PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 66, 24 January 1918, Page 1

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL

January Meeting THOMPSON’S TRACK. The Hon. W. H. Herries advised that he was bringing the council’s additional representations re the track under the notice of the Minister of Public Works. The Minister for Public Works referring to the council’s application asked the council to state what local authorities should contribute towards the upkeep of the road, and in what proportions they should individually contribute. The Tauranga County council advised the council of the receipt of a letter on the matter from the Minister of Public Works. Cr. Fitzgerald thought the Whakatane and Opotiki councils were affected. Cr. Smith disagreed and considered the Tauranga county council and the Katikati road board were the only bodies really affected. Cr. Walters said a lot of cattle came from. Ohinemuri. It was too much for any one riding of the county to maintain. Unless other counties came in it was not a fair thing that the Piako county should be made liable for maintenance. No decision was arrived at and the matter will be gone into by a committee. SUGGESTED CONFERENCE. In reply to inquiries as to the rates of pay for labor Waipa county replied that their average rate of pay for ordinary labor was 11s ; in some instances they paid 10s and 12s according to the circumstances. 'No foremen were employed. They did not see that any good would be obtained from holding a conference. The Ohinemuri council approved of a conference should occasion arise. Matamata county supported the idea of a conference. DRAINAGE AREAS. W. R. Johnson suggested that the council appoint committees to control the loan expenditure in the Shaftsbury and Rui-o-Hauraki drainage areas. The riding members and two ratepayers of the area usually formed the committee. The advantage was that matters could be dealt with without waiting for the council to meet. DRAINAGE. The Elstow Drainage Board forwarded an offer re fencing and maintaining drain near Waihou township. Cr. Fitzgerald said that the road was quite narrow enough and considered the drain should ( be filled in. f Three posts to the chain with two “ droppers ” was not regarded as sufficient, and the council would not adopt the suggestion unless there were six posts and one “ dropper ” to the chain. STANLEY ROAD. Mr P. Nathan waited on the council in reference to the improvement of Stanley road to the Glaxo factory. Three methods were suggested: tram line", concrete or tarred roads. His company were waiting for a legal opinion on certain points, and until this was received matters must be held in abeyance. Cr. Fitzgerald thought that the most important thing was to find out where the council were to get the money. Mr Nathan disagreed and considered what form improvements were to take came first. . When this was determined, the financial problem could be gone into. Cr. Walters held a contrary opinion. “We have not got any money, and we don’t know where we can get it.” Cr. Fitzgerald said unless Mr Nathan’s company could look after the finance it was only wasting time suggesting improvements. Cr. Walters, after Mr Nathan had withdrawn : Nothing very definite. Cr. Smith: Except that the roads are daily getting worse.