RAETIHI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 140, 16 June 1931, Page 3

RAETIHI

EXTRAORDINARY TIMES. NEW MEASURES ADOPTED. “The.sc are not ordinary times,” sail Cr. H. A. Wright at the meeting of the Waimarino County Council at Raetihi on Saturday. “Wo are called upon at the present period to do unusual things. We arc asked to do things we would not. think of considering last, year and we may now do things that we will not dream of next year. The Government has given us a lead in thi* direction. According to the Finance Act 1931, local bodies may remit the ten per cent, penalty on the rates of this year thai are not paid.” Cr. Wright pointed out that many county ratepayers were having a hard struggle to meet their engagements. He was sure all councillors were anxious to assist ratepayers. The Council had to meet its obligations and to find interest on money spent in the past. He moved that the Council take advantage of the provisions of the Finance Act of 1931 and that the ten per cent, penalty be remitted on all overdue rates paid before July 1 and that the clerk be authorised to remit any amounts already paid by ratepayers as penalty. The chairman, Cr. C. 11. Ball, point ed out that nothing should bo done to discourage prompt payment of rates. The motion was carried unanimously. A ratepayer wrote asking for permission to use a lorry to cart firewood on a road that was closed to all motor traffic. If he could not use the lorry firemen would be put on the list of unemployed. “What is the use of closing a road to motor traffic if we allow it to be open,” said one councillor. Councillors agreed it was a hardship to the man but the Council had no power to grant permission to a person to break the regulations. Another person asked for permission to take out a few cords of wood on a closed road, but the same provision applied in this case A man wrote asking the Council to collect wages due to him by a person who had done some contract work for the Council. The clerk explained that he had written to the man advising him to consult a solicitor in the matter. The chairman. Cr. C. H. Ball said he had received a letter. It was addressed to him personally but in the letter the writer said it was sent to him as a county councillor and chairman. He therefore read the communication to the Council.

The letter complained about the stats of a road and the delay in completion of the work. It was alleged that there was “shocking, wicked waste of public money” and that the chairman had not carried out his promise. The chairman explained that he Iw 1 not made any promise in the matte*. The Council was doing its best to get the road formed. The engineer, Mr H. L. Hogg outlined the position. One. councillor said he thought the Council had been giving a great deal of attention to this particular road. It was unanimously agreed that the chairman be asked to hand the letter over to the clerk and that the clerk reply explaining the position. A ratepayer in arrears wrote last month stating he had requested another party to pay his overdue rates in instalments. A councillor asked had any money been received and the clerk replied in the negative and it was decided that proceedings should be taken for recovery against the ratepayer in arrears. The county ranger informed the Council that three horses had been impounded at Ohakune and not being claimed were sold to pay expenses. One horse brought 8/-, another 7/- and the other 6/-. The ranger did not get any driving fees for those three horses. GENERAL. At the meeting of the Borough Council it was suggested that as the fire brigade was very efficient and the Borough possessed good fire-fighting appliances insurance companies should be requested to reduce the premiums on the policies held in the borough. “Boot-money,” paid to the volunteer fire brigade by the Raetihi Borough Council does not mean money expended in the purchase of boots. The Council makes an annual grant to the funds of the brigade and Cr. A. E. Willoughby explained that this subsidy was spent in providing an allowance for the firemen to recoup damage to clothes, etc. It was also used for petty cash purposes, such as paying for stationery used by the brigade. Details of the expenditude was given to the Borough Council and on the recommendation of the Council’s Fire Brigade Committee a grant sufficient to meet the expenditure of the brigade was unanimously agreed to by councillors.

The Waimarino County Council has paid out £519 13s 6d in connection with the No. 5 Unemployment Scheme up to June 6. i The County clerk reported on Saturday that all the upstairs rooms in the County Council’s office buildings were now let to tenants and were bringing in considerable revenue. Councillors expressed pleasure at this statement. COUNTY CHAIRMAN. At the annuo! meeting of the Waimarino County Council on Saturday Cr. C. H Ball was re-elected chairman on the motion of Cr. H. A. Wright seconded by Cr. Goldfinch. This was the only nomination received by the County clerk who presided. Cr. Ball thanked the councillors for the honour paid him . He would endeavour to carry out the duties to the utmost of his ability ami in the best interest of al! ratepayers.