PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15319, 21 August 1923, Page 4

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The August meeting of the Piako County Council was held at Te Aroha yesterday, there being present Crs. F. W. Walters (chairman), J. Orr, W. G. Kennedy, W. Stark, F. W. Lowry, W. McLean, and F. W. Hughes. The chairman extended a warm welcome to the new.member for Kiwitahi, at the same time regretting the retirement of their •old friend, Mr Bell. Mr Lowry returned thanks.

Paeroa Conference. The Council's representative, Mr N. J. Ray, at the conference of local bodies held at Paeroa on July 20, reported: Thai license fee for motor vehicles engaged in heavy traffic in borough be £1 for each ton or part of a ton of the vehicle up to seven tons, above which, including weight of the vehicle, to be absolutely prohibited except by special permit, the applicant to provide indemnity against possible damage. If it was found impossible to prohibit loads over seven tons', the fees should be £4 ton. It was recommended that the County charges should be three times the above amounts. It was stated that the Hauraki representatives disassociated themselves from the recommendation, as the limit of seven tons in their opinion was double the load the Plains roads could carry. It was also recommended that there be composite license fees by local bodies contiguous' with 'one another, that the speed limit- for heavy- traffic bo 10 miles an hour, that the scale of charges for horse drawn vehicles be half that of motor vehicles, that the conference should seek statutory power to limit the loads to seven tons, that on certain streets or roads the Conference be given power to restrict the load to four tons, that the Government fix a uniform rate for motor cars. It was recommended that the width of the tyres shall be as follows: — Width of tyres 2in., maximum weight for two wheels 15cwt, maximum weight for four wheels 25cwt; 2*in., 25cwt, 40cwt; 3in., 30cwt, 48cwt; 3*in., 35cwt, 56cwt; 4in., 40cwt, 64 cvvt; 4iin., 45cwt, 72cwt; sin., 60cwt, 90cwtf sJin„ 70cwt, 105 cwt; 6in„ 80cwt, 140 cwt.

It was recommended that the highways group for the district should consist of Coromandel, Thames, Hauraki, Ohinemuri, Piako, and Matamata Counties. The Piako County representative did not vote on this proposal. On the motion of the chairman Mr Ray was thanked for his report.

Soldier Settlement Rates. ■The Commis'sioner of Lands, Mr H. M. Skeet, wrote noting with approval the Council's action re the wiping off of soldiers' rates as up to 31st March, 1923. With regard to the Council's provision that the Department gives its consent to all soldier ratepayers being liable to be sued for all rates from April 1, 1923, the Commissioner'advised that the final approval of such course being taken rests with the •Utornev-General, in accordance with "the regulations for the protection of returned soldiers, which were drawn up under the War Legislation Act. As far as the Auckland officer is concerned, no objection, of course, would be made to any action which- the Council should consider it necessary to take to protect themselves for arrears' owing under the rates, In conelusion the Commissioner wrote: "I think the action of your Council has been a most generous one, and will be much appreciated by all concerned." —Received. Pearson Memorial Fund. Mr Clutha Mackenzie, chairman of the Blind Institute, made an appeal for financial assistance to the Pearson Memorial Fund for the blind. —Held over. Inspection of Bridoes, The Nearuawahia Chamber of Commerce wrote urging in the direction of having an inspector of bridges appointed, seeing that it was necessary for the Railway Department to do so. An inspector might be permanently employed by a number of counties' and boroughs grouped under the Highways Act.—lt was decided to reply that all the County's bridges are under the inspection of the engineer. Mangateparu Rating Area.

The Lands Department, Auckland, replied to the Council's telegram:— "That Mangateparu settlers, with others, are prepared to favour a special rating area for metalling the main road, and asking if the s'aid settlers are allowed to do this." The reply stated that the settlers are quite within their rights in entering a special rating area if they are satisfied that the benefits' which will accrue to them thereby will justify such action. At the same time, it was pointed out, apparently the road to be metalled is a main road of communication, which not on'.y serves the settlement itself, but a very large area of surrounding country. It would therefore appear that contribution to the special rating area should be levied from a very much wider scope than the settlement itself. —Received.

RAaungateparu Settlers. Mr J. Reid Stewart waited upon the Council on behalf of tiie settlers, and urged that some alleviation be extended the settlers on Tahuna road, which was- in a deplorable state. The speaker said he had pioneered in many waybank parts in the early days, and had never seen a road in the condition of the one in question. Cr. Stark said tha_t the Council is very sympathetic with the settlers, and already negotiations are pending for a Government grant. Mr Stewart s'aid the settlers quired that -the road be formed, moiled and tar-scaled, from its junction, with the Mangawaru road northwards. A petition was hande-d in containing the names of some 29 settlers, urging in toe direction of a loan.