RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 259, 16 March 1917, Page 2

RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary bi-monthly meeting of the Raglan Couuty Council was held at the County Offices, Ngaruawahia, on Wednesday last when there were present Crs Campbell Johnstone (chairman), C. Swann, J. R Lowry, A. McKinnon, D. A. Moore, A Cobourne, W. Wilson, C. W. Ralfe, W. Beavill, G. B. Morrison, C. C. Otway with the clerk (Mr H. Marsland.) XEW MEMBER WELCOMED.

Before proceeding with the business on the agenda the Chairman offered a welcome on behalf of the Council to Cr 0 B Morrison who took his seat for the first time as member for the Pukekaw* Riding. The Chairman expressed a hope that Cr Morrison's associations with the Council would be a pleasant one. Cr Morrison acknowledged the chairman's remarks and said he would endeavour to do his best in the interests of the County as a whole and of his riding in particular.

DEFAMING SOLDIERS. A letter was received from the Rev A. J. Seamer, the Chaplain appointed for one of the troopships shortly to sail, appealing for assistance to provide requisites for the comfort and entertainment of the men during the voyage out. No action was taken, the feeling being that associations were in existence to help in the way indicated.

REGISTRATION OF MOTOBS. A circular letter from the Piako County Council was read advocating the imposition of a tax of £5 per annum on motor cars and £1 on motor cycles. It was pointed out that such a tax if male would create a fund for the maintenance of main and arterial roads.

Cr Saavill and ethers thought it would be better for the Raglan County to be constituted a licensing authority for the issue of licenses to car owners and thus by increasing the funds of the Council to provide more revenue for the upkeep of roads.—lt was resolved that steps be taken in this direction.

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY. A circular letter was read from the National Efficiency Board (Wellington) asking the co-operation of the Council especially with regard to the works of maintenance, upkeep and repairs and asking what labourers or other men could be released. It was pointed out that in many cases the labour of women could be utilised to replace men. The letter specially drew the attention of the Council to the desire on the part of the Efficiency Board to conserve the forces of the country so as to render the maximum assistances to the Empire. It was resolved to apply that it was the opinion of the Council that women could be employed to great advantage on the railway and tramway services. The Chairman remarked that if the Minister of Public Works supplied money to finish off the contract work they could then release some men.

engineer's report. The engineer's report was presented as follows: Onewhero: Allan's and Eyre's road&t the Council has received £6O from Messrs Eyre, Allan and Ngatete Clark for metalling road from junction of Main road towards Eyre's, the same being subsidy for reforming the road and arrange* ments had been made for carrying out the works.

Eohunga road: This road has been reformed and repaired and culverts placed where required. Repairs have been carried out on various roads and slips cleared caused by floods. Pukekawa: Morrison's road, about 13 chains of the road have been formed up to 40 feet and timber has been ordered.

Pungnpunga road: The decking of this bridge having given way timber has been ordered for re-deck-ing for the same. Flood damages Ohairo*\jalley. The Ohairo Creek Bridge' -kr's road has been undermined a>d approaches scoured out. Also metalled filling across the Ohairo Flit higher up on the Pukekawa Main road has been seriously dam* aged. I have examined the Ohairo Creek bridge and find it requires a new three span bridge. The report was adopted,