NOT THE RIGHT TIME

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1940, Page 9

NOT THE RIGHT TIME

CELEBRATIONS OPPOSED PATEA COUNTY ATTITUDE In view of the international situation the Patea County Council decided at a meeting yesterday that it did not consider the time opportune to hold provincial centennial celebrations. The matter was introduced by the reading of a letter from the secretary of the Taranaki celebrations committee, Mr. P. E. Stainton, who said that while it was appreciated that it would not be possible for a representative of the council to attend qrdinary meetings in conneclinn with the Taranaki provincial celebrations it was hoped that the chairman would permit his name to be added to the general committee. "I don't think we should have celebrations until after the war," said Cr. J. Gibbs. "We have had our Dominion centennial celebrations and I don't think we want provincial celebrations. We have something more serious to concentrate upon t.han celebrations. A motion opposing the suggested celebrations was moved by. Cr. Gibbs, seconded by Cr. W. H. Watkins and carried. Definite action to control the spread of Californian thistle in the county was sought by the secretary of the South Taranaki exCcutive of the Farmers' Union, Mr. E. K. Cameron, who expressed concern at the general spread of Californian thistle. "Sodium chlorate is most effective," said Cr. Gibbs. "I have less weeds than I have had for years." "My experience is that the more you cut it the more it grows," said Cr. Watkins. ! "I have found that after a time it flies 1 out if left alone," Cr. F. K. Pearce added. I The letter was reeeived. Collecting Scrap Metals. The local bodies in the distrlct were about to start the collection of scrap metals, and school children would be utilised, wrote the Waitotara County | Council clerk, Mr. T. Dix, who asked ! what action the county intended taking ' in the matter as it was desired to prei vent overlapping. The clerk, Mr. G. J. Broker, was instructed to write to the schools in the area coneerned, and ask them to coi operate in the collection. j Seven applications. including one for I two children, were reeeived at the I county offices, said the clerk, reporting on the British children scheme. In addition there were two applications for nominated children, the applications being dealt with in a different way. Other applications were reeeived by the Patea town clerk, Mr. L. W. Austin, and some were forwarded to Wellington direct. He thought that about 20 applications were made in all. Mr. Broker was appointed to represent the council on a sub-committee should one be set up at Patea. General maintenance and flood damage restoration was proceeding in the Kapara riding, reported the county clerk. The shingle washing plant at Marahomo was operating and about 70 cubic yards of shingle was used for patching on the Makakaho road and highway. Subsidies reeeived since the last meeting were: Government grants £1469 9s 2d, highwavs board £933 15s lld. subsidy on rates £628 10s 9d,. total £3031 las lOd. The subsidy on rates brought the total subsidy for 1939-40 to £2443 10s 9d. Seven drivers were tested, nine warnings were issued and 20 heavy motorvehicles weighed, reported the traffic inspector, Mr. C. J. A. Peterson.