WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1931, Page 5

WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY

IMPROVEMENTS TO ROADS - -NO. 5 EMPLOYMENT SCHEME. CROWN LANDS PAYING NO RATES. < 1 ' The monthly meeting of the Whangamomoha County Council was held at Whangamomona yesterday, when ■ < there.were present: Crs. N. R. Cleland -j (chairman), E. B. Roberton, W. J. Rawlinson, M. P. Ford, G. Gower and J. Law. In connection with the proposal by ' Mr. P. J. Nathan that a six-foot track should be formed at the end of the Maka.hu Road, the Unemployment Commissioner'(Mr. Malcolm Fraser) noticed that there appeared to be no reason J why the work should not be carried out.in conjunction with the nearest v, unemployment relief committee under the board’s No. 2 scheme. The rate of subsidy would be pound for pound on labour cost, only. It. would not be possible for. the board to adopt the suggestion that it should bear the whole cost in the meantime, the settlers’ proportion to be repaid over a term of years. The clerk stated'that the work could be carried out under the No. 5 scheme, providing the council had the necessary unemployed men and was- preferred to find material and housing for the men as. well as supervision. The. chairman said that the council could utilise its unemployed better on cutting corners and improving 1 the , Brewer Road. . It was resolved to forward a copy of the reply to Mr. Nathan pointing out that it would be necessary for the settlers interested to find half / the money. " ‘ - UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF. The clerk stated that a number of ’ unemployed had. registered, and after communicating with the chairman he had put "hree men on the. Whangamomona road clearing slips, water tables, etc. Cr. L a w considered that the council should .endeavour to make as much use oi the No. 5 scheme as possible. Practically all the roads required, attention and it would be wise to spend the . money on them. The chairman considered that it would be far preferable for the Government ■ t-. ..send men out to work in the country. rather than keep them at unnecessary work in the towns. There would be room for a camp-of 100 men in -the Ohura gorge. Or. Law thought that a considerable amount of the money was being more o- less wasted. It was not being used on.reproductive work. It would oe far be. ter to place the: men on Crown lands clearing weeds. Cr. Gower considered that the matter of unemployment relief was all at sixes and sevens. He knew of cases o c single men who had left their ems pliyment to work around Alt. Egmont, whereas married men from as far as Wellington were coming in to the district.

Cr. Ford said people were inclined to criticise, but the authorities were grappling with the problem very well—far better than he had expected.

Cr. Law; It certainly is a stupendous problem. Cr. Gower thought that if tents were considered satisfactory accommodation men could be employed on the Kohuratahi Road. He would be prepared to give a tent. It was pointed out that possibly some wharcs • would be available. The clerk considered that the scheme was a splendid one and as far as he eould see the men were doing good work. There was, of course, the necessity for supervision. iln the course of further discussion it was stated that the council could employ quite 20 men in various places. It was resolved to leave the matter In the hands of the clerk, who will get In touch with councillors when men are available so ".s to give the whole district the benefit of the scheme. Mr. A- K. Schinkel, surfaceman at Strathmore, wrote pointing out that there was practically no maintenance metal on the hill portion erf the Brewer Road. He suggested that the council should put a few men on under the No. 5 unemployment scheme to quarry and knap .shell r-k from the quarry at Makahu, so ;.s to get out metal before winter set in.

Cr. Ford preferred to see the corners removed first, but it was resolved to <eep the suggestion in mind.

RATES ON CROWN LANDS. In connection with. rates amounting to over £l7O, the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. |W- D. Armit) notified that in the majority of cases the area was Crown land and the department was hot liable. Eight sections were Crown lands at present unselected am’ the department could not admit liability. _ . The chairman said that the - whole question would have to be taken up with the Minister as it was adding another big hurdle to the difficulties the settlers had to face.' It would mean that ,the remaining settlers might be forced off their land. To take an extreme case, the settlers on the Whanga Road were liable to find £5OO per m.num interest on loan money. If all the land but that occupied by one settler was to revert to the. Crown, one settler woul! be liable for the whole £5O0 —an absurd position. Cr. Law said that if the depression lasted the settlers would not be able to meet the obligation. The chairman: We would have t default to the State Advances Department.. . Cr. Law said that the Whanga Road was an extreme case. The settlers were forced off their land by rapid deterioration. Cr. Ford said that wealthy counties had no such troubles to face. □n the motion of Crs. Law and Gower it was decided to ask Mr. W. J. Polson,. M.P., to take up the question with the Minister.

THE KOHURATAHI METALLING. In for warding plans ,and specifications as approved for metalling portions of the Kohuratahi and Putikituna Roads the county engineers (Messrs. Sladden and Palmer) suggested that a thorough testing should be made without delay of gravel likely to be available at the Tan<mrakau pit on the Kohuratahi Road. If, os appeared likely, there.was a considerable quantity ■ the engineers strongly recommended its use in preference to the Te Wera stone, as a very saving would be made, especially in view of the increased railway charges on Te Wera metal and sand, together with handling and carting from Kohuratahi. As oon as the council was satisfied that funds would be available, as expected, plans and specifications would be prepared for. the balance of the Putikituna Road and a further length of the Kohuratahi . Road. The engineers strongly urged that all additional work on the Ivohuratahi Road should be done with Tangarakau gravel and therefore steps should .be taken to test the pit as early as possible. ■ Alembers agreed that it would be far more economical to use the pit metal. It was resolved to authorise the engineers to give the council a lead as to the best way to deal with the pit. Cr. Law said that in view of the depression he had approached the settlers t see whether they wished the work proceeded with, and they were practically unanimous in the matter. So tar they assured him they would have no difficulty in meeting their rate liabinThe Conservator of Forests (Mr D. Macpherson - ) notified that fifths totalling £ll 2s- had accrued from State forest royalties to December 31. It was resolved to utilise the money fo.- metalling on the Moki Road. _ It was agreed to use ’a previous fifths payment of £3 18s 6d for metalling the Afoki Road. _ ■ . Air. F. Neilson notified, that the drain alongside the railway viaduct on the Mangare needed attention, as though there had been no rain for over a week water was still lying on the road, He also understood that the road was to have been raised slightly as it was now level with the swamp. The bridge over the overflow from the dam required attention. It was agreed that the surfaceman should act as far as the drain was concerned, members considering that the time was not opportune to undertake the raising of the rc .d. An application from Mr. Frank Alora for permission to cut a matai tree at the 6-mile peg on the Whanga Road reserve was deferred till the next meetIt was decided to supply 24ft. °f 3ft. nines for the Rimupoto Road, Cr. Roberton being given authority to help for the surfaceman to instai tne P 'lt° was resolved to secure maintenance timber for the Makahu bridge. Replying to Cr. Rawlinson, the chairman said the grader would complete the Makahu Road before the a6 °“ closed. The matter oi fern on' the road was referred to Cr. Raw resolved to draw the attention of the Public Works Department + the dangerous state of the Marco swing bridge.