COUNTY OF ELTHAM

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1934, Page 6

COUNTY OF ELTHAM

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. SUBSIDY ON SODIUM CRITICISED The monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council held on Saturday was attended by Messrs. A. L. Campbell (chairman), R. J. Knuckey, P. R. Brown, A. V. Messana, M. W. Barker, J. L. Campbell, W. E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness and E. J. Gifford. The engineer, Mr. F. Muggeridge, reported that in south riding bitumen patching was attended to on Boylan, Mountain, Dalziel and Campbell Roads. In Mangatoki riding surface patching was attended to on Eltham Road. In Omoana riding general maintenance was done on Rawhitiroa Road. The formation at one sharp corner on Moeroa saddle was widened. In Kaponga riding metal patching was done on OpunakeStratford and Upper Auroa Roads. In Eltham riding metal patching was done on Anderson Road and slips cleared on Rawhitiroa Road. A start .was made to ■scarify and reform a section of Tirimoana Road in readiness for sealing. Bitumen patching was done on Mountain Road and slips were cleared from Rotokare Lake Road. It was decided to circularise all schools in the county conveying the plans of the Young New Zealand League for a schoolboys’ excursion to the Royal visit celebrations at Wellington and Auckland. Fears that the Government would seize any additional benzine tax placed on motor spirits for the special purpose of assisting counties in their road expenditure and relieving their rates was expressed when a report on evidence presented to the Transport Co-ordination Board was received. Councillors considered it would be very good ,if partial derating could be obtained, but they had doubts whether the object would be realised. The penny subsidy was very acceptable but it would not induce people to buy sodium chlorate, declared Cr. Messana when a communication was received from the Department of Agriculture relative to the subsidy. 'lt was too dear to buy at 6d a lb. and farmers could not use it, he said. The chairman said the council last year requested that sodium should be subsidised £1 for £1 or given free. Cr. Messana considered the substance should be produced cheaper and a factory built for its manufacture. On the motion of Cr. Knuckey it was resolved to reply suggesting that the subsidy was inadequate and should be much greater. The Kaponga riding members and the engineer were appointed to meet the Egmont County delegates relative to clearing a watercourse on Eltham Road at Awatuna.

The question of loan conversion was discussed and the matter held over for future consideration.

The inspector reported that a number of stock was encountered on the roads during the month, 28 being released on the roads, four impounded at Kaponga and three impounded at Eltham. One summons was issued for allowing stock to stray and two summonses were issued for overloading lorries and one for operating a lorry without a license. The tender of a returned soldiers’ organisation for the supply of dog collars was accepted.