EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1919, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING A special meeting, of the Egmont County Council was held at Opun&ke on Monday, when there were present: Crs. W R. Wright (chairman), T. H. H. .Sinclair, \V. C. Green, E. S. Forsyth, M. 0 Brien, \V. C. Watson, S. J. Campbell, A. B Coffin, and J. Young. The chairman welcomed Crs. E. S. Forsyth and W. C. Watson, who were elected in succession to Crs. Rowe and Holder resigned. Cr. Forsyth, lie remarked, had been a member of a previous council. Cr. Campbell also spoke in similar strain. OPUA RIDING. " Some discussion ensued over the expenditure of the available money on the Opua Hiding. It was stated that after allowing for the £7OO contract alreadv lei there was about £SOO still available for expenditure ; on the main road. The chairman favored the plant Hieing kept in i the district to complete the work instead of being shifted. In reply to Cr. O'Brien, the chairman stated that lie could give an assurance that not one penny of the 13-lfld rule allocated to the by-roads would be expended on main roads. If they wanted to change that they must change their chairman, p Cr. Sinclair doubled whether the ex-' tra expenditure could be incurred without increasing the overdraft. He did not want to see the by-roads suffer. The engineer considered that it would cost £3OO to top-dress the portion of the road from Arawhata road to the main road. - The secretary stated that the Opua riding rates were £2013 mail? road and £IOO2 by-roads. Cr. O'Brien considered it was quite impossible to expend more money on the main road than had been allocated. Cr, Campbell moved that the engineer expend lip to £IOO9 on the main road between the Opua road and Oaonni river. In reply to Cr. Green the clerk staled that he had not had time to go carefully into details, but, roughly speaking, £l.>oo would be available for expenditure on the main road. ■Cr. Green held that of the £Si)O already committed £760 was available, but the administrative expenses had to come out of this. Cr. O'Brien seconded the motion. Cr. Sinclair moved as an amendment that the engineer be given power to call tenders for top-dressing if he is satisfied the money is available. Cr. Green held that the money was D available and should be expended. The motion was carried. In the course of discussion the cleric stated that it had been decided that ). 13-lfiths of a penny rate should he allo- . cated to the by-roads clear of administrative expenses. Members generally considered the byroads should bear their share of administrative expenses. TARANAKI COUNTY BY-LAW. Telegrams were received from Messrs C. A Wilkinson, M.P., and C. J. Belcher (chairman of Eltham County Council) in connection with the conference that was to be held that day protesting against the Taranaki County Council's proposed wheel tax. * The chairman stated that lie was opposed to the tax on -principle, but sympathised with the Taranaki County Council over the matter, as that county must have money for its roads. Unless tlicy could suggest something better lie did not see how they could oppose tlie tax. Cr. Green said the proposal was an iniquitous one. Ways ami means could _ be found to bring in some better method, but this was a matter for the conference to discuss rather than the council. The chairman, Crs. Green and O'Brien, 3, and the clerk were appointed to represent the council at the Eltham conference. GENERAL. It was resolved to call tenders for metal contracts for the Oeo riding, returnable on October 27, as suggested by the engineer. - Discussion on bridge matters was held } ( over until the ordinary meeting.