COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20234, 12 May 1931, Page 15

COUNTY COUNCILS.

ASHLEY. Tha Ashley County Council met at Lobuvn Present: Messrs D. B. Hutchison (chairman), Bennett, Metherell, Pulley, and Wilson. The chairman referred to the work (lone on Dobson's road, which was expected to he further carried 011 after ' the termination o£ the break in the No. 5 Scheme. The Public Works .Department had, however, written to say that Government grants for road work would not further be available for this financial year, and it was therefore not possiblo to go on with the work on Dobson's road. It was decided that tho necessity of having dealt with the work during the dry weather of autumn be emphasised to the Primo Minister »s member for the district, and to the Minister for Public Works. Tho chairman- reported on tho highways conference convened by tho Progress League. Members of the Board had agreed to a trial of the contract method for the upkeep of the Lees Valley road, but had not agreed to a subsidy higher {lian the usual. Tho Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote stating that his Department could not yet pay general rates on the lands of defaulting mortgagors. It appeared thereforo that the decision of the Appeal Court in the case Inglewood Borough Council v. the Crown was not yet of practical value to County Ctincils. It was decided to ask Oxford to join in . putting the matter before the Prime Minister. Mr \V. N. Smart wrote with regard to flood water, and Messrs Bennett and Metherell were asked to investigate. The Council approved of the by-laws recommended at the recent Kangiora conference, and also that the same should bo jointly carried out, and that (he chairman should be the Ashley county delegate. Tho cleric brought up the specifications proposed for the maintenance of the Lees Valley road by contract. Additions by the Oxford Council were adopted. If tho District Engineer approved, tho matter would be gono on with ] and tenders called to close at next meeting. * I PAPARUA. Mr James Leslie presided at tlfe latest meeting of the Paparua County Council, when !<ttll the members were present. Mr Leslie dealt with the meeting called by the Progress League to meet mombers of the Highways Board to discuss tho future programme in Canterbury. There was a very representative gathering, and Messrs Talbot and Wynyard, members, and Mr Tyndall, engineer to the Board, were present. Mr Leslie referred to the fact that the Board members had stated that the Main Highways Board wero not committed to the PiclonBluff highway, to the exclusion of all other highways. Mr Wynyard had stated that the Akaroa and Bealcy roads wero well towards the top of the paving list. Mr Freeman reported that there had been no developments in connexion with the Council's appeal against the Licensing Committee's decision with regard to the railway buses. The Secretary to the Treasury wrote plating that a small loan in connexion with the Waimakariri wuter-races had matured at the end of February, and that the amount of interest would be adjusted in future payments. The clerk reported that all the wtaer-race loans would mature in 193G: The men engaged under the No. 5 scheme wrote to Mr Leslie during the month, asking fhe Council to find work for them during tho week in which they were to stand down. The letter stated that with three weeks' work of four days per week, the men found difficulty in maintaining their families. Members expressed themselves as kindly disposed towards the men, but at a time when expenses were being_ cut in every direction it was held impossible to take on such a large body of men each month. A resident made a complaint that his sto'k had been impounded by the ranger while lie was away getting hig bicycle to drive them to tho paddock. It was decided that the ranger be upheld, as the stock were left unattended. According to notice, Mr Langdale-Hunt moved that a general rat© of three farthings in the pound be struck over the whole county. Considerable discussion took place on this motion. Mr Henley maintained that the rates could be _ stil] further reduced, aud moved in that direction. The amendment received only two votos. and finally the original motion was carried without dissentients.