LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3481, 19 June 1934, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Cattle wandering on the roads at night were complained of at Monday's meeting of the Waipa County Council, and councillors took a serious view of the position. Rangers are to be asked to be mlore, diligent in carrying out their duties.

A property owner in Waipa County was reported at Monday's, meeting to h»ve paid no rates for, the past five years, and when pressed for/payment adopted a defiant attitude. One.councillor asked: "Is he a de-rater, by any chance? " Another councillor promptly remarked: " Yes, he is, and a practical one, as you can see! "

Mr WL J. Jordan, M.P. for Manukau, is to speak at Kihikihi this evening, oh the same linete as his address at the local Town Hall last evening. Mr A. S. Richards, M.P. for Roskill, is to speak at Pirongia to-moraaw evening, in place of Mr J. Jordan,.who has not yet fully recovered from his recent illness.

Arrangements have been made for a special address on Thursday evening on the development of the tung oil industry in North Auckland by Auekand business men interested in the scheme, and a motion picture display of some most interesting scenes is one of the features of the address, in the Parish Hall, to which all interested are invited.

The only reference to the Great South. Road surfacing scheme within the county, at a cost of approximately £160,000, made at Monday's meeting of the Waipa County Council, was a communication from the Main Highways Board, which was dealt with in committee. The latest development holds up proposals for taking a poll of the ratepayers to raise the county's one-fourth of the cost.

Before the Waipa County Council •meeting ended on Monday, Cr Onion mid he desired to make an explanation with reference to a remark credited to Cr Peacock© at last month's (meeting, wheirein he was reported as saying he was agfreeably surprised at Cr Onion's expression of views in direct opposition to those expressed on an earlier occasion, when he had advocated, or defended, non-payment of rates. This, Cr Onion desired to point out, Was contrary to fact. While he had on occasions stated that derating was inevitable, he had always spoken and worked for observance of constitutional methods. Or Clarke (in Cr Peacocke's absence) said he could not recall such a remark at the Council table. It probably was a misunderstanding, commented Cr Johnson, who recalled Cr Peacocke, twitting O Onion, possibly jokingly, with a reversal of attitude, in that he had consistently advocated debating, yet he was now urging a progressive policy, involving greater expenditure. Cr Onion said he accepted the assurance, for/ at no time had he advocated non-payment of rates, as this course was entirely contrary to his views. •

"We finished up last year with a fairly substantial credit balance, for our riding, and I would like to see a reduction this year, say by oneeighth of a penny," said Cr R. L. Onion (Newcastle Riding) at Monday's meeting of the Waipa County. Council When estimates were under 1 consideration. Cm D. B. Livingstone, who also represents Newcastle Riding expressed the same views/ The treasurer pointed out that the proposed reduction would represent about £165 over the whole riding, and the chairman urged councillors to expect some expenditure not budgeted for, adding that in the last year or two that riding had reduced its rating. He thought it would be wise to keep on the safe side. Cr Livingstone said he was considering the man who has to pay his rates this year. Cri Onion considered the proposed reduction was a gesture to the ratepayers of a real desiine to keep, expenditure low. Cr Johnson pointed out that the estimate meant £3OO less receipts than last year, and the proposal, would increase that deficit to £450. ..... Ultimately, it was agreed not.to make a reduction.

. Woods' Great Peppermint .Cure. For Coughs and Colds, never fails.

The Waikato Valley Dairy Company, Ltd., is making an advance payment for May butter-fat at the rate of 9d per lb for finest grade. ■

The annual meeting of Te Awamutu Bowling Club is to be held this evening.

The distance of the cycle road race to-morrow afternoon is approximately 61. miles, and the following handicaps have been declared: S. Williams, scratch; K. Walker, 30 seconds; F. Dalziel and W. Allen, 1 minute; W, Dalziel, 1 min. 25 sec; G. Lee, 2 mdn.; J. Rainey, 2 min. 5 sec; G. Allen, 2 min. 10 sec; T. Cochrane, R. Raymond, and Quinn, 2 min. 40 sec; and Robinson, 3 min. 25 sec.

The New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, has decided to advance its suppliers 8d per ib for finest quality butter-fat, free of share credits, for cream supplied foil but-ter-making. Cheese factory suppliers Will receive 9d per lb butter-fat for fiilst grade milk. In June last year the company's advance was 8d to both butter and cheese suppliers, while last month the advances were 7id fdr, butter and 8d for cheese.

" There were three or four lots of pigs wandering on the roads in Kakepuku riding last Friday," said a Councillor at the W a *P a County Council meeting on Monday, and the chairman asked all councillors to report offenders with a view to prosecutions.* Reads were being destroyed, watertables damaged, and wayfarers (particularly motorists) hindered. It was decided to institute Qourt prosecutions, against offenders, it being considered the warning given last month was being deliberately ignored.

Salary restorations were discussed at Monday's meeting of the Waipa County Council, when the Finance Committee's recommendation was agreed to in favour of giving the inside staff (both clerical and engineering) a bonus of 5 per cent on* last year's salaries. An anomaly in respect to one of the outside staff was also rectified, in accordance with a decision come to two or, three months agfo.

The trials of the country storekeeper are many and varied, but one experience brought to our notice yesterday will take some beating. A customer, a farmer, usually pays cash for his goods at the store, but occasionally books articles when not in funds. By paying cash, of course, he saves the surcharge for booking. The other day he went into the store, and up to the office, where he borrowed a £1 note "until the 20th." Then he returned to the counter, and paid cash for the goods he required !

At the last meeting of the Te Aroha Aero Club, the secretary of the Te Alwamutu Aero Club wrote suggesting a centralised scheme for civil flying in the Waikato, pointing out that the present arrangements were by no means comprehensive enough or adequate. A combination of all the clubs in the Waikato was suggested, and the- opinion of Te Aroha was asked regarding the possibility of a conference to discuss the matter. It was decided to .reply to the effect that Te Ajroha would make an endeavour to be represented at any conference called for the above purpose.

Judging by remarkte at Monday's meeting, it would seem that Waipa County councillors are getting tired of some of the excuses put forward by defaulting property owners in respect, of rates. It was decided to take more drastic action in certain cases. One councillor commented in respect to one defaulter: " Yes, go the limit! It is about time he was put off the place to make .room for someqne who Will make a genuine effort to pay. These ' dodgers ' are only a penalty on the other ratepayers. I don't want tb be harsh with a 'trier,' .but I really don't think these fellows arje genuine in their excuses."

" Reduction of rates is not the easy thing sotme people seem to think," was a comment made at Monday's meeting of the Waipa County Council when the estianiaites were under consideration. The explanation given was that the council budgeted for a credit balance at Miarch 31st, iso that there will be money in hand for works early in the next financial year, when practically no rates are being paid. If there is no credit balance a substantial bank overdraft has to be arranged for and drawn upon, with the Result that an apparent gain is nullified.

Cr F. L. Onion took the opportunity at Monday's meeting of the Wiapa County Council to congratulate all concerned upon the provision of such a commodious and well-appointed public hall at Pukeatua. He had been agreeably surprised, and /remarked that it Iseemed adequate for this district for years to come. Other councillors also commented favourably on the building and the enterprise of the settlers.