ELTHAM COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1922, Page 7

ELTHAM COUNTY.

XHE PAST MONTH’S WORK. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. > The monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council was held on Saturday. Present : Crs. C. J. Belcher (chairman), A. Massanee, R. J. Knuckey. H. McWUliam, M. W. Barker, W. E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness and E. J. Gifford. Cr. A. A. Campbell was granted leave of absence. The engineer (Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald) reported for the month as follows: The past month saw the completion of tarspraying work for the season, and at the end of the month the staff was considerably reduced to meet the financial position. When the weather was suitable good progress was made with South Riding loan works, and when tills work could not be gone on with the plant and staff were engaged in getting sand from the river and passing it through the crusher screens. Most of the sand is now going on to the Mangatoki end of Eltham Road in anticipation of next season’s tarring work, whilst the shingle taken from the sand is being disposed of for side-tracking the hilly parts of tarred roads. The Waingongoro River is again badly depleted of stone, and the contractor Is now having to go to the top end of Christleburst for his supplies. The three-ton White lorry is nearly ready for the road. South Riding.—A considerable length of Mountain Road has been metalled. Mangawhero Road was tar-sprayed. Mangatoki Riding.—Duthie Road was tarsprayed and Eltham and Hastings Roads were tar-patched. Omoana Riding.—-In addition to the work of clearing the roads, some of the “thirds” metalling was done in Omoana Hill. Kaponga Riding.—Further rolling was done to the new metal on the top length of Auroa Road, but a first-class surface could not be obtained owing to the spongy nature of the subsoil. Eltham Riding.—Rawhitiroa and Manga* whero Roads were tar-sprayed. Slips were moved on the ridge. RETURN FOR WAGES. Cr. McGuinness said that local bodies’ finance now had to be carried out on a different basis, owing to recent legislation. He thought the council should go Into the question with a view to working more independently of the banks, and he outlined a policy to meet the altered position. Cr. Gifford complained that many of the council employees were working short hours. In some cases, he said, the council took the men to work in lorries, and they did not actually start work until nearly nine o’clock. He had also seen men back at the council yard from work at five o’clock. The chairman said it was usual for the men to put -in eight hours at the actual work, travelling not being allowed out of this time. Cr. Gifford also complained of uneconomical work by the employees. Cr. McGuinness complained that metal was tipped on the roadside by motor lorries, having to be again handled when put on the road. He mentioned the case where metal had been left lying on the roadside for eleven years. The chairman said these matters were a reflection on the engineer, because he was responsible for the carrying out of the council’s work. He (the chairman) would not hesitate to ask the engineer to dispose-, of the services of any man who did not give satisfaction. He thought it advisable that the engineer should get about among the men a little more. The engineer was In sole charge of the men, and the councillors could not themselves argue with the men.

Cr. McWllliam said it was a prevalent tendency among men to-day to do less work than they used to do. It was an insoluble problem. The most glaring example of this was the Omoana relief work. An engineer was liable to become tired of constantly worrying the men to keep them going.

Other councillors complained that the council was not getting full value for the wages

Cr. Knuckey said in his riding they had a particularly good set of men.

The engineer said that two or three years ago the labor was as described, but there was now a great general improvement everywhere In the county. Cr. McGuinness had asked for more figures regarding the work being carried on, but it was impossible for an engineer to be out on the works and in the office at the same time. Cr. Gifford asked again: “Axe we to expect eight hours’ work from the men?” The chairman said this was a matter entirely for the engineer. ANTECEDENT LIABILITY. The finance committee recommended that the council's antecedent liability be extinguished by seven annual Instalments, In preference to raising a loan for the purpose. The chairman pointed out that the advantage of the instalment system was that at any time the council might so decide a loan could be raised to extinguish the remaining portion of the liability. Meanwhle the rate of interest on loan money might come down. The council’s antecedent liability was £8356. Cr. Gifford moved that the finance committee's recommendation b$ adopted and the , motion was carried. It was decided that each riding should bear its own indebtedness. THE KAPUNI BRIDGE. The Kaponga and District Chamber of Commerce wrote complaining of the delay in the erection of a bridge across the Kapuni Stream on the Palmer Road. Cr. Anderson, of the Stratford Council, had informed the chamber that the Stratford County had its share of the funds in hand, and was ready to proceed with the work as soon as the Eltham Council had funds available.—lt was decided to keep the matter in view until after receipt of the result of the Boundaries Commission. GENERAL. H. E. Batten, Tokaora, wrote drawing attention to damage allegedly being done to his property by the council draining water containing weed seeds on to the land. He intended to hold the council responsible for the clearing of the weeds. —The matter was referred to the engineer and the riding member. J. H. Bentley asked that the council supply the necessary pipes to his property.—lt was pointed out that the usual practice was to supply the pipes at cost price, the labor to be done to the satisfaction of tl»e engineer. The matter was left to the engineer and the riding membet. The Eltham Chamber of Commerce asked that the council grade the road between Rotokare and Mata. It was stated that, the state of the road prevented acceptance of the Government mail contracts, and the mall delivery had suffered in consequence.—ln the absence of the riding member (Cr. Campbell) the matter was left over till the next meeting. W. A. Cleaver, Ngaere, wrote stating that he had been paying rates on a portion of his section which had been taken over by the Government for public works seven years ago. He asked that the overpaid rates be refunded. —The clerk pointed out that it was probable that the land had been taken, but no alteration had been made in the valuation rolls, and the council had to rate according to the rolls.—The matter was left to the chairman and the clerk.

On the motion of Cr. Carter it was decided that all persons not complying with notices to cut back hedges should be prosecuted.