WAIPA COUNTY

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 1450, 10 March 1931, Page 5

WAIPA COUNTY

]fc THE MARCH MEETING. GENERAL BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council was hold at .Te, Awamutu yesterday when the following members wore present: Crs S. C. Macky - (chairman), T. Church, E, P. Peacock, , J. S. ■ Fisher, J. T. Johnson, R, Speako, A. Livingstone, Saulbrey, G. S. Clark, N. Read, W. McGcc. The Clerk (Mr T. Grant) and the .engineer Mr J. Civil) wcr,e also in atI tendance. Unemployment. 'The engineer reported that about 50 i men wcro being employed in four parts of the county and good work was being done. Ho could still employ more men on the different works. Those.supplied Iby the Cambridge committee were. all. being made use "of. > •, •:.• ~. ;;.. Bulmer's Road;. Tho Assistant Under Secretary P.W.- ' D. advised that the proclamation taking land in Section 7A Block XV Maungatautari appeared in the New Zealand Gazette of the sth February; 1931, page 216.—Received. Subsidies on Main Highways. JThc Paymaster-General advised the of tho following subsidies on Main Highways: Great South Road, £849 5/-; Hamilton-Raglan £25 11/3; To Awamutu-Pirongia, £7l 1/1; ' Tc v Awamutu-Barton's, £93 7/10; Te Awamutu to Cambridge, £193 8/9, and £221 14/- construction.-—Received. Hawke's Bay Earthquake. Tho Mayors of the Boroughs of Napier, Hastings and Wairoa expressed their appreciation of the council's message of sympathy and assurance of practical support. —Received. N.Z. Counties' Association. The secretary, N.Z. Counties' Association advised that during the past month numerous letters advocating a meeting of the executive early in the financial year had reached his office to discuss matters of national importance, viz., highways taxation, hospital r: "- ing, Government economy, etc. The writer pointed out that it is useless to convene a meeting of the executive until Parliament met and the Government's proposals for rectifying the present economic position had been made public. The meeting would be convened as soon as the Government placed its policy before the public. Counties were respectfully requested to forward to the association all matters for discussion at the meeting not later the ; cnd of March.—Received:' ) Economic Conditions. The Prime Minister acknowledged receipt of the council's letter in regard to main highway matters and stated that ho would be glad to refer them to tho Minister of Public Works for his information and consideration. In respect to the question of reduction in wages the Prime Minister stated that tho Government had already decided to'put into effect an all-round reduction of 10 per cent in the salaries and wages of public servants, including Ministers of the Crown and members of Parliament. The whole matter will be placed before Parliament at the special session which opens' at Wellington to-morrow.—Received; """: '•"■■•' Stoats and Weasels. The secretary of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society advised • that tho Department of Agriculture had agreed to remove the protection on stoats and weasels throughout New Zealand in all areas of land containing not less than 50 acres in natural forest' and an Order in Council would • shortly be gazetted to this effect. The society desired to thank the council for its assistance in this matter and'intimated that they would shortly be starting a campaign for the destruction of these animals. Q/ Saulbrey: "The weasel is the most "7' dahgerous animal there is to native bird life." Main Highway Contribution. .Tho secretary of the Auckland Automobile Association, in commenting upon the return furnished by the county clerk concerning the contribution of ratepayers of the county to main highways fund, stated that there was an aspect of the position which .should be considered before tho value of ■ the Main Highways Board operation could bo properly assessed. A county which docs not apply to the board for expenditure of main highways funds within its territory was contributing much more than it received, but those counties which wore alive to this position have obtained substantial subsidies from the Main Highways Board for construction work carried out in their districts and had materially benefited. In the case of Waipa County the writer stated that a practical illustra- ■ tion of what he was endeavouring to convey was available.. The Main Highways JBoard had, he understood, offered a subsidy at a variable rate on the reconstruction of the whole main highway through the county. If' tho county proceeded with this' work it -vftpuld receive for approximately half

its expenditure a subsidy of £2 for £1 and for the other half £3 for £l, and if a fresh statement of position was taken out after the work had been completed it would be found that the figures compiled would have swung round greatly to the benefit of county ratepayers. There was of course the additional point that the ratepayers had benefited by main highway expenditure on roads in adjoining counties. The writer suggested in reference to the extra 2d per gallon that it would be in the bes,t interests of counties and motorists that they get together and endeavour to have this money expended on roads as was originally intended, instead of allowing the Government to appropriate it for general revenue purposes. The secretary assured the council of the association's keenest desire to cooperate with counties to the fullest possible extent. ■ The Chairman: "This is not going to reduce our annual expenditure." Cr Fisher: "The association is a recognised body and it would be just as well for us to accept their offer." It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the clerk, and that he should reply thanking the association for its offer but pointing out that the county was not going to get the benefits the' association pointed out. ; Nelson's Road. The final preparations enabling the county to go ahead on tho work of opening up Nelson>s Road, Roto-o-raugi, by the affixing of the councils' seal to the plans, etc.,'were carried out, and on the motion of Cr Fisher the engineer was instructed to call for tenders for labour in connection with erecting the necessary fences. Maintenance of Roads. The Rangitikei County Council asked the support of the council to the following resolution: —"That in ( "Jer to relieve the county ratepayers, the cost of maintenance of county roads other than main highways be subsidised £1 for £1 out of funds to be provided by an increase in the petrol tax, or out of other motor revenue, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each county council in the Dominion and to the Government." It was pointed out that notwithstanding the substantial assistance rendered by the Main Highways Board in respect to the main highways, the burden on county ratepayers for the upkeep of roads had not been lessened because the increase of motor traffic had demanded a higher standard of maintenance. The Chairman: is what the Counties' Association have been asking 'for. We know what happened to. the petrol tax that was imposed some time ago.'' Other councillors expressed similar views and it was decided to support the resolution. Excessive Speed. Mr Boy G. Kelly, schoolmaster, of Ohaupo, drew attention to the excessive speed of cars passing the Ohaupo School' during recognised school hours. That there was a considerable element of danger, particularly at assembly and dismissal times was beyond doubt. He stated that there were on the roll 123 children, nearly 50 of whom were under seven years of age. Cars frequently passed at a speed so high as to preclude any possibility of a stop in an emergency. He added that he had already mentioned the matter to Inspector Nicholson who advised him to again write to the council. Cr Livingstone said that a copy of the letter should bo sent to the Auckland Automobile Association. Cr Fisher moved to this effect and the motion was carried. A second resolution w*as passed instructing the county inspector to prosecute wherever possible. Rates. The question of outstanding rates was dealt with and the date on which the 10 per cent penalty was to be added was fixed as the 25th of March. The clerk in reply to a.question stated the penalty could have been imposed on most of the ridings in the middle of February. In one or two cases however the notices were delayed in being sent out and the addition does not come into force until March.