OPOTIKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1053, 9 December 1947, Page 2

OPOTIKI COUNTY COUNCIL

ANNUAL MEETING MR. W. A. GAULT RE-ELECTED CHAIRMAN The annual meeting of the Opotiki County Council was held prior to the monthly meeting on Friday. Present were Mr. W. A. Gault, in the chair, Crs. G. J. Neilson, W. A. Butler, V. E. Wilson, T. Koopu, R. A. Redlcy, A. E. Blake, B. Black, 0. T. Clark, I l ’. B. Starky, J. Redpath, and C l . Black. Mr. M. Stone (clerk) and Mr. W. W. Upton (engineer) were also in attendance.

After presenting his annual report which was adopted, Mr. Gault vacated the chair and the clerk called for nominations for the position of chairman.

Cr. Butler proposed and Cr. Neilson seconded the nomination of Mr. Gault, and he was unanimously re-elected to the chair. Both mover and seconder of the nomination paid tributes to' the work of Mr.' Gault. Cr. Neilson said that it was not generally known that during Mr. Gault’s term of office much progress had been made in putting the county in a- sound financial position, turning an overdraft of £II,OOO to a £I4OO credit.

Mr. Gauft thanked councillors for their continued confidence and was particularly pleased that Cr. Butler had thought of hiuwifter his absence from the council. Mr. Gault took the opportunity of extending a welcome to the two new councillors. Cr. Butler had been on the council before but Cr. B. Black was a new man. He knew all parts of the district and Mr. Gault felt that both councillors would be an asset to the council. Crs. Butler and Black returned thanks for the remarks.

Mr. Gault referred to the two retiring members. Mr. A. E. Martin had given many years of service to the council, while Mr. H. D. Bennett, a young man, had been on the council for three years. Both had proved capable men and he moved that a letter of appreciation be written to them.

Cr. Hedley: Or. Martin gave good service, but that’s not to say that the new men won’t do better. Cr. Wilson: Kai .pai new blood! Cr. Black: You fought against it. (Laughter). When the question of the chairman’s honorarium came up for discussion, Cr. Starky said that he considered £IOO not sufficient and he thought that the chairman was entitled to £2OO. The clerk said that £IOO was the maximum allowed at present. Cr. Starky moved that the honorarium remain at £IOO. Or. Butler drew attention to the fact that the chairman had been in the chair for more than twelve months at the present honorarium. Cr. C. Black seconded the motion that the honorarium remain at £IOO. —Carried. The clerk said that it was quite legal for the chairman to be paid pro rata for the period from November to June. It was moved by Cr. Hedley and seconded by Cr. Wilson that this amount be paid.—Carried. While travelling expenses for councillors attending ordinary meetings were being fixed, councillors expressed the opinion that members of special committees should be granted travelling expenses.

The clerk said that travelling expenses for councillors for ordinary meetings cost up to £l2O per year. It was decided that members attending the Ragwort Committee mee'tings\ should be paid travelling expenses. The question of payment to the Finance Committee was held over. Ragwort Committee: Cr. Clark, Cr. Starky, Cr. Hedlcy and Cr. C. Black. Finance Committee: Cr. Hedlcy, Cr. Neilson, Cr. Clark and Cr. Gault. Date of ordinary meetings: The Friday after the first Thursday in the month.

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly council meeting commenced with the reading of various reports. The ranger reported that during November two horses had been impounded and 12 released. The finance committee recommended accounts totalling £3282 12s for payment, leaving a credit balance of £l3ll.

The clerk reported that the total rates collected to date were comparable with those of last year, nearly 50 per cent, having been paid. In reply to a question by (Jr. Butler regarding the repayment of loans, the chairman said that the annual amount paid was £3OOO compared with £-1000 previously. The position was improving each year. Cr. C. Black said that before the council finished its term most of the loans would have matured. The clerk said that .>.'3:1,715 was outstanding. Portion of this amount was recoverable from the Waikohu and Whakatane Counties.

Ranwort Prosecutions Cr. B. Black asked if a riding member was notified of an impending prosecution in connection with a ragwort offence. The chairman: Niot necessarily. Cr. B. Black said that he would feel happier about it if he was able to see the property for himself.

He might be able to save a prosecution. Cr. Hedley said that they had to conform with the law, and if a riding member stopped in it would upset the law, Cr. Starky: It upsets the inspector t.oo. Cr. Hedley commented that it was a very tricky business. Cr. Starky said .that if a ratepayer thought he could stave things off by seeing a riding member he was only wasting time. lie added that the ratepayer had the right to appeal to the Ragwort Committee.

The chairman said that the Ragwort Committee realised the seriousness of the position and he invited Cr. Black or any other councillor to attend the meetings of the committee.

Cr. Wilson thought that the weed should be attacked at the source. Or. Hedley said that they had instructions from the Government to do the best land first and then gradually work out. The Ragwort Committee’s report was adopted. When hte engineer’s report was read, councillors agreed that the question of payment of • rates on waste lands was a big one. The clerk said that the matter was discussed at the last Counties Conference and was now being taken up by the Government as a policy matter. The chairman said that it was too big a question for the council at the moment. Sections at Ohiwa : It was decided to forward that portion of the engineer’s report to the department. Access to Amoamo : It was decided to make repairs to the road when the new grader arrives. Bridges: Held over until the report- is completed. Cr. Butler said

that- tjlie Waioeka back road required about six now planks in it. The chairman said that it was hoped that a number of bridges could be replaced with concrete pipes. The report was adopted. Ten per cent penalty: To be placed on any rates which remain unpaid after 10th March, 1948. Western Kukumoa Drain: As the time for cleaning this drain had almost expired and the work was not completed, it appeared to the council that the occupiers did not intend to do it. It was decided to write notifying property owners that the council would do the work at the occupiers’ expense. Stony Creek: When cleaning of this drain was discussed Cr. Hedley said that it would be impossible to clean the drain in 14 days. It was decided to send notices out about the middle of January. Contributions to Health Inspections : The chairman said that 40

counties had agreed to the proposals. Councillors considered that any other scheme would prove too expensive.,, Cr. Black said that the increases were only in keeping with the times. Duke Street- Drain: The Opotiki Borough Council wrote agreeing to share cost-'of future maintenance on this drain.

District Highway Representative: Mr. W. A. Gault.

Waiuni School Water Supply: The School Committee wrote for permission to put a pipe beneath the road for the school supplyLeft to the engineer.

Ice Creams at Beaches: Newell’s Milk Bar wrote for permission to run a light van or bus' to the beach for the sale of ice creams.and soft drinks on Sundays. Permission had been granted by the sanitary inspector providing the regulations were complied with.—Approved.

Speed Restrictions: A letter was received from the Commissioner of Transport regarding the council’s request for speed restrictions at Kutarerc School and Opotiki Dairy Factory. The Commissioner stated that there were only 9 buildings at Kutarere and 6 houses at the factory. The restrictions were only applied to built-up areas. It was decided to ask that the position regarding the factory be reconsidered and to ask the Kutarere residents what they thought of the position. The clerk said that officers made a special visit from Auckland to inspect the spots.

Crooked Iload: Cr. B. Black said that the Crooked Road was the worst in Opotiki. He asked to have work done on the road. There had been some serious accidents on the road and some bulldozer work was wanted. Scott’s Road, Waiotahi, had some bad bends. There was a bad bend opposite Scott’s house. Gabriel’s Gully road was only wide enough for one car in many places, and there was water on the road. People should have better service.

Cr. Wilson made a request for access to Crowley’s. The chairman said that Cr. Wilson, the- engineer and he Jiad disused the matter with Mr. Fullerton, and they came to an agreement to go into the mud-flat a bit. An offer of a contribution of £lO had been made. The work could be done by bulldozer.

Cr. Wilson said that the road to Humfrcy’s, Haunui’s and Batey s needed legalising. The chairman suggested giving Haunui acess by putting in a concrete culvert.—lt was decided to 1 get a report from the engineer.