LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18818, 5 March 1931, Page 4

LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Levels; County Council was held yesterday. Present—Messrs T. B. Garrick (chairman), G. D. Selbie, C. E. Kerr, D. Grant, R. G. Cleland and T. W. Brosnahan, Chairman's Statement. The chairman, referring to the financial position of the County, said that the debit balance at January 29 had been £9332/4/11. Unpresented cheques amounted to £l/0/9, and the amount drawn during the month totalled £157/9/2, making a total of £9490/14/10. Cash received since last meeting totalled £10,747/6/11. the chief items being rates £9959/19-2 and Main Highways Board £655/3/7. The credit balance on March 4 was £947/19/9, and cash in hand at that date was £3OB/12/4. Accounts to be passed for payment that day amounted to £4318/4/1, leaving a debit of £3061/12/-. Paving Main North Road. The assistant secretary to the Treasury, writing in reference to the Main Highways Loan. 1931, of £1230, stated that it was understood that the Main Highways Board had now decided to advance the Council its share of the cost of reconstructing the Christchurch-Dunedin main highway, the term of the advance to be seven years, with interest at 58 per cent per annum. The Board also advised that the amount which it now proposed to borrow, namely, £1230 represented the County’s share of the proportion of the work on the Timaru —Arowhenua section only, and as tenders would be invited during the present month for sealing this section at an estimated cost of £6OOO, the Council’s share being £ISOO, it was suggested that the amount to be included in the proposed authorising Order-in-Council be increased to £2730. It was desired to know whether the Council was agreeable to this suggestion, in which case an order would be prepared, authorising the borrowing of the latter amount for a term of seven years at 58 per cent. A communication was received from Mr P. Langbein, representative of District Highways Council No. 15 on the Main Highways Board, stating that the Board had concurred in the acceptance of the tender of William Flanagan, of £6058/1/8 for the paving of four miles on the main north high-

way. The District Public Works Engineer (Mr P. Langbein) wrote stating that the Highways Board had informed him that it had authorised the preparation and sealing of an additional three miles 65 chains of the Christ-church-Dunedin highway in the Levels County. Mr Langbein asked that the County engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the preparation of the foundation and sealing, in one job. and forward them for approval as early as possible. The chairman: “Is there any chance of getting this done this year?” The Engineer (Mr T. Black): “We can get the formation done this year, but the sealing could not be commenced, until about November.” The chairman: “You had better push on with this.” The Engineer: “I have made a start already.” Mr C. E. Kerr: “We will have a good road yet.” The chairman: “Will we have to send the specifications to Wellington before we call for tenders?” The Clerk (Mr F. E. Whitehead): Road Classification. The Commissioner of Transport (Mr J. S. Hunter), writing in reference to road classification, stated that the advertisement inserted by the Council was insufficient legally. It had been decided by the Courts that, in advertising the proposals, each road affected by them must be described by name, or otherwise in particular. Road Classification. The Commissioner of Transport (Mr J. S. Hunter), writing in reference to road classification, stated that the advertisement inserted by the Council was insufficient legally. It had been decided by the Courts that, in advertising the proposals, each road affected by them must be described by name.

or otherwise in particular. County Burdens. The Clerk to the Rangitikei County Council forwarded the following resolution: “That in order to relieve County ratepayers, the cost of maintenance of county roads, other than main highways, be subscribed £1 for £1 out of funds to be provided by an increase in the petrol tax, or out of other motor revenues, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each County Council in the Dominion, and to the Government." Notwithstanding the substantial assistance rendered by the Main Highways, the burden on countv ratepayers for the upkeep of roads' had not been lessened because the increase of the motor traffic had demanded a higher standard of maintenance. Mr Kerr: “The Highways Board are treating us well in regard to secondary highways,” Mr Cleland: “Are you going to increase your rates?” The chairman: “We cant do that Mr Cleland: “How are you going to keep your roads?” Mr Kerr: “We pay enough In petrol tax now.” . ~ Mr Grant: “The rates should come down instead of up.” 1 _ The chairman: “The men in the back country are paying enough as it Selbie: “There are any amount of men who use the roads more than m you or I.” Mr Brosnahan: “Absolutely. Mr Selbie: “We pay 500 or 1000 per cent more than they do.” The letter was received.

Conference Suggested. The Clerk to the Waitaki County Council forwarded the following resolution passed by his Council: “That the Executive of the New Zealand Counties’ Association be asked to call a conference of county representatives early next financial year to discuss such matters as de-rating, legislation regarding maximum speed limits, hospital rating and cost of education, and that all County Councils In New Zealand be circularised asking for their support.” The writer stated that his Council was of the opinion that the present economic condition of New Zealand warranted the calling of such a conference. The farming community, generally, was vitally concerned with the matters outlined in the resolution, and concerted action on the part of County Councils was essential. , . Mr Kerr: “I think we should support th Mr Selbie: “The users of the roads are not paying for them.” It was decided to support the resolution. „ , . Application Granted. Four ratepayers in the Seadown Riding petitioned the Council asking for th% right and assistance to take a race tSrough Section 36, Seadown, from the north side of Mr McCully’s and discharging Into the existing water race in Mr Hewson’s property. The application was granted, the question of assistance to be determined by the engineer and Mr Brosnahan. Footpath Needed. Mr J. J. Conroy wrote asking the Council to again considei forming a

footpath on the west side of the Main North Road between Luxmoore Road and Eversley Street. The position since a previous request had been made had become more acute, and residents would appreciate action in this direction. The chairman said that the way funds were at present, he did not think the work could be done. In reply to a question, the engineer said that the work would cost £7O or £BO. It was decided not to take any action in the matter in the meantime. Ranger’s Fees. When the report of the ranger came up for consideration, the chairman said that he noticed that in other counties, the ranger supplied a report on the amount of fees collected, and he thought their ranger should do likewise. After brief discussion, it was decided to instruct the ranger to supply a re- ■ port on the fees collected every month. Engineer’s Report. ' In the course of his report on the : work in the various ridings during the ; month, the engineer stated that acting \ under instructions, he had arranged ’ that some 10 or 11 single men should L start at the Lower Pareora bridge ’ carting gravel into heaps for screen- ’ ing and crushing gravel to be used on the Main South Road. As each man : was given only two days work in the 1 week, he forsaw some difficulty in L keeping teams supplied by the Council 1 fully employed. He had written to Mr LaLngbein asking if the men could » not be employed on improvements to main and secondary highways, the 1 Highways Board paying the usual £2 J for £1 subsidy on the cost of teams, 5 and machinery, etc., supplied. Up to , the time of writing his report, he had 6 received no reply to the letter.