PUTARURU TOWN BOARD.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 315, 21 November 1929, Page 4

PUTARURU TOWN BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The November meeting of the Putaruru Town Board was held on Tuesday evening, there being present: Messrs. G. G. Griffiths (chairman), K. McDermott, W. Yandle, J. C. Tomalin, C. C. Neal and R. A. Bent. The clerk (Mr. A. H. Dukeson) was in attendance. Highway Work.

Mr. J. M. Spear, in acknowledging the board’s reply relative to certain points raised in a previous letter, stated that in regard to the Highways Board he always understood that that board was an independent body beyond political or Government interest. Mr. Spear suggested that the services of the member for the district could be enlisted to hurry things along. Another point which was unsatisfactory was the statement that the local scheme was not ready, because of the proper levels not being fixed or supplied. Some of the levels, however, must be ready, as some of the other loan, works had been proceeded with. It seemed to the writer an extraordinary thing that a body like the Highways Board with the facilities at its disposal, could not complete in one operation the levels required for a small town area. There appeared a general impression that the Highways Board was playing with the Putaruru town district and the sooner pressure was brought to bear the better.

Speaking to the letter, the chairman said that he had had a conversation with Mr. Spears, and discussed certain things with him. When the Highways Board was created by the Coates Government it was intended to be beyond political control, but when the United Party assumed office a return to the old methods was sought. Nothing should be" done to antagonise the Highways Board. At any rate the letter was now out of date, as a tender had been accepted for the work.

Telegraph Poles. At the October meeting of the board the question of the liability of the Town Board for the cost of tlTe removal of telegraph poles was referred to the Municipal Corporations solicitor for an opinion. This was before the board, in the form of a telegram from Mr. John O’Shea to the effect that in his opinion the board was liable and he advised them to accept the Department’s offer. The chairman gave it as his opinion that all Acts of Parliament and by-laws had to stand the test of reasonableness. He contended that the Department had never obtained the permission of the Piako and Matamata County Councils (Putaruru being under the control of these bodies prior to the creation of a Town Board) to erect the poles. Correspondence was still passing between the Department and himself. However, he thought that they should accept without prejudice the offer of the Department—to accept 15s as the board’s share of the cost of the removal of the poles.—Agreed to.

A Matter of a Tree. The District Telegraph Engineer, P. and T. Department, Auckland, wrote stating that a certain tree was cut down with the permission of Mr. Yandle, a member of the Town Board. As it was 45ft high and only 18ft from the Department’s main line, it was considered a menace, especially as it had been ring-barked. The burning of the branches would have been taken in hand but for the removal of the line foreman to another place. The matter would be put in hand at once. The chairman moved that the Department be informed that an individual member of the board was not the whole board.—This was agreed to after Mr. Yandle had stated that as it was considered a danger he had given permission for the tree to be cut, and the chairman stating that Mr. Yandle had done what any other member of the board would have done.

“ Standing on Own Feet.” The Matamata County Council wrote suggesting that the time had arrived when the Town Board should attend to the maintenance and financing the works under the Highways Board. Attention was also drawn to the fact that the sum of £169 17s 5d was due from the Town Board to the council in this connection, and a refund was looked for at an early date. The chairman, in referring to the charge of £169 17s sd, stated that it was for plant. In regard to taking over the maintenance, it meant that they would have to open a special account. It was another little step towards standing on their own feet. Members generally were of the opinion that the time was ripe for the change.

The chairman, again referring to the taking over process, said that he would see the engineer in reference to the procedure. It was decided to reply to the effect that the board Agreed to the suggestion and that the board tendered their thanks to the County Council for their past services. It was also decide to pay the £169 I7s 6d asked for. Plunket Society. The Plunket Society applied for a donation for the children’s fancy V dress ball funds, also for a remis- ' sion of the hall rent on the occasion / of the dance. \ It was decided to donate £3 3s, on the motion of the chairman and Mr. Tandle, the former remarking: "It is no use having roads without bahiaa to walk on them.” |