COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Age, 15 December 1936, Page 3

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF MAURICEVILLE COUNCIL. HOSPITAL RATING SYSTEM. (“The Age” Special.) The monthly meeting of the Mauriceville County Council was held on Saturday last, Councillor E. W. Cheethain (chairman) presiding, there being also present Councillors R. Judd, D. Bennett, F. W. Parry, A. Forsberg and A. Gray. The treasurer reported a debit balance of £1045 Os 2d and accounts amounting to £466 9s 9d were passed. The balance sheet for the year to March .31 last was submitted duly audited and was adopted and directed to be printed as usual. The State Forest Service notified that £4 18s lid was due for the quarter to September 30 last which amount it was decided to allocate towards maintenance of West Riding roads. The Wairarapa Hospital Board submitted particulars of further loan proposals, increasing the total amount required to £52,500. It was decided to agree to the proposals though at the same time the council viewed with alarm the ever increasing requirements for hospital accommodation and, in \ iew of the fact that the demands on the hospital as between rural and urban districts ‘were in inverse proportion to the rates paid, the council considered that it was time that a differential system of rating was institutThe chairman and Councillor Parry were appointed delegates to confer! with the Masterton County Council as to the possibilities of amalgamation. Mr. Carl Johansen was reappointed deputy-registrar of dogs for the year 1937. It was resolved that the usual 10 per cent, penalty be added to rates not paid by February 5 next. . The Masterton Count.y Council advised that owing to the general increase in wages and costs the accepted tender for the reconstruction of Ruamahanga Bridge exceeded the original estimate made in 1934 by about £lOOO, and that it was proposed to apply for an increase of the Government sub- 1 sidy towards this increased cost accordingly. 'Phe Masterton County Council forwarded a copy of an exhaustive letter to the Main Highways Board setting forth the resolution passed by the recent conference between the counties included in the Wairarapa Group in regard to and protesting against the pro-

posals by the board to take over traffic in.'pection control, it being the opinion of the conference that local control would provide more efficient enforcement of the traffic regulations than State eontnd. It was decided that a special nieetin . i • held on January ILi next to con 'i'lrr > lesolution Io declare broom, ir'gv rt : ml " i.-e to be noxious v. eels it!. r ! thi- county ami the clerk was ! tn .-b .-A tfe ritentbin of the

inspector to the flowering and spreading ol hemlock, which is a. noxious weed throughout, the county. The Overseer reported on the progress of work since the last meeting and future work was considered and arranged for. It was decided that the next meeting be held on January 16. The chairman cordially expressed the season's greetings to councillors and to the county staff anil his appreciation of their constant co-operation with him in the best interests of the ratepayers of the whole county. His greetings were heartily reciprocated by councillors, and by the Overseer on behalf of the staff.