FAIRLIE MR W. SCOTT IS NEW CHAIRMAN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21361, 2 June 1939, Page 3

FAIRLIE MR W. SCOTT IS NEW CHAIRMAN

Mackenzie County Council Election At Annual Meeting Unanimous Vote for Only Nominee Mr W. Scott was unanimously elected chairman of the Mackenzie County Council at the annual meeting at Fairlie yesterday. Mr Scott was the only nominee. He succeeds Mr W. R. Davison, who was elected chairman in 1937. Present at the meeting were Messrs Scott, Davison, C. J. Talbot, J. Allan, A. B. Mackenzie, C. V. Kirke and G. Murray. In vacating the chair. Mr Da-ison extended thanks to members of the Council for their support during the year. They had had differences of opinion, but these very often were turned to the good of the County. He

had tried to give fair and impartial rulings. Mr Davison paid a tribute to the office staff for their assistance and thanked the newspapers, particularly “The Timaru Herald,” for their support, “One point I do not agree with in the appointment of County chairman,” said Mr Davison. ‘Last year I was approached by Mr Murray and told that if I was appointed to the chair I would have to ‘go with him.' I would not stoop to such tactics and ran free." Mr Murray: I don't remember that. I can say I am above doing a thing like that. Mr Davison: I have never gone behind a man’s back. Last year Mr Murray got me in a corner and said: “If you go back into the chair you have got to come with us.” I would not favour such tactics. Mr Scott Nominated In nominating Mr Scott, Mr Kirke said that the previous year he had seconded the nomination of Mr Davison. It was a good idea, however, to have all councillors taking their turn in the chair. In Mr Scott they had a councillor who went about things in a businesslike way. The nomination was seconded by Mr Murray, who said that the honour should go around amongst councillors. They wanted a man who was close to the County offices during the absence of the engineer. No other nomination;, were received and Mr Scott was elected unanimously. “I am pleased to see you have confidence in me,” said Mr Scott. “With the support of the Council I will do my best to uphold the honour and dignity of the position. The present time is very difficult for us all. Everything seems to be going the wrong waylevies are against us and the position of the farmer is not the best. The roads of the County cannot be allowed to go back, however. I will do all I can to see that the interests of the County are served.” Mr Scott paid a tribute to the work of Mr Davison. Committees Appointed Other elections were : Athletic Grounds managers: Messrs W. Scott and C. J. Talbot. Fire Board: Messrs C. J. Talbot, W. Scott and C. V. Kirke. High Schools’ Board: Mr W. Scott.

Albury Cemetery: Messrs T. E. Besley, P. Kidd, E. Gallen, W. R. Davison and J. O’Reilly.

Fairlie Cemetery: Rev. J. S. Strang. Messrs J. Caskey, W. Scott, A. B. Mackenzie.

Burke’s Pass Cemetery: Messrs G. Murray, E. Clarke, R. Green, G. Ross. Highways Council: Mr C. V. Kirke. Finance Committee: Messrs P. Kidd, G. Murray, C. V. Kirke and W. Scott. The whole Council will constitute the Library Committee. , The New Chairman Mr W. Scott was born at Arowhenua and has farmed in various parts of South Canterbury. He has been in Fairlie for 12 years. He first sat on the Mackenzie County Council in 1929 and was re-elected in 1932. He was defeated at the 1935 election by Mr P. E. Neilson, but stood again last year and succeeded. He was on the Finance Committee of the Council last year. Mr Scott has represented the County on the Timaru High Schools’ Boa' .1 since 1929. He was elected to the South Canterbury Electric Power Board in 1932 and again last year. The new chairman has been a member of the Timaru A. and P. Association, is a member of the Mackenzie Highland A. and P. Society, and has served on several school committees. He is a representative of the Fairlie Riding and has a farm just outside the boundary of the town. GENERAL BUSINESS FAIRLIE WATER SUPPLY Residents of Fairlie are becoming concerned about the water supply, Mr C. J. Talbot told the Mackenzie County Council yesterday. He suggested that the consulting engineer in charge of the Fairlie water supply and sewerage scheme be asked whether the installation of the water supply could be accelerated. The weather was dry and wells were quickly drying up. A gcod many people required new tanks and were in doubt as to whether they should instal them. The work would probably be delayed by the import restrictions but it should be hastened as much as possible. It was decided to ask Mr H. G. Royds, consulting engineer in charge of the scheme, if the work could be speeded up. Work on the scheme was progressing satisfactorily, said Mr Royds in his report. A considerable amount of time had been lost through sickness. A total of 4646 feet of sewers had been laid. This was 21 per cent of the W- . Excavations totalled 3000 yards or 26 per cent of the total. A second pipe-layer had been engaged. The approximate unit costs were close to t„y estimates. Thirty-two men were engaged and a subsidy was being received for til these men. An import licence for the pipes had been granted. Mr W. Scott said that there was a shortage of trucks for road work and they’ should not be used on the scheme. There were plenty of carters in the town and the scheme should be able to stand on its own. The same applied to the work of the Council’s blacksmith. All such work required by the scheme should be done by local business. “There should be no need to have the work done by the Council,” he said. “They have the loan money to work on and it should support the scheme.” Mr Talbot asked if the work done by Council employees was being charged to the scheme. Mr Scott: Yes—but it is mainly a charge for time only. It was agreed to give the work necessary and the carting of materials to Fairlie private businesses. Foreman’s Report In his r. art the foreman, Mr A. H. Irving, said that repairs to the crusher had been temporarily held up until wedges arrived. The Glenmore bridge had been inspects''’ and was found to be unsafe for heavy traffic. Th- centre piles were leaning downstream and would have to be straightened or renewed and four new stringers and decking were required. In view of the raising of the level of Lake Tekapo it was possible that the bridge would have to be shifted. The ford was very deep owing to the stream being blocked with willows which had spread right across for chains below the bridge. It was agreed to strengthen the bridge f r heavy traffic. Narrow Eridges Mr A. B. Mackenzie drew attention to the narrow bridges which the school buses would have to cross when the fords were up in the Sherwood area. He suggested that the parapets be slc'ped out to permit the buses to cross. It was agreed to make provision for the work to be done. Attention was drawn to the bad state of back roads of the Kimbell township Messrs H. M. Gillum, M. Riddle, J H. Pollock, H. R. Struthers. A. H. Waters and J. Burgess, who sent in a letter stating that they experienced great difficulty during wet weather in reaching ti e main road. “We are given to understand that the roads have had no attention during the last 18 years,” said the letter. The foreman is to be asked to make an inspection.

Tekapo Camping Ground A letter was received from Dr. L. S. Talbot, of Timaru, who is chairman of the Commission, which stated that among the suggestions considered in connection with the improvement of the facilities for camping at Lake Tekapo had been that of making a charge for the use of the Mackenzie County Council plantations by the lake shore. It was suggested that a fee of 2/- a day or 10/- a week a car might be made for camping parties, and also that a fee of 1/- might be made for all other private cars entering the ground. The letter pointed out that unless a charge was made for the use of the plantation by the public it would be difficult to raise money to improve the facilities of the area. The Commission asked for authority to make the suggested charges. Mr Scott said that those in charge of the skating rink were prpeared to collect the shillings on behalf of the Commission. The charges were approved. The district highways engineer, Mr F. Langbein, advised that the deviation of the Timaru-Cromwell State highway on the Pukaki-Ohau section would probably be commenced as soon as the winter was over. A further’ letter from Mr Langbein agreed that the approaches to the Pukaki bridge required painting and gave authority for the work to be done. Downs Water Scheme A letter from the irrigation engineer for South Canterbury, Mr T. G. Beck, stated that the works in hand at present were designed to be adequate to meet the anticipated requirements of the area within the scope of the scheme as at present gazetted. “Although it is not anticipated that the subsequent inclusion of the Albury township will overtax the pipeline capacity, it should be made clear that, according to the Act, areas coming in subsequently must take second place in regard to the supply of water should the capacity of the pipeline be reached,” wrote the engineer. Mr Davison said an inquiry had been addressed to the engineer- following representations from Albury ratepayers. A petition from 13 ratepayers was tabled, and it was agreed to forward this to Mr Beck. Relief Needed “Anything but satisfactory.” was how Mr Davison described the position regarding the Downs Water Supply scheme. The county was expected to find about £240 off the area. The inspector appointed by the Council iiad reported that a number of owners of sections which were well watered did not want the water. The result was that the scheme would be very expensive for the remaining consumers. He considered that the Council should apply to the Public Works for relief from the guarantee, otherwise the expense in the area would be too heavy. Mr Davison said he had a discussion with the inspector of the Department of Agriculture and had been told that the present month was the best time to apply atlacide for the extermination of briar. The Department was anxious to make an endeavour to encourage settlers to clear their properties. There

was sufficient atlacide on hand for the use of landowners. Mr Murray said that some people who had leased reserves from the Council were under the impression that it was the Council’s duty to clear the reserves of briar. It was decided to draw attention to the clause in the leases requiring owners to remove the weeds. New Tractor Mr Davison said the Government had been approached regarding the supply of an R.D.B tractor, but an import licence would not be granted. An endeavour was being made to procure one in New Zealand. He referred to the meeting of local bodies in Timaru in connection with Major Johnson’s gift of an area of native bush at Raincliff for a Centennial memorial and said it was one of the finest gatherings of local bodies he had attended. “It goes to show that the people are not slow to show appreciation of the gift,” he said.