GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21414, 5 March 1935, Page 15

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council, held yesterday,, was attended by the chairman (Mr K. Mackenzie), and Crs. F. R. Flatman, T. Lyon, J. C. South, K. Brodie, C. Ley, H. J. D. Acland, the county engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner), and the clerk (Mr A. A. Keaddic). The chairman congratulated Cr. H. J. D. Acland on his engagement, and also extended congratulations to his bride-to-be. Mr Acland returned thanks. Mr Mackenzie reported that he had attended a conference between the Geraldine Business Men's Association and the Main Highways Board, on February 11, together with Mr Flatman, when the Business Men's Association's proposed route for the Rangitata deviation of the main highway was fully discussed. The proposal would keep Geraldine on the main highway and would save six miles instead of the 10 that would be saved by the Main Highways Board's proposed route. The council could not oppose anything in the interests of the town, but they must look after .their own interests. There was nothing to prevent motorists using the shorter route even if the Geraldine proposal was put into practice, and the council would get a lot of through traffic»,along the shorter road, for which their ratepayers would have to stand the expense. If the Main Highways Board declared this a main highway also then it would be all right, but if not,' it would be an expense to the council ratepayers. The Geraldine proposal would mean the building of an expensive bridge, but that was a matter for the Highways Board. He thought that the neutral stand taken by the council was the best one they could adopt. He did

not want to see Geraldine off the highway, but they could not burden their ratepayers. Cr. F. R. Flatman, chairman of tne finance committee, reported that receipts for the month totalled £8953 2s Bd. There was a credit balance of £4170 5s 9d, compared with a debit of J:370*3 lis 3d at the same date last year. The rate collected amounted to £8939 7s 2d, and with the rebate added, made a total of £10,322 15s 8d paid. The amount outstanding was £1285 4s 4d, which meant that more than 90 per cent, of the rates levied had already come in and before the end of March a considerable amount more would be paid. Payments to be passed amounted to £1257 0s 6d, but of that amount £284 13s 2d had already been drawn for relief wages, leaving a total of £972 7s 4d. The engineer reported on the work carried out during the month, and his report was adopted. The report said that, in the OrariRangitata water-supply district there had been a great shortage of water along the coastal races throughout the month, mostly because of the neglected stale of the races. These were, in many instances, so over-grown that t.lio available water stagnated and did not reach the outlets. To relieve the situation, extra men had to be employed to deal with the arrears of work and it was only recently that the trouble was partially overcome. There had always been sufficient water from the intake and upper races to give water for all, had the lower races been clean enough to pass it on. The contractors for the new contracts had been duly notified of the acceptance of their tenders, but the contracts to date had not been- signed up nor entered upon. Mr C. H. Moss, ranger in the Rangi-tata-Orax-i water-supply district, reported on the condition of the races.— It was thought that the statement did not convey a true impression, and it was agreed that the races should be cleaned by the council and charged to Mr Moss.

Considerable discussion look place j on relief workers' pay, and it was stated that townspeople on relief work received 3s a week more than country relief workers, although those in towns had to work two hours more. Cr. Flalman said that he 'considered that it was most unfair as they had both types of workers under them and they could not expect them to do the work on an equal footing when they were receiving different pay. The country workers who had been industrious and made small homes of their own were being penalised as the Un- | employment Board had given as its reason for the extra pay for town workers, that they paid higher rents. Mr Mackenzie stated'that he had protested against the scheme. On the proposal of Crs. Flatman acd | .South, it was agreed that the council considered that giving townsmen employed on relief works 3s a week more than those living in the country would create much dissatisfaction apart from the difficulty of allocating the j extra time to be worked, and this j council considered it a most unfair | proposal. Tiie council would ask that the proposal be withdrawn,. It was decided to attend' to the culvert at the entrance to the Peel Forest School grounds. The attention of the engineer was drawn to the bad state of the water race on the back road to Arundel.

Mrs Ross Brodie, president of the Temuka Plunket Society, wrote thanking the council for its generous treatment of the society during her six years in office. She would not be standing for re-election at the annual meeting. Appreciation was expressed of Mrs Brodie's services. J. R. Bradshaw reported having impounded 75 head of cattle, while F. W. Grayburn reported that he had impounded 152 head of cattle. Attention was drawn by Cr. Ley to complaints concerning straying stock on the Kakahu road, and it was decided to draw the attention of the ranger to the complair.'.s.