HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, 12 April 1922, Page 2

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Wellington yesterday. Present: Crs. John Barclay (chairman), A. I. Mackay, A. R. Edwards, H. Foley, J. Whiteman, H. D. Atkinson. Inspector’s Report. The Inspector in his report recommended that half the cost be paid for a deviation of tho Horokiwi stream through a portion of Death’s and Grey's properties fronting the Pahau-tanui-Plimmertou road, the estimated cost being £3O. Borne 1100 ft. of timber, he reported, had been ordered for the Kapiti bridge at Paraparaumu. The worst road in the Whareroa Riding was between Paekakariki and Paraparaumu, a distance of sir miles. The first mile south of Paraparaumu would need 8j yards of metal to each chain to make a fair job, which would cost £204. The next two miles would need about half that quantity. The balance could be patched up at no great cost. At least £IOO should be provided for protection at the parade at Paekakariki. A liberal allowance should be made for bridge repairs, decking prim cipally, as each year the cost of maim taining the decking increased. Beyond the various items mentioned the work could be carried out under the ordinary maintenance charges. Clerk’s Report.

The Clerk reported:—“The closing of the financial year results in an overdraft of nnticodent liability of £8244. which is £322 more than last year. Tk» position is a highly favorable one, and especially if compared with that of adjacent local bodies. The ordinary revenue received for the year just ended was £19,261. For comparison the five previous years are set out: —1910, £n,. 023; 1917, £11,452; 1918, £11,931); J 919, £14,750; 1920, £14,538. The difference of £4723 is accounted for by the collecting of outstanding account* and of outstanding rates.”

Building permits to the amount of £2900 were issued during the month, the fees being £9 ss. The expenditure for February vus: General accounts, £0322 8s Id; Hult Road loan £OB7, Maunganui road £219; stone-crushing £490; motor lorry, £2O; separate accounts £211; interest accounts £360. riding accounts £SOO4; Paekakariki water supply £O4, total, £20,228. The Clerk stated that tho Bank manager was of opinion (hat the County was in the best position ol’ any local body on the coast. The rates outstanding totalled £9oit.

Tho Council, it, was stated, took ad vantage of the antecedent liability clause of the Act of last session, and had cleared off quite a number of liabilities. Report adopted.

Opposition Petitions. Two petitions were received relative to the application for a hawker’s stand on the County road at Paremata, one favoring the permit, the other oppo* ing it. Ibo Chairman said, seeing there was objection it was useless tc let the matter proceed, and he therefore thought it advisable not to grant the license. Personally, he would like to help the man but opposition vs* very strong, and therefore it would be inadvisable to grant the application Decided to reply that owing to the opposition the Council agreed not to grant the request.

Paekakariki Water Supply. Mr Laing-Meason reported that ho had made his last inspection of the Paekakariki water-works, and founi them satisfactorily carried out. The works were in first-class order and sev erai houses were connected, while necessary buildings would be commencsl shortly. Ho expected they would he finished before the next Council mw.iug. Notice to Reduce Wage*. Or. Barclay’* notice of motion. “That the resolution passed on hlsrc: 7th in reference to the Inspector’: salary reverting to £BOO per acnax from April Ist, be rescinded” was considered.

Cr. Barclay stated wages in all directions were being reduced and b* thought the Council should fall into Line with other Council's. Cr. Whiteman thought the Conned was paying far too much all round; was. a matter of cutting down .«alari£ or patting up the rates. Cr. Foley declined to support the motion, maintaining, to save the £23 was poor economy. The Inspector was belter, in his mind, than a qualiSed ciwi engineer; he was a man not afraid tt take off his coat. The Council was, said, generally known as paying tit Lowest rate of wages in New The Chairman; Nonsense’

Cr. Foley said he could prove it, to® instanced the rate of pay to City carters and the Council’s carters. He extended Mr Cudby wan the right for the job, and if his services weif lost it would mean a serious matterIt would cost thousands to educate * new man for the position. In answer to Cr. Whiteman he said the Counts must move with the times.

Cr. Atkinson agreed with Cr. feiJJV and said the Council should dieting®!* 2 between the roadmen and the offeku staff. He thought Mr Cudby worth the money he was earning' 414 said other Councils paid £4OO to £&& a year for such a man. Mr Cttdbr knew the whole of the district, was * valuable man, and the Council ccus. not afford to lose him.

Cr. Whiteman said he entered the Council twenty years ago when the trict was a much larger one to con’-* 01 yet the clerical staff consisted of wiT a man and a boy. Now the staff haincreased and a motor-car secured the Inspector. He eaggested the & spe-cior be given a horse and gig s3 ‘ stead of the car.

Cr. Edward* said if sppHeai*®®* 3 r<rft called tre Council would h» VJ **

pay more for a man to fill the position Tho Chairman said the Council was trying to reduce expenditure, and to re duce Mr Cudby’s wages would be the means of keeping the roadmen content, It was a distasteful job, yet a necessary one, to reduce wages. He admitted Mr Cudby was a faithful servant. The motion on being put was lost, only the Chairman and Cr. 'Whiteman voting for it. Paraparamnu Cemetery. Messrs John Maclean, W. J. Howell, and D. D. Hyde were appointed provisional trustees, subject to their consent. Correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: —■ From W. 11. Field and T. Wilford, M’s.P., agreeing to support the Council's protest re audit fees.—Received. I—l -x-r rr "t t 1...

From X. Z. Railways requesting the removal of a hedge at the level crossing. Paraparaurau. —Consideration deferred owing to the temporary absence of Cr. Mackay. From Lower Hutt Borough Council, offering hire of steam-roller at £3 3s per day. the Lower Hutt Council to pav wages ot' the driver, and the Hutt County County to pay for fuel. Cr. Foley, who desired the roller, considered the charge reasonable.—Matter held over till consideration of the estimates. From Paraparamnu ratepayers forwarding an estimate of the amount required for the current years’ drainage. It was stated that £OO was necessary for clearing.—Held over pending consideration of estimates. . From Wellington Racing Club, offering to purchase the Council’s motor lorry.—Held over for a full Council. From the South British Insurance Co. forwarding a cheque for £3 9s 6d, including medical expenses, in regard to an accident to J. Smith at Paekaknriki, and stating it was not liable for the £7 7s charged by the doctor. —Re'ceived. From A. H. Odlin in regard to the grant for Maungauui road. —Agreed to contribute £3l towards the cost on condition that Odlin Bros, paid an additional £SO, and make arrangements with the P.W. Department to pay over fhe £2OO grant. From Cr. A. Campbell, protesting against heavy traffic by-laws. —Received. jSbmgr Cl • 3 ! r £>