WAIMATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19758, 27 March 1934, Page 4

WAIMATE

. COUNTY AFFAIRS MEETING OF COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Waimate County Council was held yesterday. Present—The county chairman (Mr H. B. S. Johnstone), Crs. A. S. Elworthy, H. M. Whatman, R. Sinclair, Hon. J. Bitchener, J. J. Dickson, W. Lindsay, N. A. Rattray, and A. N. Hayes. A motion of sympathy was passed with the relatives of Mr J. R. Bell, Morven, in their recent bereavement. Chairman’s Statement. The chairman reported that since last meeting Sir Charles Kingsford Smith had paid a visit to the district, and at the request of the North Otago Aero Club, he had represented the county at the landing. The tarsealing of the Waiinate-Deep Creek stretch of highway on the Main North Road had been completed, a very satisfactory job having been made. The Main Highways Board had agreed to the purchase by the Council of a motor truck and second-hand hoist, and they were indebted to Cr. Bitchener for his good offices in the matter. Arising out of the minutes, Crs, Lindsay and Rattray reported having inspected the boundary fence of the county pound adjoining Mr Watson's property, and had authorised the erection of a fence to prevent the encroachment of impounded stock on private property.—The action was approved. Referring to county rate collections, Mr Johnstone said that the business done would indicate the tapering off of the slump. The rates struck for the year amounted to £IB,IOO, compared with £18,160 last year, and the latest collection amounted to £16,130, compared with £13,056 last year. This year the amount outstanding up till the time of the imposition of the 10 per cent, penalty was £2970, compared with £5105 last year. The percentages of rates collected showed 85 per cent, this year compared with 72 per cent, last year, and a further gratifying feature was that the £5105 outstanding last year had been reduced to £1615, which was a very satisfactory position indeed, and all those concerned in the collection of the rates were deserving of the most hearty congratulations. Finance. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £8965/17/8 (last year £4753/1/6), while accounts for payment totalled £4779/15/10. The receipts since last meeting totalled £15,994 12/10, the bulk of the amount being rates. In the Lower Waihao water race account, the credit balance at the bank was £SOO/5/6 (last year £328/0/5). The accounts presented totalled £53/4/-. Receipts since last meeting amounted to £261/12/9. Reports. The secretary, Lower Waihao Water Race Committee, reported that a good supply of water had been maintained in all the races duping the month. Since last meeting they had with regret to record the death of,.Mr J. R. Bell, a most valued member of the committee, who would be greatly missed by his associates. —The report was adopted. The County Ranger (Mr A. A. McKenzie reported having impounded 14 head of cattle and released 27 head from the pound during the month.

Correspondence. The Waimate Borough Council gave notice that the Comity’s lease of a borough reserve expired on March 31, and would be relet by tender for a term of five years. Councillor H. M. Whatman was reappointed to represent the Council for a further term of two years on the Waimate High School Board.

The usual donation of £5 was passed to the Waimate Ladies’s Benevolent Society. ' Mr Wilfred Howell, Mt. Nimrod, wrote calling attention to the danger of White Rock Creek leaving its course near his house in the event of a flood, and asking that protective groynes be erected.—Engineer to report. The Waitomo County Council forwarded a circular appeal to County Councils for support for the following resolution: “That County Councils be circularised asking what support they would be prepared to give collectively with reference to testing the State Advances liability regarding the payment of rates as mortgagees of freehold lands.”—lt was resolved to reply stating that the Council approved the principle involved and asking what amount of financial support was expected. The secretary, County Halls Committee, forwarded a list containing the signatures of the chairman and secretary of each dance hall in the county as members of a body formed to govern the conduct of halls. —Received. The Department of Lands wrote asking that attention be given to a stormwater drain fronting Mr Garrett’s property at Makikihi. —It was decided to take no action in the matter.

The secretary, Waimate Acclimatisation Society wrote applying to have the road improved from Quinn's Corner to Lake Wainono in view of the approaching shooting season. —Engineer to attend to the matter. The Public Works Department, Christchurch notified that the Main Highways Board was prepared to subsidise the proposed experimental section in bituminous surface from Waimate to McNamara’s Corner, and requesting complete details of the mix to be used. —Details to be supplied. Mr B. F. Whitney, Waimate, wrote offering to plant trees on parts of a reserve at present held by him if granted a further term of lease at the present rental.—A lease for a further term of seven years was granted. Spread of Hemlock. Cr. Sinclair said that the spread of hemlock in the county was being viewed seriously in many quarters, and had been discussed by the local Farmers’ Union and A. and P. Association. The clerk reported that Council employees had handed in reports of several localities where the weed was growing, and it was resolved to serve clearing notices on the landholders concerned. County Revenue. Cr. Lindsay brought up the matter of having all revenues from Council assets paid into the general fund. The matter had been discussed at last meeting, and at Cr. Whatman’s suggestion it had been held ever in order to obtain a full meeting. The speaker said he was not actuated by any selfish motives in regard to his riding, but thought it only equitable and just that any returns from the Council property should be allocated in the manner suggested. Under existing arrangements, the riding he represented had to pay 2/- a day more to its men owing to having no roadmen’s cottages in the riding, and this to say the least of it was grossly unfair. He did not think it necessary to enlarge to any extent upon the remarks he had made at the last meeting when moving his motion, but rather thought Councillors shoilld support him in his efforts to have justice done. He then moved

that the revenue from all County assets be paid into the general fund. Cr. Rattray seconded the motion, ad said that in his opinion the course suggested in the motion was in the interests of justice to all concerned, and that the old cumbersome resolution seemed to him an out-of-date affair. The chairman said that as the one responsible for the old cumbersome resolution he would like to make a few explanations. He did not now, any more than in the past, desire to see his Council governed by “mob rule” as suggested by Councillor Lindsay at last meeting. He had brought the motion forward in 1.927 when he as well as members of the Council considered they were doing the right thing. It was felt that outside ridings must have their own roadmen, and what was considered an equitable arrangement for all concerned was arrived at. Indications now pointed that in the not distant future, riding accounts would be abolished. He was going to vote against the present motion. Cr. Bitchener said he thought that Cr. Lindsay was on the right track. In the old days the housed roadmen did work in their own ridings only, and in some cases when a roadman retired the Council bought his cottage. He felt with many others that the time was fast approaching when the days of usefulness of the separate riding system would be over. Ke personally favoured doing away with separate riding accounts on the grounds of economy and greater efficiency, but thought that until this came into operation it would be unwise to tamper with the existing arrangement. A statute bar would expire next year, when the whole position would have to be reviewed. Councillor Lindsay’s motion was certainly right in principle, but the speaker would have to vote against it as he considered the time inopportune to put the matter into operation. Cr. Whatman thanked Cr. Lindsay for permitting the motion to stand over to come before a full meeting. He also stated that he considered the present arrangement quit 3 fair. Crs. Sinclair and Elworthy endorsed the opinions put forward by Cr. Bitchener.

Cr. Lindsay said he would have to Justify himself in his reference to “mob rule.” The chairman and every member of the Council had agreed that the speaker and Mr Johnstone should go to the County Solicitor and have a resolution framed to settle the matter. They had all promised to abide by the decision of Mr Fitch, but the chairman had made a revolt against fair practice and justice by not abiding by the agreement, and bringing forward by resolution the arrangement now in operation. The benefit the chairman had derived from not keeping the agreement was trifling compared with the beauty of fair practice and justice. In regard to the abolition of riding accounts, this appeared to the speaker remote so far as Waimate was concerned. They had not even got as far as some other Councils in having their secondary highways in the general account. He wished to know why it should cost his riding 2/- a day more for a man than it cost other ridings. If he was right in two years time, he was right to-day, and should certainly have the support of his fellow members. He felt he would be failing in his duty if he failed to bring the matter forward.

Cr. Whatman got up to state that the interest charges of the cottages equalised matters between the various ridings, but Cr. Lindsay observed that this was simply rot. The chairman stated that Cr. Lindsay was advancing the motion as a matter of principle. The motion was then put and lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it.

TENDERS. The tender of C. O. Knewstubb, Port Chalmers, of £740, was accepted for the erection of a new concrete bridge on Woolshed Gully Road. The following tenders were accepted for horse feed:—C.F.C.A., Ltd., Waimate, 1,000 bushels of feed oats at 2/1 a bushel; National Mortgage & Agency Co., Ltd., Waimate, 500 bags of oat straw chaff at 1/5J a bag. GOLF. At a meeting of the committee of the Waimate Golf Club, Mr C. Ward was elected a member. It was decided to have both fairways and rough mown before Easter, and also the bunker of No. 8 green. In regard to the opening day it was decided to hold mixed foursomes over 18 holes, the draw to be made at 1.20 p.m. and the joint committees to provide afternoon tea. Advice was received from the Golf Council that the standard par of the course had been fixed at 72, a reduction of two strokes, and the match committee was appointed to revise the bogey card accordingly. It was decided to hold a competition on Saturday. TENNIS. A friendly match between St. Patrick’s, Waimate, and St. John’s Club, Timaru, was played on the local courts oyer the week-end, the home team winning by 13 sets to 7. Scores (St. Patrick’s names first): — Men’s Singles—R. Murphy lost to P. W. Cronin 4-6, D. Patterson beat L. P. Cosgrove 6-5; R. Leonard lost to L. P. Collins 2-6. Women’s Singles—Miss M. Whelan lost to Miss K. Daly 2-6, Miss J. Bendall beat Miss K. O’Rourke 6-3, Miss N. Bendall beat Miss M. O’Rourke 6-2 Miss M. Leonard • beat Miss M. Smith 6-1, Miss A. Hannifin beat Miss E. Richardson 6-1. Men’s Doubles— Murphy and Patterson beat Cronin and T. McAllen 6-2, V. Bendall and W. O’Connor lost to Cosgrove and Collins 4-6, Leonard and Horgan lost to D. Roper and G. Thomas 1-6. Women’s Doubles —Misses Whelan and J. Bendall beat Misses Daly and Smith 6-4 Misses N. and B. Bendall beat Misses K. and M. O’Rourke 6-0, Misses Leonard and Hannifin beat Misses Richardson and M. Toner 6-3. Mixed Doubles— Murphy and Miss Whelan beat Cronin and Miss Daly 6-2, Patterson and Miss J. Bendall beat Cosgrove and Miss Smith 6-0, Leonard and Miss Leonard beat Collins and Miss K. O’Rourke 6-1, O’Connor and Miss N. Bendall lost to Roper and Miss M. O’Rourke 2-6, Bendall and Miss Hannifin beat and Miss Richardson 6-1, Horgan and Miss B. Bendall lost to Thomas and Miss Toner 4-6.