again be competing, as follows: Pokuru, Puahue, Frontier Road, Lake Road, Rukuhia, Kaipaki (two teams), and Wanderers, and it is probable that another club will be formed to add to the number.

Advice from Wellington shows that the inauguration of a 40-hour week has created a demand by many business concerns for extra assistance, and the officers administering the Labour Department’s placement scheme report that they have supplied from their registers many workers for restaurants and hotels. Cheese and butter factory executives also made applications for extra assistants, and in all cases suitable workers have been provided. Builders and contractors have also made inquiries for good men, and a notable placement with a firm of that kind in a southern town was that of a man who had been on the local unemployment register since April, 1931.

There are to be 6167 acres of land opened for selection during the present month, the major portion of which is located in the North Island. Most of the areas are described as suitable for grazing. The Auckland province harbours eight of the 18 holdings, seven being suitable for grazing and one for dairying and grazing. The largest selection is one of 608 acres in the Kawhia North survey district, and the other holdings to be opened in the Auckland province are in the following survey districts; Ongaruq, 5'60 acres; Pakaumianu, 559 acres; Waihi South, 510 acres, 463 acres; Pirongia, 430 acres; Whareorino, 259 acres; and Rotorua, 65 acres. Five of the selections are within reasonable reach of the Main Trunk railway line.

In the matter of superannuation the House of Representatives discussed the desirability of some such provision for ex-members. All were agreed that some scheme was desirable and this' unanimity should be duplicated outside the House. There is not much money in politics in New Zealand, and many a man has had cause to regret that he devoted his time to public service instead of private profit. The salaries paid to Parliamentarians are not high, taking into consideration the outgoings, and there is small scope for provision against the day of rejection of retirement. The Labour Government has shown boldness in its schemes designed to benefit the people. It should now act similarly concerning the representatives in Parliament of the people. Perhaps the new national 'scheme of superannuation will remedy what is, at present, a blot on public administration. Greymouth Evening Star.