COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1940, Page 6

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF FEATHERSTON COUNCIL CONSCRIPTION NO CONCERN OF LOCAL BODY. LETTER FROM DEFENCE LEAGUE. (‘‘Times-Age’’ Special.) The monthly meeting of the Featherston County Council was held in Martinborough this morning, the chairman, Mr A. B. Martin, presiding, there being also present: Councillors R. W. Matthews, J. A. McLeod, J. C. Bidwill, L. J. Thompson. Q. Donald. Guy Gillies, R. Smith and D. Cameron. Receipts since last meeting totalled £2131 13s Cd. Accounts passed amounted to £4424 9s 3d. The New Zealand Defence League wrote asking the council for expression of its views on conscription. Mr Martin: "I consider that it does not come within the orbit of this council. It has nothing to do with the council’s work and was entirely a matter for the Government." He considered )t was altogether wrong for any council to even discuss the proposal. Other councillors spoke in support of the chairman, the letter being received.

The National Patriotic Fund Board advised that a Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army National collection had been postponed from the last week in February to the week ending March 16 and also that a collection for the sick and wounded by the Red Cross Society and St. John Ambulance would be held in the last week of April.

The Department of Internal Affairs wrote advising that the Government desired to give ribbons with a national Centennial emblem printed thereon to all persons of 75 years or longer residence in New Zealand with the figure 90, 85, 80, 75 as the case might be, indicating length of residence in the country. It was decided to give the matter publicity and ask for any information to be sent to the County Clerk.

A letter was received from the Minister jof Housing stating that the Department wished to fence the boundary of the land used for State houses in Ohao Street and also suggesting that the council plant a hedge, the council to bear half the cost of the whole scheme. The request was agreed to. The Featherston Water-race Committee forwarded a report from the caretaker stating that he had difficulty in controlling the excess of water at the new intake without flooding the adjacent property of Mr Kelly. The County engineer vrrote offering suggestions for the improvement of the race and it was decided to forward his report to the water race committee. The ranger reported having dealt with 16 head of stock.

Mr R. G. Vile wrote thanking the council for the many courtesies extended by the council to him over the past 20 years during the time he was connected with the "Standard." It was decided to write to Mr Vile wishing him happy years in retirement. The County Clerk, Mr H. Harding, submitted a report showing the cost of works carried out under Scheme 13 for the period from 1938 to date, as follows: —Fabian’s Road, £3393; Longbush and Whakarua, £4982; Ward’s Line, £4062; Western Lake Road. £2704; total, £15,143 7s lid, of which £12,609 represented actual wages paid Out by the council to unemployed workers.

The overseer’s report showed that general maintenance work had been carried out in various ridings during the month.

The engineer, Mr H. F. Toogood, stated that attention was being given to road protection work at the Lower Tauherenikau Bridge.