HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 19 November 1926, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

♦ • NOVEMBER MEETING. /' . c The Horowhenua County , me_t\ on-Saturday. Present: Crs. 1 Monk (chairman), Jensen, Catley, McLeavey, Kilsby, Bryant, Ryder, Whyte and barber. Confirmation of Minutes. Cr. Jensen objected to the tion of the minutes on the ground that they stated a resolution Avas carried on his motion instructing that County employees should ; be prohibited playing football during working hours. He stated that his motion contained the words "or the time for lunch" and ; there wer& deleted by an amendment moved by another Councillor.- He ob-. jected to the motion, as it read in the v minuses, standing in his name. It was ridiculous because anyone in charge of men would know that they must not be allowed to.play in working houra. , The chairman said that could not be discussed. All that they could consid-. ei- was* whether the minutes were correct, i His recollection was that. Cr. Jensen agreed to the deletion of .the words and the motion was put in that forml" Cr. Jensen contended that the amendment deleting the words was proposed by the chairman, and it was 1 * not the speaker's fault if that amendment was not put in. The motion form was produced and showed that" the additional wor.ds had been deleted before it was put and the chairman said that if Cr. Jensen did not agree to that, he should have objected to it before it was put. The only way the matter' could be dealt with now was by notice to rescind the motion. • Cr. Jensen said he would give that. The minutes were then confirmed as read, . Drivers' Award. A circular was received from the Executive Committee of the New Zea-land-Counties' Association notifying

that the Dominion Federated Drivers ? Union has made 'application to the authorities to have all County Councils made party to a dispute, which, was heard at a sitting: of the t Cinciliation Court in' Wellingtonon. ’*6th October, 1926. At the hearing, the New Zealand Counties' Association was represented by the New Zealand Employers ' Federation and application was. made for the exemption of several County Councils, but such applications were objected'to by the representatives of the Drivers' Union and the matter was preferred to the Arbitration Court.' The date ot the sitting , of the Court is not yet known, but it is advisable that all objections to being . -included in , any award, should be sent in as soon as possiblc.-7-Beceived, .chairman to take whatever action was' necessary. • t Kailway Advisory Boards. From the Minister of.. Railways stating that\ the... Government, has decided to encourage the establishment of District Advisory Boards on railway matters, in order to form a common meeting ground between of the railway and the Railway Department, for the, better .understanding , of railway problems, and to’ engender a of co-operation and mutual assistance. It is suggested that tw.o District Advisory Boards be established in each island and that the Boards should consist of representatives of -the various interests and public bodies and representatives from committees sot up at other towns within the jurisdiction of the Board. Committees should be set up in important centres to work an conjunction, with the District Advisory Board on matters of common interest. iOh (questions' of -purely local interests . these r committees should function in a similar j manner to the Boards. It is suggested .that a meeting of interested persons be called in each locality by the Chamber 1 of Commerce or like body, with, a view to the establishment, of the The. chairman was appointed' to represent the Council at any meeting called to set. up a Board in Horowhenua. ■ Main' Highways’ Subsidy. From the Main Highways' Brian 1 stating that it has been decided to increase the maintenance subsidy from I £1 to 30s for £l, the increased subsidy

to take effect as from the 9th' September, 1926. In approving this increase in the maintenance subsidy the Board desires to reiterate' the; conditions of circular dated 17th October,, 1925, regarding the increase in maintenance subsidy from £1 for £2 to £1 for £1; . It was pointed out that the increased subsidy is not being paid for the purpose of relieving i local bodies of their •'liability towards the cost of maintenance. On the other hand the Board wishes all local bodies to''continue to expend on maintenance the same amounts as they have done in the past.. If this is continued, the main highways will receive tho benefits of the extra amount paid by the Main Highways Board, thus enabling a better standard of road surface to be maintained. , In regard to estimates for' work on main highways a letter was , received from tho Board stating that in future when requested to make an estimate of cost of any work with a view to arriy■,ing at the basis ' of contribution between the Board and a local body, care should be taken to differentiate between a preliminary estimate without a survey and a reliable estimate made after the matter has been thoroughly investigated by suryey. A report'" of the Main Highways Board for 1926 was received. Notice was received that the examination of foremen and overseer for certificates qi' competency Vincfcr the Main Highways Board will be held during tho second week in January. Aplications will have to be in by November , 3()th.—Referred to the Engineer. Accounts for Payment. The Financial Committee recommended the confirmation of £3392 paid since last meeting and there was £2591, for payment. The total of £5988 was pass'ed.' ' ' Saleyards License Fee. A letter was received from the 'Mana : watu and West Coast Live 'Stock Auctioneers' Association, regretting that the Council cannot see its way to refund the charge of £3 3s (which they i consider excessive) fqr registration fee on the small yards situated in the 'County. They contended the Council,' was taking advantage of the somewhat slovenly way in which the Act Avas drawn tip and are making a charge for' which i absolutely no, return is given 1 . They entered a strong protest against, the "charge made and asked that the Council reconsider -the matter and reduce'the fee to a nominal one, Avhich

is all that is necessary. —Received. Motor Traffic Inspector. From the Manawatu County Council with reference to the suggestion made recently by' representatives of adjoining-' Counties that their Traffic In- ■ spector (Mr. Berry) be allowed to act as Inspector of heavy traffic (when his present duties allow) for local -bodies in the No. 9 Group: That local bodies bo charged £3 per day for the Inspector 's services, to be •< paid ;to the Council, of this amount the Council to retain £1 6s Sd and Mr. Berry receive balance for extra travelling and personal expenses.' Days at Court to be paid for at same rate. These figures are based on conditionally that the Council be allowed to retain the Wanganui City Council's Load-o-meters.- If it becomes necessary to purchase a set the matter will require to be reconsidere'd. . The chairman stated this matter was raised-at a* meeting- of representatives of x adjoining County Councils and it was suggested that some such arrangement be made. The conditions ■were never discussed, however, and under the circumstances he could not. recommend them. He thought this work. could be handled by the Council's own men.. However, he said, he did not feel disposed at the present juncture to do "anything before discussing it with thoWepresentatives of adjoining counties.— Tlie matter Avas left to the chairman, who assured the Council that nothing would be done until it had been referred back to the Council. He would bring it before the Works Committee. v . ■ Otaki Borough Boundaries. The Assistant Undersecretary wrote. —With, reference to the proposed alter-' ations of the Borough of Qtaki a commission consisting of Messrs J. H.' Salmon, S.M., ''Wellington, H. W. C. Mackintosh, Commissioner of. Crown Lands, Wellington, and F. IST. Martin, District Valuer, Wellington, has been set up to consider the matter.—Received.. ' ■ ■ • ■ . ■'. r ■■ WaimelSt Roa&. ' .;;, From W. H. and Vj Weggery submitting plan of Waimea Road. ; As the road is practically completed he that an early inspection be made.--Kef erred to the engineer for his approval. •

'...■•■ t A Te Hoto Matter. ' 'M'oih \v. DelleiyTe Horo, said lie understood a request was made to the Council some four months ago by Mr.

J. Faith, for.the formation of an entrance to his property at Te Horo which he has leased to the writer. So far nothing had been done and he was urgently in need of the entrance. The chairman stilted he did not remember any previous request. It was; resolved that Cr. Jensen and the engineer interview the writer and ascer-, lain what he requires. ' Otaki Gorge. Loan. It was decided that the loan raised for the . Otaki Gorge , north bank, amounting to £750 be repaid to the State Advances Office and that such sum as might be necessary to make up the full amount of the loan, after allowing for accrued sinking fund- be; provided out of the general fund of the Te Horo Kiding subject to the consent, of the Audit Department. Disputed Right-of-Way. Mr. E. Bevan Avrote in regard to the right-of-way giving access to part of his property and stating that Mr. Tatum had, his*, men Jigging drains across : and along the writer's road. As fast as these drains were filled in they were opened up again. Mr. Bevan recalled the trouble the Council had in connecting his right-of-way up with the County Road/ the shifting of the railway crossing and gates and putting them back, and the issue of a writ and Court proceedings. Now Mr. Tatum said he had bought part of the writer's road. It was,necessary to keep a man there constantly to protect the road. He thought that in fairness to himself as* a■ ratepayer and • the < Council the Council should make pub lie, the trouble they had had over this road. ~ ' : The chairman said he understood Mr. Tatum. had got a title to the land of this right-of-way which the County Council had . connected with the main road. It was a private-right-of-way and as such the Council was not concerned with it. • He also understood there was a Supreme -Court action pend- ; After Cr. Rjrfler had expressed a very emphatic opinion ; on the, matter, the Council agreed that it could do nothing.