MATAMATA COUNTY

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 2850, 18 October 1927, Page 7

MATAMATA COUNTY

COUNCIL'S MONTHLY MEETING GENERAL BUSINESS. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Matamata County Council was held at Tirau on Friday when there were prosent: Crs J. W. Anderson (chairman), S. H. Judd, J. Bruce, W. S. Wilson, E. J. Darby, K. S. Cox, W, H. Allen, P. Dee and H. Eollett. , The clerk (Mr C. F. E. Barton) and engineer (Mr M. E* Fitzgerald) were also in attendance. Mamaku Bush Road. The chairman, No. 2 District Highways Council, wrote re the above and stated that the board has decided to accept the sums of £4O 19/4 and £4l 5/ for years 1921-27. The chairman pointed out that a definite arrangement re the maintenance of this road having been made with the council, they would be expected to make every endeavour tc collect all rates that had been levied.

The engineer stated: that it would' be a good proposition to the council if they could hand over the road on the same basis of arrangement as that in connection with the Kaimai road, whereby the cost to the council was £4.0 per annum.

The chairman thought the council was on a good wicket in getting off with a liability of £6O per annum. Or Judd: In getting rid of the road .we have certainly got rid of a "white elephant.'' In reply to a councillor the clerk said the amount of rates collectable was about £6O, but it was not all easy of collection. Finally.it was resolved that the board be informed the council would commit itself to a liability' of £6O annually. Machinery Depreciation. The'Assistant Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, advised that the council's request that statutory provision be made enabling county councils to establish a depreciation and replacement fund for machinery, will receive careful consideration. , The secretary, County Council's Association, wrote on the same subject, and expressed the opinion that he did not think necessary amendments to various acts affecting all local bodies would be dealt at this session of Parliament. Mr F. F. Hockly, M.P., advised that the provision of a depreciation and replacement fund had already been taken up by the Rangitikei Council. However, owing to opposition from the department they had ceased to press the matter. The views of the department are that in many cases machinery has been bought out of loan which carries a sinking fund. The Local Bodies' Loans Board in future will insist, where such loans are raised, that a sinking fund be provided that will pay . off the cost during the life of the machinery. The department also considers that Avherc machinery has been bought out of the general fund account of a county, that is sufficient liability for the present ratepayers and that those who are ratepayers when new machinery has to be purchased should bear the cost.

Cr Judd: The department's reference to the purchase of machinery out of general fund account is beside the question. They have missed the point

that plant is not used on ordinary maintenance but on loan work. The majority of the charges on machinery were charged against special works.

The object of the replacement fund was to enable full charges of machinery depreciation to be charged up to main highways and subsidiary roads separately. Cr Darby: So long as the money is not squandered it all comes to the same thing. Cr Judd: It does not.. It means that subsequently special financial .arrangements have to be made to secure new machinery, whereas if there was a depreciation and replacement fund each department of the council's operations would have to meet its full share of liability for plant replacements. The correspondence was received. Maungatautari Reserve. The Crown Solicitor, Mr V. E. Meredith, wrote advising that matters in connection with the purchase of the Maungatautari reserve were now ap-

proaching completion. It was resolved that as soon as the purchase of the block is completed application be made that the council be appointed the controlling authority. Counties' Accident Insurance. The Rural Counties' Association forwarded report of the fourth conference held at Hamilton in July last, and also suggested that the affiliated counties consider the formation of a Mutual Insurance Fund on the lines of the Sawmillers' Mutual Accident Insurance scheme. The council's opinion on the subject was sought and if approved particulars of premiums paid for last three years should be forwarded. • Cr Judd: There is not the slightest doubt if we can get a sufficient number of councils to go in for the scheme it would very materially reduce the county's insurance costs. Once a reasonable reserve was in hand the proposition was an excellent one. It was resolved to heartily support the proposal. Heavy Traffic Tees. The clerk, Hamilton Borough Council, forwarded -a statement of allocation of heavy traffic fees for 1926-27. Matamata County figures are as follows: — Pool, £155 1/1. Total expenditure, £89,432 7/7; proportion, £339 13/2. It was resolved that the question of heavy traffic fees and the 'allocation of same be referred to the Works Commit-

tee. In mentioning that Hamilton received the bulk of the fees Cr Judd said the Matamata Council were at a disadvantage, inasmuch that there was not a decent-sized town in the territory. Cambridge was on the outskirts of the county. The clerk pointed out that in proportion the amount in fees received by the council compared favourably with that of the Hamilton Borough. Curves on Main Highways. The Main Highways Board wrote pointing out that in 1924 certain minimum standards were laid down for curvature of roads, and there was a tendency among local/ bodies to regard these as standard practice rather than an indication of the minimum radius. Proposals were often submitted involving the use of H and 2 chain curves on first-class highways when a minimum radius of 3 chains was warranted and was often the most economic proposition on account of reduction in distance. With the large increase in motor traffic on main arterial routes sight distance was becoming more and more important, and whenever the cost was, not prohibitive an attempt should be made to have a minimum sight distance of 200 ft by using flatter curves or by benching the patter of cuttings. In future it was proposed to carefully scrutinise all proposals up to an estimated cost of £IOOO. The engineer stated that the main highways in the county had never been classified in accordance with the requirements outlined. —Received. General. The Department'of Internal Affairs' forwarded Gazette extract of the alteration of boundaries of the Okoroire and Putaruru ridings.—Received. The Assistant Engineer, P.W.D., wrote re the Waitoa-Taupo main high-way—Cambridge-Taupo via Atiainuri—and. stated that the portion of the road, two miles 14 chains, referred to in the council's qorrespondence is within the limits of the county and is an ordinary main highway. The County Council would take up maintenance from 3rd proximo, subject to the ordinary subsidy of 30/ for 20/. The Engineer: It would be a costly addition to the county roads. The letter was received.