MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18613, 8 July 1930, Page 12

MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Mackenzie County Council was held at Fairlie yesterday. Present —Messrs C. J. Talbot (chairman), W. Scott, W. T. Smith, H. H. Fisher. T. J. Seay. A. F. Campbell, F. J. Carter, and G. Murray. CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT. The chairman said he had interviewed Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., in regard to the setting aside of a reserve at Lake Alexandrina, and Mr Burnett was very keen that steps be taken to have the reserve declared a domain. A meeting of the Cancer Campaign Committee had been held at Fairlie, and collectors had been appointed to canvass the district. Good results had been obtained, £IOO of the quota having already been donated. Speaking in regard to the Counties’ Conference, the chairman said that the engineer and he had visited Wellington. One of the principal of the 164 remits was the proposed increase in the petrol tax in order to relieve rating. The Farmers’ Union had suggested that all farm lands should be de-rated. The chairman of the Conference (Mr Jull) was of opinion that 3d per gallon increase should be asked for. This would result in a yearly increase of £650,000, and additional subsidies to County Councils might have a tendency to lower the rates. It was the general opinion that all roads should share in the petrol tax. Hospital levies had also been considered, and the meeting approved of a suggestion that representatives of the Counties’ Association, Hospital Boards and Municipalities should confer with a view to reaching a satisfactory settlement. It had been decided to recommend an increased grant to the Department of Agriculture to combat the noxious weeds menace. It was evident that a uniform basis of valuation on production values, allowing for situation and transport, was desired. Unemployment relief had been considered, and it was generally recognised that money should be taken from the Consolidated Fund and that wages should be reduced to relief rates. The Mackenzie County’s remit, as proposed by Mr Smith, that license fees on hotels should be increased 5y fifty per cent., was not carried. One delegate stated that a number of small country hotels found great difficulty in paying their way, while another had said in all seriousness that the barley industry might be affected, resulting in an increased cost of living. The engineer and he had visited several Government departmental heads to discuss matters affecting the county.

FINANCE. The chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr Campbell) reported that the debit balance at the bank was £52 10s. That day’s pay sheet amounted to £2179 10s 6d, while receipts during the month totalled £424 15s 3d. DANGEROUS CROSSINGS. Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., wrote stating that as a life-long user of the main Mackenzie Road, he desired to approach the Council on the question of the elimination of a number of the worst railway crossings between Cave and Fairlie. He understood that the Council two years ago planned to shift the main road at the Opawa river motor bridges from the north to the south side of the railway, thus doing away with two crossings. This, however, would not eliminate one of the most dangerous crossings on the Fairlie line, the one on the Timaru side of the Albury township, where the approaching train was badly masked by a block cutting on one side and a willow avenue on the other. In view of the increasing motor traffic, it was unfortunate that the Tengawai traffic bridge was built above the railway bridge instead of below. If the bridge ha*' been below, or north of the railway, the main road could have run all the way from the Tengawai to Rocky Gully north of the line, thus doing away with four crossings. Albury traffic could be taken under the line near the Tengawai river, and Mount Nessing traffic by an underground road cheaply made on the Fairlie side of the Albury railway yard. The two most dangerous crossings were the Cave culverts, and between Albury and Rocky Gully. The culverts lent themselves to an underground road, and the Albury Rocky Gully one could be eliminated by carrying the main road past Albury trucking yards and stationmaster’s house. Where lives were in constant danger, money was a very secondary consideration.

The chairman said that Mr Burnett’s suggestions were certainly very good, but could not be considered on the grounds of expense. The engineer had a proposal to improve the Albury crossing by using a corner of a reserve. .

Mr Smith said that Mr Fisher at last meeting had suggested that motor traffic could be deviated under the Albury railway bridge, and heavy traffic could still use the old bridge. He thought the suggestion a very good and practicable one. The engineer was instructed to report on the crossings.

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES. A letter was received from the Waitaki County Council stating that an error of 100,000 miles had been made in the allocation of heavy traffic licenses, and they desired to recover 4/6 from the Mackenzie County Council, as well as amounts from other bodies affected. The chairman eaid that at the heavy traffic conference held in Timaru it had been decided that the allocation be on a percentage basis every third year. Under that system Timaru would receive 38 per cent, which in his opinion was far too much. Since that decision it had been found that there was a discrepancy in Waitaki’s mileage, and he considered that the whole matter should be reopened. It was decided to protest against the unjust allocation, and to ask that the matter be reopened to again go into the position. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr D. Jeune) reported on work done in the county during the month. Mr Smith inquired when the new crushing plant would operate in the Albury district, stating that it was time the roads received some decent metal. The road in Cave township also was in need of attention. The engineer said that after another month’s work in the Fairlie Riding the crushing plant would be despatched to Albury. GENERAL. The Prime Minister (Hon. G. W. Forbes) wrote acknowledging the Council’s congratulations on his attaining the Prime Ministership. The Stock Inspector, Fairlie, advised that the plantation on the Allandale Road had blackberry and sweet briar which should be attended to as soon as possible in view of complaints from adjoining land holders. —It was decided to call for tenders for cutting and burning. A letter was received from the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, advising that £2O was as much

as they could see their way clear to grant towards the improvement and maintenance of the Godley Peaks Road. Mr J. A. Fraser, secretary of the Mackenzie County Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Committee, wrote asking the Council to take over the care of the Memorial, and thanking them for the great help given.—lt was decided to take over the control of the memorial. A letter was reecived from Mr Peter Kidd, chairman of the Mt. Nessing Domain Board, asking permission for the Board to plant half an acre of the Domain fronting Rutherford’s Road. The Board desired also to cut certain trees in the Domain.—lt was agreed to give the desired permission. TENDERS. The tender of Hamlyn Bros, at £B2 for the erection of the Fraser River Bridge was accepted.