SANGSTER ROAD METALLING

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1933, Page 8

SANGSTER ROAD METALLING

NO AID FROM THE GOVERNMENT. “NOT UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.” “It is very unfortunate,” said Cr. Knuckey at the Eltham County Council meeting on Saturday when a letter was received from the Public Works Department declining assistance towards the metalling of Sangster Road. The district engineer, Mr. P. Keller, wrote enclosing a communication from head office stating: “The wages of relief vzorkers would only amount to about one-quarter of the total estimated cost, and that being so, this metalling although doubtless very desirable from a land settlement point of view, could not be classed as suitable relief of unemployment work. You stated that as an alternative to the department accepting it as relief of unemployment work the county council had made a proposal that the department give a £1 for £1 subsidy on the settlers’ contribution of £5OO and the council would then do the work under No. 5 scheme. One of the rules governing No. 5 scheme is that local bodies shall not be granted subsidies from other' Government sources in addition to wage payments by the Unemployment Board. This rule has been re-affirmed recently by the Minister of Finance and it is regretted that the alternative proposal of the county council cannot be adopted.” Cr. Knuckey: Here are people who have been struggling through the mud for 40 years and the Government will not help them. This is a necessary work and the people are prepared to put in a fair amount of cash themselves. ■

Mr. Messana: It is a shame that people living on a road like that for 40 years cannot get assistance. The chairman: We should have another go at it. Cr. Carter considered this work much more important than straightening out roads as speedways for motorists. RUGBY ROAD PERSONALS. Mrs. W. J. Ward and her two small daughters are camping at New Plymouth. Mr. Fergus Richter has returned from Nelson. Miss Nyla Walker is spending a holiday at Matapu. Mrs. Hird, New Plymouth, who was the guest of her daughter, Mrs. Reardon, for Christmas, left last week for Wellington. Mr. A. A. Ward is at Te Aroha for health reasons.

Mrs. R. Richter and Miss Marjorie Richter are spending a holiday at Shannon.

.Mrs. Corby, who was the guest of her sister, Mrs. Byrne, left last week for her home in Christchurch.

Mrs. H. Dey entertained at her home last week in honour of the coming of age of her son, Mr. Edwin Dey. Mrs. S. Hird, Patea, is spending a holiday with Mrs. Reardon. Mrs. Wheeler spent a few days with Mrs. Rusling last week. Mrs. Ryan has her son Fred home from hospital, where he has been for the past three months. GENERAL ITEMS. Out of Order. The penny-in-the-slot weighing machine operated by the Stratford Borough Council and situated at the entrance to the municipal buildings has been out of action owing to a lack of the cards on which the weight of the person operating the machine is printed. A notice to this effect was posted up, but somebody destroyed it, and several people stood on the platform, put in the penny and patiently waited for the card which did not appear. The machine has now been stocked with a fresh supply. Hot Bowling. The thermometer at the Stratford Bowling Club’s green stood at 79deg. in the cool afternoon tea room at 4 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday before matches were commenced the instrument was placed outside, and bowlers gasped to see the mercury hasten up the tube to the 107 deg. mark. That was about 2.30 p.m., but later in the afternoon light rain fell and the temperature fell.

Effect of Rain. Saturday did not produce the crowd which usually throngs the main street of Stratford on the last day of the business week. Several days previously rain had fallen and many farmers were caught with their hay out, so that advantage hai been taken of the last few fine days to stack it before the weather changed again.