COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1939, Page 9

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MASTERTON COUNCIL ' — HOUSING ACT AND FARMERS. QUESTION OF STOCK HOLDING PADDOCKS. The chairman (Mr R. E. Gordon Lee) presided at the monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council held in the council chambers yesterday. Also present were Councillors J. W. Colquhoun, J. Donald and G. Moore. The Commissioner of Transport wrote advising that the heavy motor vehicles regulations and motor drivers regulations were being consolidated and revised and that it was hoped to circulate details in the near future for comment by local authorities. The manager of the State Advances Corporation of New Zealand, advised in reply to the council's enquiry concerning the operation of the Rural Housing Act that the general scheme was that the advances under the act would be made to the farmer through the counties or other local authorities. Each advance would be secured by a charge on the farm, such charges being recoverable as rates are recovered and protected by a statutory land charge under the provisions of “The Statutory Land Charges Registration Act, 1928.” A working scheme was now being formulated and an application form was being prepared and the local authorities concerned would be advised when the procedure was laid down. The secretary of the Wairarapa Provincial district of the New Zealand Farmers' Union wrote stating that the question of holding paddocks was discussed by representatives of the Farmers’ Union, County councils and Freezing companies on November 17, when it was suggested that counties be asked to take a census of all holding paddocks in their district, giving the area of each and condition as to fencing and water; also the names of the owners, with a view to the counties acquiring these by purchase or by lease, in order that they would be under proper control.

It was decided that a census be taken of all holding paddocks in the Masterton County. The Minister of Internal Affairs wrote drawing the council's attention to the exemptions of certain patriotic purposes .from the Patriotic Purposes Emergency Regulations, 1939, made on October 4, and in particular to No. 3 of these exemptions which reads: —, “The raising of funds by and with the authority of the mayor of a borough or the chairman of a local authority for the purpose of making gifts to residents within the borough or the district of such local authority or any part thereof, who are proceeding to or returning from such services as aforesaid.”

The secretary of the Wellington Provincial Council. Centennial Organisation, forwarded a copy of the minutes of a meeting of the provincial council held at Wellington on November 24, and particularly drawing the council’s attention to the following matter, concerning the Wellington Provincial Memorial:—The opening function will take place on January 22, 1940, commencing at 10.15 a.m. The ceremony will be performed by his Excellency the Governor-General, and Lady Galway and members of the' Government will be present. The function was timed to conclude before 12 noon. Invitations are to be sent to all contributing local authorities throughout the district and bearing in mind that seating space was somewhat limited the council was asked to supply, not later than December 15, 1939, the names and addresses of those to whom it wished invitations to be sent. The! Wairarapa rail car would be augmented if necessary and would stop at Petone.

The letter was received. The secretary of St. Matthew's Collegiate School wrote conveying the appreciation and thanks of the board members and the Principal for the gift of “The Royal Record” of trees planted to commemorate the coronation of King George VI. It was decided to impose an additional charge of ten (10) per centum on all rates remaining unpaid after 6 months and 14 days, pursuant to Section 76 of “The Rating Act, 1925,” on rates remaining unpaid by January 26.

A resolution was passed pursuant to “The Dog Registration Act, 1908,” and its amendments that the fee for the year 1940 be payable to the registrar of dogs at the council chambers, Chapel Street, Masterton, or to Nicholas John Gerrand, deputy registrar of dogs, who was empowered to collect registration lees, and that the amount of registration of any dog in the county of Masterton, over the age of 6 months, be fixed at 2s Cd plus an additional charge of Is for each dog so registered, being the fee payable in respect of the treatment of dogs for the prevention ot hydatid disease. The ranger (Mr N. J. Gerrand) reported that 67 cattle and 4 horses had been impounded during the month The fees collected totalled £2 13s, the amount collected to date being £25 2s. The county overseer (Mr B. L. Lar-' son) reported that general maintenance work had been carried out during the month on the county ridings. General grading work had also been done. The surveyors, Messrs Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt, reported that good progress was being made in connection with the various works in the county.