COUNCIL MEETING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21210, 3 December 1938, Page 4

COUNCIL MEETING

Mackenzie County BUILDING PROPOSAL REJECTED Whether th’e Mackenzie County Council should take advantage of Government money at 3 per cent, to build, a house for its engineer, was a subject brought forward at yesterday’s meeting on a notice of motion. A proposal to undertake the work was defeated on the chairman’s casting vote. Those present were: Messrs W. R. Davison (chairman), W. Scott. C. J. Talbot, J. Allan, P. Kidd, A. B. Mackenzie, C. V. Kirke and George Murray. Mr Talbot said when Mr Marchant was appointed as the first engineer of the Mount Cook Road Board he had been provided with a house. Mr R. L. Banks, the succeeding engineer, also had had the right to use the house. The council however, had no house for its present engineer, and with Government money it could provide one at no cost to itself. Charging the engineer rent. Mr Murray seconded the motion, endorsing Mr Talbot’s remarks and contended that a house would not cost the ratepayers anything. Mr Kidd said Mr Talbot had only touched on the edge of the proposal. A residence for the engineer might be desirable if the council was sure things would continue as they were at present. In the future, however, a single man might be the engineer and the council

| would have to let the house. In time, too, there might not be a engineer in Fairlie at all, and one in Timaru would cover an amalgamated county. House property was not altogether a valuable asset; things were in a state of flux, and the council would be well advised to leave it alone. “Time Not Opportune” Mr Kirke said he had to agree with Mr Kidd. The council had had a struggle to keep the rates down, and the time was inopportune to build a house. He did not think a suitable house could be built for the engineer for £l5OO. A house would be another liability. Mr Mackenzie said he could not see how a house would be a liability. There was a shortage of houses in Fairlie. Mr Allan said if amalgamation proceeded, Fairlie might have a better opportunity to retain an engineer if the council built a residence. When the motion was put, the voting was: For —Messrs Murray, Mackenzie. Allan and Talbot. Against—Messrs Davison. Kirke, Kidd and Scott. The chairman gave his casting vote against the motion. Mr Murray gave notice to move at next meeting that the council should build a house at Tekapo for a grader driver. One of the graders would have to stop in the Tekapo riding, and the driver could also look after the camping grounds. Need For Another Grader The engineer stated that the council’s third Diesel grader was expected to arrive before Christmas. He did not want to be a scaremonger, but it seemed evident that to maintain the State highway as well as side roads, still another machine would be necessary. On Mr Talbot’s r otion, it was decided refer the question of purchasing a iurther grader to the finance committee for a full investigation. x Finance The financial statement showed a debit balance at the bank of £2106/7/8, and the day’s paysheet totalled £2574 6/1. Receipts for the month amounted to £3038/7/3. Expenditure for the first 11 months in the last three years, compared as follows: 1938, £1C,388; 1937, £14,408; 1936, £16,220. It was decided to arrange for coloured lighting in the Fairlie streets for the holiday period General Mr Talbot stated that the Main Highways Board would be vistiing Fairlie on January 28 about 11 a.m. It was agreed to hold the council meeting on the same date. On that day, the , Board would inspect highways between Timaru and the Hermitage. As a suitable are*. for tree planting, the engineer reported that 20 acres across the Allandale bridge from Fairlie would be satisfactory for commercial purposes, particularly as it was near the railhead. There were also one or two areas in other p"rts of the riding, such as a section on the Mount Nessing road.—lt was decided to proceed with the planting next year, and to include 20 acres near the Tekapo bridge. Mr Kidd considered the trees planted in the Tekapo riding would only have a scenic value and afforestation would serve a better purpose down country. Eleven ratepayers of the Albury riding petitioned for the construction of a traffic bridge at Mr Hubbard’s crossing over the Opawa river at Mount Nessing. They considered that the present traffic warranted a traffic bridge in place of the present rough crossing.—The engineer is to report. In connection with the Government’s recreational proposals, it was decided to set up a committee to cooperate and survey the district’s facilities. Those appointed to tl.e committee were Messrs Davison, Allan, Kirke and Talbot. The secretary of the Fairlie Amateur Athletic Club applied for permission to charge admission to the athletic grounds on December 17.—Granted.