HOROWHENUA COUNTY

Shannon News, 19 August 1927, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY

AtJjGTTST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held in the County Chambers, Levin, on Saturday, there being present: Crs. Monk (ehairman) Barber, Whyte, Ryder, Bryant, Kilsby, MeLeavey,, Catley and Jensen, and Mr. Hudson (County Clerk). License Tees. The Counties Association forwardeo. "a Teturn showing a summary of fees received on account of licenses (other than under the Licensing Act), issuec by the various classes of local governing bodies for the year ended March 31st, 1926. This showed that the counties received 65,514 license fees, and the. boroughs 201,230; town districts 7050, and road districts 2o04; total, 27(5,298. In heavy traffic license* thd counties received 23,946 fees and the boroughs 82,603. Trees at Road Comers. A request was received from the Counties Association that effect bi given by County Councils to the remit carried "by the North Island Mwtoi Union, that the provisions of the Publu Works Act'be utilised to have al growth obscuring the view at stree; and road corners removed, to lessen tin risk of motor accidents. The chairman stated that there wen some residents in the County who ha< trees that were becoming a nuisance, but who rather resented the idea o: having them eut back. He entirch agreed that, with the increase of fast moving traffic, it was very necessary that none of the corners should be ob structed, and for this reason the tree. should be cut irrespective of whethe. they were valuable to the owners o. the land. There were one or two place. in the County where this trouble wa becoming serious, and the Counci' would have to use every endeavour t< see that any danger caused thereby w"as diminished.

Cr. KiLsby asked if there was an,\ legal authority by which the owner, could be compelled to remove the treet The chairman said he thought so but the Council need not be arbitory ii the matter, if the ' trouble could b. overcome by mutual consent. Labour Disputes. A circular was read from th Counties' Association drawing at ten tion to a ruling by the Arbitration Court providing «for a ballot of em ployees to be taken in disputes affec: ing County Councils. The chairman stated that some littl time ago the Manawatu branch of th Employers' Association asked th Council to join the branch. Whilst tli Counties' Association did not say tha the councils should all become membei of the Employers' Association, the felt that where a benefit was being d. rived by various counties being defen< ed in the Arbitration Court, throug the representatives of the Employer..Association, then if a Council could n< become a ■ member it should make donation to 'that body in recognition o the services rendered.

Question of Unemployment. Information was sought by the D> partment of Labour a.s to the numb; of men- placed by the Council sine March. Ist specially I'or the relief t the unemployed; also if it was prepare io commence any further special worl for tie relief of unemployment, and th approximate date when the work won! -4>e commenced. Particulars were suj plied by the Department as to the Goa eminent's plan of subsidiary 'relit works.

The chairman said he thought I could safely say that there was r County spending the amount of mom and employing the amount of laboi that this Council were doing. He di not think they could do more. Cr. Catley suggested that prcferent of employment be given to marrii men.

The chairman stated that he had di cussed this with the engineer, and tl practice would be to keep married- m< o~n if possible.

Road Boards Linger On. The Waimea County Council, i whose territory six road boards a. operating, asked for support to a pn posal which would have the effect < abolishing road boards. It was pointc out that where a road board levies rate, the Government only pays subsii. on the rate levied by the board and m on the rate levied by the Council. Tl. Council would have power, to aboli; the road boards in its district by ; suggested amendment of the Gountic Act. The Chairman said it was a naturn Sequence, after the country had b come more thickly populated, for tin road boards to merge into the countie: for the mutual benefit of all partie.Apparcntly there were parts of Zealand where they did not move a10n.2 these lines so freely, and there wasome opposition. Ho did not think thai any harm could be done in supporting the Waimea resolution.

Cr. Catlcy said he was formerly r, member of a road board for a good many years. They served a very usefu. purpose in the development of a district in its early stages, and paved the way for a county. Years ago he fought against the abolition of the Te Horo board because he was not then aware of the services that the county could render economically. Management should be more economical under one body than two, with proper administration.

Cr. Catley moved and Cr. Kilsby seconded that this Council support the request. Cr. Jensen remarked that this appeared to be- a local concern, and the ratepayers in that district would consider that they could best carfy out loeai affairs themselves. If they thought they could do this better by means of small boards, why should this Council interfere? The Chairman said he did not think it was a matter of interference at all. If .this Council were of opinion that they could make it easier for road (boards /to, -be merged into counties,

they should support the request. Iho change would have to be made by an alteration of the statute, and Parliament would consider the matter. Possibly the Waimea resolution was drawnup with, the idea of bringing in a h to abolish all road boards. The motion was carried. Motor-cyclists Accident. Mr. W. E. Olliver, of Kilbirnic, wrote in respect of a collision that occurred at Tokomaru on Wednesday, July 20th, stating that when he was riding a motor-cycle he came into contact with a plank placed across the main road. He added that there were no signals of danger placed on the road, and the plank was not visible till he was within a lew yards of it, as it closely resembled the road-in colour. Damages and expenses sustained by him amounted to £l4 18s, and he wished to know if he could obtain compensation. The Chairman moved and Cr. McLcavy seconded that the matter be referred to the engineer, with a request for a report as to what actually took place. Cr. Whyte stated that the position of the road in question had been advertised to be closed during the formation of the Main Highway. People travelled there too quickly. The Chairman's motion was carried. Drain on Road-side. Mr. E. E. Malin, Tokomaru, wrote stating that he was having a drain, 2ft by 3ft, made along the east side of section 8 of the Tokomaru Flaxmili Co. 's property, and owing to stock losses he would greatly appreciate the advantage of having it on the road-side of the "fence. The present surveyed road was the main drain bank, ami he ii id not think it would ever be of any .mportance. The chairman said he Would suggast that the request be referred to Cr. Whyte and the engineer'; but he/believed the Council had set its face against the digging of any more drains on the road side.

Cr. Whyte said he thought there was a portion of a drain already oil. th.' same side. The chairman's suggestion was adopted. Outlet Road in Shannon. A letter was received from Mr. L. M Jenkins, of Shannon, stating that hi had previously written to the CounciJ asking if something could not be done "o give him an outlet from his place In Shannon. The County engineer had inspected the outlet, which was about -:even chains 'of unformed road in the Borough of Shannon. The Council had previously informed him that they would be willing to contribute" toward? he formation of the road, but they .'ould not come to any agreement with he Shannon Borough Council at thai .ime. He asked if the County Council .vould renew their ofl'er to contribute owards it. "The present Council arc nore reasonable," he added, "and 1 aave put up with this quagmire of an outlet for sorueNyears now, and I thin], your Council will agice that it is tinu [ got a fair deal." Cr. Barber: That is exactly a re petition of what occurred before. The Shannon Borough were approached in .he matter and did not feel inclined tc nake any move: On the motion of the chairman the application was . referred to the Councillors for the riding and the engineer, with instructions to investigate and, i.i necessary take the matter up with tinrforough, and to report to the Council. Metal for Gate-ways. A request was received from Mr. F. fi. Leddra for a load of metal to be deposited at his gateway, as when the. Jouncil lorries were' dumping metaj hey backed into his entrance for con venience in turning and cut up thi ground considerably, and the heavy ains had since made the entrance prnc impassable.

It was resolved that the locality b inspected by the Councillors for tin riding, with power to act.

, Land for Road Improvements.

Two memorials relative to the taking of land for public purposes were re eeived from Messrs Park and Adams, -ind the Council's seal was attached t; them. In one case it is proposed t<. iake between three and four roods at Mr. George Bevan's, at Pukehou, foj altering the course of the Wellington Auckland main road. In the other case t is proposed to take 0.83 perches fron. he land of iVne Mateng.i, at Xgaka -oi-o, to alter the course of the Te lloro Mangaone road and cope with the flood .vator trouble.