COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 364, 19 February 1937, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCIL.

CONFERENCE REMITS. Subsidy on By-roads Discussed. The principal business before today’s monthly County meeting was was consideration of remits: to be sent to the executive of the New Zealand Counties Association.

Present were: Councillors T. R. Anderson (chairman), 11. C. Taylor J. C. Best, C. J. Skitrop, B. Hutchen, G. Jensen, L. Stanford, W. Vickers and S. Pitt.

It was resolved to recommend to the executive of the Counties Association that the association support the suggestion of granting a subsidy on by-roads. The position at present was an unfair one in that the petrol tax was open on main highways, said Councillor Pitt.

Councillor Stanford said the people of the by-roads were being neglected. If they could get some form of sub-' sidy they would be satisfied. It was quite Wrong to say that the back country people were neglected as some had received public works grants. Councillor Beat pointed out.

“The time has l come when the gov ernment will have to subsidise money spent on by-roads,” said Mr. Anderson. “Seventy-five per cent, of our roads are by-roads, and some of them carry as much traffic as some of the main roads."

The limited powers of the trr.Ec inspector (Mr. S. Cuff) as the result of recent legislation was referred to by the clerk, Mr. C. Campbell, a.’.l it was decided that a remit tearing on the subject be sent to the executive of the Counties Association. The chairman said that at the present time the council had no authori ty to appoint the Ins-pector unless he was approved by the Minister of transport. The council also decided to send a remit favouring the rat-'s- on a 5? per cent, valuation and a 50 per cent population basis. Ragwort Eradication.

The clerk reported that tip to the end of next week £650 out of the government subsidy of £BOO for era dication of ragwort, would have been spent. In the work 617 man days had been used and the council's authority was only for 640 man days. Unless the council received authority to enable the full amount of £BOO to be spent it would te necessary fo cease work at the end of next week.

The council decided to apply fo Ch' Department of Agriculture for the necessary authority to proceed with the work.

Owing to the damp weather exp-ri-enc d the growth of tern and scrub on the roadsides this season had been greater that usual, stated the engln eer, Mr. J. W. Spence, in reporting on maintenance Work in the various ridings during the past month. The solicitors to the New Plymouth Harbour Board advised that the specal rates upon all rateable property within the board's harbour district would be the same as those levied last year.