STRATFORD COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD COUNTY.

WORK FOR THE MONTH. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The Stratford County Council met on Saturday. Present: Crs. E. Walter (chairman), J. H. Thomas, J. O’Neill, J. T. Belcher, W. H. Were, J. Jacobsen, M. Davis, S. Pitt and T. i R. Anderson. i The engineer's report detailed various main- : tenance works in the different ridings during I the month. The chairman read a letter from the Department of Public Works, stating that the expenditure for roads would have be cut down. The policy of the department generally while present conditions continued would be first to authorise only the most urgent works, and, secondly, as far as possible not to authorise subsidy grants foi- metalling unless in cases where work was in hand and nearly completed. The council was asked to modify its plans to meet with these conditions.

Cr. Pitt pointed out that it would be undue hardship on Stanley Road settlerg if the work on the Stanley Road were not gone on with. He moved that the’ chairman and riding members should Interview Mr. Ball, (resident engineer of the Public Works Department) with reference to work whiciiX was urgently needed in various parts of the county. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. R. Masters. M.P., sent a copy of a reply received from the Minister of Health (Hon. C. J. Parr) in reference to the council’s resolution regarding the assessment of hospital levies, stating that the council’s views would receive careful consideration. —Received.

Mr. R. Masters, M.P.. sent a reply from the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. Downle Stewart) to the. council’s resolution supporting the resolution of the Heathcote County Council that, legislation be passed similar to that contained in the Municipal Corporations Act relative to subdivisions of lands In counties. The reply stated that In view of the fact that the subdivision of lande for township purposes outside boroughs was dealt with in the Lands Acts, it was not considered desirable to make provision in the direction asked for. —Received.

Mr. R. J. Mite!’ ‘l, of Hulroa, wrote complaining that the st.eet leading off the Douglas Road on to section 4, the only outlet to that section, had been ploughed up. He had leased this section to Mr. Rodgers, to whom the section was do good unless he had the street as an outlet. —It was decided that the engineer should inspect the street in question and re-

The secretary of the board of directors of the MangatoM Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., wrote stating that the board at Its last meeting had discussed the question of valuations in proportion to the prices being received by the farmer for his produce and ventured the suggestion that united action should be taken by Eltham, Stratford, Hawera, or more Counties to obtain a percentage of reduction on the -unimproved valuations of the petitioning counties. The board felt that the force of unity -would be far more effective than that each county should take individual action. Cr. Anderson said that it had been mentioned at the board meeting that the Hawera County Council was taking action. There was no doubt that the valuation had affected the farmers. Re moved that the letter should pe forwarded to the Coupties Conference.—Carried. A letter was received from ratepayers calling attention to the nuisance which was caused by the Borough Council using their property on the Swansea Road as a duihp. Cr. Pitt said- that the nuisance was very pronounced and moved that the letter be forwarded to the health officer.—Carried. Messrs. C. W. Godder and Volzke Bros, applied for permission to stack firewood on the roadside of the Upper York Road, the quantity not to exceed more than ten cords at a time.—The requests were granted until April 1. GENERAL. Cr. Pitt, moved that the council should subsidise the work of building a bridge over the Gentle Annie stream to the amount of £1 in £2.—Carried. Mr. E. S. Walker, of Esk Road, waited on the council to protest against being placed in the special rating area to pay for the metalling and bridge on the Esk Road.—The chairman said that all he could say was that the council had done its duty. It. had advertised as was required by law- when the loan for work was considered, and Mr. Walker had left his objection to being included in the rating area until too late. The council could do nothing for him. It was decided to set up a committee, consisting of Crs. Walter, Thomas, Anderson and Pitt, to consider the Local Bodies’ Association’s recommendation that the wages of the council employees should be reduced by Is per day, to take effect from April 1.