COUNTY WORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1939, Page 7

COUNTY WORKS

REPORTS TO FEATHERSTON COUNCIL SUBSIDISED EMPLOYMENT DISCONTINUED. DATE OF RATES PENALTY. i "Times-Age" Special.) At the monthly meeting of the Featherston County Council held at Martinborough yesterday, the overseer. Mr T. Davis reported that general maintenance work had been carried out on the various ridings in the county. Most of the roads had been graded and general repairs carried out. In No. 1 Riding slips had been removed and water tabl.es cleaned. In No. 2 Riding 53 chains of Murphy's Line had been sealed. Grading had been carried nut from Waiorongomai to Featherston in the No. 3 Riding. The roads were all in good order in the No 4 Riding. The remaining ridings had received general attention. The county engineer. Mr H. F. Toogood, submitted a comprehensive report on the work being carried out. on proposed works. He stated that considerable engineering attention had been given during the month to the Palliser Bay road. Plans were being prepared for the formation of the road to the lighthouse. It would be difficult to arrange a suitable contract for the class of work involved. Particularly did this apply to stream crossings. The erosion of the sea had been recorded and while no effective means of combating the action of the sea were available, some temporary protection could be given. The only hope that the erosion would cease'was that the river would deliver more shingle. The bridges had been examined and work necessary to make them safe from un-der-scour had been designed. Consideration would have to be given the question of finance by the council. The Dry River water race fluming had been inspected and proposals for its renewal or repair were being prepared. It was decided that a,penalty of 10 per cent be levied on rates remaining unpaid by February 15. The sum allowed to keep unemployed men at .work in the county, and to provide supervision and cartage had been overspent. Some men had been diverted to other work, and where possible the council was being partly relieved of the cost of supervision.

The chairman (Mr A. B. Martin), pointed out that the county had spent £l2OO on unemployed work in nine months. It was his opinion that any fit man would be able to obtain work at the present time, and the Social Security Act provided for those who were unfit for work. It was decided to discontinue the employment of subsidised unemployed labour as from December 22. The council decided that in future unless drains had a material effect on the council’s work they would not be cleaned by the council or maintained in any way.

One objection was received to the county raising a road loan of £20.000 and it was decided to forward the objection to the Loans Board and make application for raising the loan. The clerk. Mr Hardinge, pointed out that a poll would be taken. The next meeting of the council was fixed for January 19.