COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1939, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL INCREASE IN HOSPITAL LEVY. VISIBILITY AT HIGHWAY CORNERS. The chairman, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, presided at the monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council, held yesterday. Others present were Councillors H. H. Mawley, W. I. Armstrong, P. R. Welch, J. W. Colquhoun. J. Donald, and G. Moore. The District Engineer wrote stating that the council’s letter concerning the matter of improving visibility at corners had been referred to the Main Highways Board, which expected local bodies to take proper action under the Public Works cases where the section' could be applied for the removal or trimming of trees or hedgeswhich overshadowed or obscured a main highway. The Public Works Department advised that it could not recommend the installation of a crib wall at the 22 miles on the Blairlogie —Langdalc Main Highway, but suggested that some protective measures be taken at the toe of the slip in the creek bed itself.

It was decided to adopt the suggest ion.

Mr J. Robertson, M.P., wrote stating that he had been in touch with the office of the Minister of Public Works regarding Mr Semple’s proposed visit to the road and bridge works in the Bideford district, but so far he had been unable to secure any definite undertaking as to the date of his visit. He would communicate with the council as soon as he got something more definite.

The Masterton Borough Council wrote thanking the council for making a contribution of £3O towards the maintenance and improvement of the Masterton cemetery for the 'financial year ended March 31, 1939. Advice was received from the Wairarapa Hospital Board that under its estimates for the current year the council’s levy was £5,585 as compared with £5,094 10s last year, an increase of £490 10s.

A letter was received from the Upper Plain Water Supply Committee stating thfit it had given consideration to the appointment of a managing ratepayer to fill the vacancy on the committee caused by the resignation of Mi H. Evans. As the ratepayers of the district were, in the opinion of the committee, adequately represented a recom mendation was made that no additional appointment be made.

The Finance Committee’s report was adopted and accounts amounting tc £2,351 6s 7d were passed. The ranger reported having dealt with 17 head of cattle during th' month, fees collected amounting to £1 14s.

In response to a request, the council decided to pay half of its total contribution of £22 towards the cost of the Provincial Centennial Memorial on Petone Beach.

On the motion of Councillor Armstrong it was decided to draw the attention of the Commissioner of Transport to the failure of a majority ol motorists to indicate by a hand signal that they intended to draw away from a street kerbing. The law, he said, should be rigidly enforced.