MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2438, 8 June 1922, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council was held in Sanson on Tuesday. There were present: Sir James Wilson (chairman), Crs. W. E. Barber, J. Boyce, ; H. J. Fagan, W. S. Penn- and H. H. Hunt. CORRESPONDENCE. • The Railway Department forwarded the report of the inspector on the condition of the council’s tramway.—Received. The Treasury forwarded a cheque for £354 for cost of formation and metalling of Campion road in the Makowai Settlement. —Received. The State Advances Office wrote that it had been resolved by the State Advances Board to reinstate the council’s application and grant a loan of £2,000 for the purpose of erecting workers’ dwellings. Debenture forms were forwarded to be completed.—Received. The Timaru Borough Council forwarded the following resolution and asked for the council’s support: — “That the Government be asked to abolish the present undemocratic system of constituting electric power boards on the petition of onefourth oT the rate-payers, and that the Government be asked to provide that all proposals to form electric power boards shall be decided by a poll of the ratepayers in each proposed constituent district, as a poll affords a better opportunity of discussing the pros, and cons, of the proposal, and as a result ascertaining the wishes of the ratepayers; and that all local bodies in the Dominion be asked to support this request.”—Tteceived. The Waimea County Council, Nelson, forwarded the following resolution for support: —“That in justice to the ratepayers and the tyre taxpayers of the the tyre tax should be equitably allocated between counties and road boards (where the Counties Act is not in force) and made available during the current year for the maintenance, repair and control of all main roads used for motor traffic.” —Received.

The Palmerston North Hospital Board informed the council that the amount for which it was liable for maintenance and charitable aid expenditure was £1,959 Os Gd, and the amount of ' the Council’s liability for capital expenditure was £7O Is Id.—Received.

Mr W. H. B. Smith, Taikoren, drew the council’s attention to the dangerous nature of a sand cutting on the Taikroea road. The matter was a serious one for the school children. —Inspection is to be made to see what can be done. A letter was received from the State Forest Service stating that the lack of statistics dealing with the building trade had proved a very serious hindrance in a number of investigations now being made by the Forest Scrviee-and other Government departments. Tf- had, therefore, been decided that'a business schedule dealing with builders’ and contractors’ operations would be issued' by the Government Statistician for the year ending March 31 1923. Tf the council would arrange with its building inspector to notify all builders and contractors to that effect when issuing permits, the action would be much appreciated.— Available particulars to be forwarded.

DAMAGE TO ROAD. ' Whitaunui Ltd., Foxton, wrote protesting that the amount of metal the eounoil was asking to repair damage done by the company’s flax carts was out of all proportion to the council’s annual allocations for maintenance purposes.— I The engineer said that 800 tons of green flax was carted over the road.— Cr. Barber stated that there was no -doubt- that considerable damage was done. The road had practically disappeared.—The matter was held over for discussion at a future meeting. ANTECEDENT LIABILITY. The Prime Minister wrote that ■/ the application of the council for a \ loan of £6,350 for the purpose of • repaying the antecedent liability would have early consideration.— The chairman said that if the council wished .to pay off the antecedent, liability at once out of revenue they would have to raise the rates'bv 50 per cent. If they carried out the directions of the Act and made one payment of £I,OOO each year for seven years, it would mean the. addition of one-tenth of a penny to the present rates.—The Counlil discussed the question of raising a loan to wipe out the antecedent liability and final! decided to authorise by -special order the raising of a loan for the purpose. GENERAL. The chairman and treasurer were authorised to sign and affix the council’s common seal to the debentures to be issued in respect of the loan of £2,000 for workers’ dwellings. Slaughtering licenses were granted to Messrs R. Bryant, E. H. Howan, C. Watkins and P. Gedye. TRAMWAYS REPORT. The manager of the tramways reported as follows, on the month’s working: —“The chief items of traffic were: Minerals and manure, 126 i tons; merchandise, 107 tons; cheese and butter, 76& tons; stock, 34 tracks; metal and clay, 1,120 cubic yards; fares amounted to 19s lid- Owing to the necessity of obtaining extra coal supplies, the accounts show a debit of — lO9 8s 2d. counts show a debit of £lO9 8s 2d.” ANNUAL MEETING. The adjourned annual meeting

was held prior to the ordinary meeting, and on the motion of Crs. Barber and Hunt Sir James Wilson was re-eleeted chairman. /

The following rates were struck for the coming 12 months: —Sandon Riding, ljd in the £; Mount Stewart Riding, lfd; Waitohi Riding, lid; Rongotea Riding, Id; Carnarvon Riding, lid; Kawa Kawa. Riding, lid; Awahou Riding lild. SHANNON BRIDGE. A letter was received from the Shannon Borough Council • stating that it had appointed the Mayor and the engineer to wait on the Minister of Public Works and place before him the position of the Manawatu river bridge at Shannon, with a view to compelling local bodies interested to contribute in equitable proportions to the urgent necessary work. The Manawatu County Council was invited to send delegates to act with the Shannon representatives. The Foxton Borough Council and the Horowhenua County Council had also been invited to take part. The deputation would wait on the Minister on June 13.

Or. Barber said the damage would continue. He had seen the plans drawn up by the engineer to the Shannon Borough Council and these clearly showed the position in regard to the bridge. It- was decided to reply stating that the Manawatu County Council preferred that the trouble should be fixed up by the body actually controlling the bridge, and that the opinion of an expert be taken regarding the situation. Cr. Barber stated that the piles of the land-span of the bridge were resting only on the silt in the river bed. He thought the Foxton Borough Council should come in and assist also.

It was resolved to send a copy of the letter to the Horowhenua Couni.v Council and to the Foxton Borough Council.

HEAVY MOTOR TRAFFIC. The -question of damage being done to roads by motor traffic was again brought up. The legality of prohibiting eertfrin traffic was discussed, and the clerk was of the opinion that they should get in touch with other councils who were' having the same trouble and secure- their views on the subject with the idea of taking concerted action.

The chairman (Sir James Wilson) said he thought that a test ease was being taken by a southern county

; . nneil. end they ought to wait and see the result of this before moving further.

Cr. Barber, however, thought it would not be fair to wait and see what the other council was doing. The county councils should make a combined effort to deal with the trouble. After further discussion, it was decided that other local bodies in the district be written to with a view of holding a conference on the matter.