HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 12 May 1920, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL

ENGINEER'S REPORT. At Saturday’s meeting of the Horowhenua County Council. Mr G. Catley (acting-engineer) reported a 3 under; — Otaki Riding. Reference made to Tokomaru apply to this riding, with the exception that the contract for extending the Waikawa Beach road is completed, and after a little more attention to faseining was passed by me and referred to the Government engineer for final passing. The asphalting on the !\ aikawa bridge is very broken, and unless - ppeedily repaired will be beyond it. , That on the Mar.nkau bridge at the old j creamery is completely gone. I lie surfaceman at Otaki (Larsen) has resigned. but in view ul the closeness of the meeting nothing has been done towards filling the j.tn ition-

Tn Horo Riding. No detailed inspection. Complaints about the state, of the l’ahiko drains were received, and .1 made a close infection of tilings, and on the whole they were in a bad way—in one case very bad. Notice has been served on tlio various owners to have them cleaned, and I will give them another look after reasonable time. Ihe same course has been followed in respect to the soldiers’ settlement at the beach road. Y/irokino Riding.

The main road to i'oxton had cut up badly, and the grader had been used a deal with advantage. Repairs had to be effected tu the crushing plant, which caused delay. Decking on the bridge at Ohnu needed attention, and he t urged the necessity of keeping timber always on hand. Tho report was adopted.

Workers’ Educational Association. A loiter was road from the Levin branch W.K.A. asking for a donation to its funds. Or. Harkuoss said the institution was a valuable one, and a grant given would bo well spent. He moved that the usual grant (£ld) be given. Cr. McLeavey said the Council did not get its money's worth—the W.L.A. dimply benefitted the Levin .Borough Council. Cr. Harkncss said quite a nuuilier ot ladies attended from Ohau. and said if the classes, could train good nurses it would be a good thing.

The Chairman said the economic class was also a specially good one. and he would like to see the class much bigger. If he lived within ten miles he would not miss a night. All. he considered, should attend, and the few pounds spent gave people the opportunity of benefit ting themselves, and ha hoped they would seize it. Mr McLoavcy said he would support the grant provided Koputaroa was catered for. The Chairman added that the growth of the W.K.A. was great, and was likely to continue to grow. Mr Ayrton’s addresses were specially good, and the Whitley tcUeuie. which has oft been discussed in Parliament, was grippci by minds in tin.- diMr"-*. Cr. Harkncss said school teachers attended, and they imparted .the information gained. Decided to give the usual grant. •■Kept Steadily in View." The Minister ji Public. Works wrote stating the matter of damage to mans through the recent railway curtailment vould be looked into. The Clerk had replied that the Council’s application was a most reasonable one. and he hoped shortly to have favourable news. It was decided to keep on making application till satisfaction was obtained. The Council’s claim was admittedly a reasonable one, and councillors considered the Government had no right to make an offer unless they were prepared to pay. They saw no reason why the claim should bo held upHospital Levies. A circular letter from the Tuapeka County Council was read, stating that in its opinion tho present system of imposing a levy on local bodies ior the purpose of providing revenue for hospital and charitable aid purposes was inequitable and unduly taxed the holders of rural properties, and that the Government be urged to amend the Act in the direction of making the cost of such institutions a charge on the Consolidated "Fund of the Dominion. Cr. Monk said it was negative to the single or land tax, but no doubt the argument used contained a deal of common sense; still he did not think the system suggested was better than the present one. Cr. Harkncss said taxation was not properly distributed, and that many a wealthy citizen dodged a deal of the tax. He did not. however, escape altogether. No action taken . maMMHMFU—maa