WAIMARINO COUNTY COUNCIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 89, 16 April 1938, Page 13

WAIMARINO COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING HELD. The usual monthly meeting of the Waimarino County Council was held at the Council Chambers on Saturday. Mr. D. J. Berry presided and the following were also present: Crs. P. Wise, R. Lilburn, J. A. Morton, G. H. Price, F. C. Bettjeman, C. L. Duigan, the county clerk (Mr. A. Mabbott) and the county engineer (Mr. H. L. Hogg). Following formal business the following correspondence was dealt with:— Mr. D. Spry asked for permission to instal an underground tank and pump for the purpose of selling motor spirit on his property at Karioi. The county clerk intimated that he had no record of any property in the name of the applicant. He had asked the applicant to give further particulars concerning the ownership of the property.—The clerk's action was approved. A ratepayer asked to be exempted from the 10 per cent, penalty, on his rates for a period of two months. He pointed out that according to the Adjustment Commission’s statement there should be no law these days allowing the 10 per cent, penalty. The clerk stated that he had informed the applicant that the council had no legal power to remit the penalty when once incurred, the Government having refused to renew the legislation under which local authorities had the power of remission for the past four or live years. He had pointed-out that the Adjustment Commissions under the Mortgagees and Lessees Rehabilitation Act, 1936, have this power.—Clerk’s action approved. In connection with the erection of a memorial to pioneers at Mt. Stewart, the council decided to take no action in connection with the matter. The council was notified that for the three months ending February 28 its share of the heavy traflic licence fees from the pool amounted to £l9O Is 4d.— Received. The district superintendent of the i Department of Agriculture wrote in j connection with county council con-' trol of the rabbit pest. He informed : the council that a county or part of I a county or counties can be formed into rabbit districts but county councils cannot exercise control. County councillors can be elected members of a rabbit district board, but the rabbit board's affairs are quite separate i from county affairs.—Received. I The Makotuku Timber Company • made application that the Hikohiko : Road be not closed for heavy trallic lon April 30. If the council agreed to ! their request the company undertook ■ that no carting would be done In wet I weather and that the road would be j maintained to the satisfaction of the county engineer.—The council agreed ! to grant the request. ■ The Public Works Department noti- | tied that they had spent £2OO In re- ; pairing flood damage on the Waipuna '. Ridge Road. On this sum the County | Council was eligible to a £3 for £1 I ’ subsidy.—The action of the chairman jin authorising the payment of the • amount was endorsed. j The Ohakune Swimming Baths , Sports Queen Committee applied for a donation in connection with their carnival for the purpose of erecting swimming baths at Ohakune.—The council decided that they were not able to accede to he request. During an ensuing discussion on the question of noxious weeds, the chairman (Mr. C. J. Berry) stated that he • believed that the Government should ' make the subject a national matter. ‘ It would be money well spent to take : sufficient men off public works for 1 from six to eight weeks and clean up all unoccupied lands, native lands • forestry areas, and the properties ol • indigent farmers. He considered it s j waste of public funds to spend monej ; on roads leading to noxious weed ini fested lands. | The Minister of Lands (Hon. F ■ Langstone) in reference to a request i that single men be allowed to be emj ployed on the work of opening anc i maintaining the access to the Man- : gatit, Waipapa and Mangapurua disj tricts, advised that provided eligibk 1 married men are not. available, the Minister of Labour had agreed that ' the available single men be engager ! on a £4 a week basis for a maximum j period of three months meantime, anc j then the matter will have to be sub- • mitted for review. ! The Department of Labour in conI nection with special full-time works I (scheme 13) informed the council ol J the policy formulated by the Govern- | ment as follows:-—The special sub--1 sidies under Scheme 13 may be conj tinued, employment, being rotated or 1 the four-monthly principle, giving | preference firstly to any men in the ■ locality who have not. had a turr i under the scheme, and, secondly, tc i those who perhaps have had a term j but of less duration than those now ! employed. This procedure would generally continue until the jobs in hanc are completed. New jobs should generally be confined to those special!} suitable for the purpose and for which satisfactory financial arrangementcan be made. —Received. The Main Highways Board brought to th j notice of the council that it. hac been decided to increase the subsidy rate on highway bridging to £3 for £1 —Received. The Department, of Labour notiliec that Good Friday, Easter Monday anc Anzac Day are to be observed as paic holidays for all relief workers employed under schemes 5 and 15, anc those employed in full-time subsidisec works, including scheme 13 works anc ragwort eradication.—Received. General. A special meeting of the council is to be held on May 7 at 10.45 a.m. tc pass a special order authorising the sale erf portion of metal reserve anc dwelling thereon. The next ordinary meeting of the council is to be held on Saturday, May 7, at 10.30 a.m. The council agreed that rates shown as outstanding for 1934-35 be written off the rates statement as at March 31. It was decided to close the following roads to heavy motor vehicles from May 1 to October 1: Mangaeturoa South, Middle Road, Lakes Road, Smith Roads (Makaranui) and Oruakukuru Road. The county ranger (Mr. A. Sandels) reported that in the month of March ! he had impounded eight head of cattle and 12 horses, mostly unbroken.—Report received. The county clerk (Mr. A. Mabbott) intimated that he had experienced