COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 June 1939, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MAURICEVILLE COUNCIL MR CHEETHAM REAPPOINTED CHAIRMAN. REQUESTS FOR DONATIONS DECLINED. (“Times-Age” Special.) The annual meeting of the Mauriceville County Council was held yesterday, all councilors being presentexcept Councillor R. Judd, who was granted leave of absence. Mr E. W. Cheetham was unanimously reappointed County Chairman. He ' expressed his appreciation of the confidence shown by the other councillors and of their hearty cooperation with him in the affairs of the council. Their efforts, he said, were directed to the interests of the county as a whole. It was decided that the finance committee consists of the whole council, and that meetings continue to be held on the second Monday in every month as hitherto.

The monthly meeting of the council was also held, Mr'E. W. Cheetham, chairman, presiding. ■ A finance statement was presented showing a debit balance of £1196 16s 9d, and accounts were passed amounting to £526 7s sd. The general rate for the current year was struck at the rate of 1 5-8 d in the £l, over the whole county, in pursuance of notice already published, and it was resolved that a discount of 5 per cent be allowed on all general rates paid by August 10. It was decided to arrange with the bank for an overdraft not exceeding £2500 for the current year. The chairman reported that he had made proposals for grants for main highway work and also for additional highways for the consideration of the Government authorities, copies of which were submitted. The action of the chairman was approved. Applications from the Crippled Children Society and the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club for donations were submitted, and it was resolved that no grants be made in view of the many purposes for which rates and taxes had to be paid-at the present time. It was the opinion of the council that the ratepayers should not be called upon as a body to make donations of this kind and that the matter was one for individual consideration. The New Zealand Farmer’s Union wrote forwarding a copy of a circular issued by the union. regarding the question of payment of heavy traffic licence fees by farmers for the information of the Council.

The overseer reported satisfactory progress of all work during the past month and prospective work was discussed and arranged for.