FEATHERSTON COUNTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1940, Page 7

FEATHERSTON COUNTY

MEETING OP COUNCIL HELD AT MARTINBOROUGH TODAY. ECHO OF CAPE PALLISER WRECK., (“Times-Age” Special.) The monthly meeting of the Featherston County Council Was held al Martinborough this morning. Mr. A. B. Martin (chairman) presided and there were also present. Councillors R. M. Matthews. J. A. McLeod. Guy Gillies, Q. Donald. J. C. Bidwill. L. J. Thompson. D. Cameron and R. Smith Prior to the commencement of business, councillors stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Prime Minister (Mr. M. J. Savage). It was decided to send a letter of condolence to the Government. A letter was received from the Department of Health in reply to the council’s request to the Marine Department for financial assistance towards the cost of repairing the graves of the victims of the wrecked ship Zuleika at Cape Palliser in 1896. It was stated that there was little . prospect of financial assistance being forthcoming as there were no funds available for the purpose. It was' pointed out that the present was not an opportune time for a special grant even if the care of graves devolved upon the Government. Enquiries would be made as to the original circumstances surrounding the cost of the burials. The Masterton County Council forwarded a cheque for £3ll, being the allocation of heavy traffic fees for the quarter ended February 29. Last year's amount was £307. The ranger reported having impounded eight head of cattle. Accounts amounting to £4356 14s Ud were passed. It was decided to close the Pahaoa bridges to heavy traffic from May 1; the limit to be 3 tons; for multi-axle vehicles, 4 to 5 tons; and traction engines, 2 tons. The balance sheet as submitted by the Treasurer (Councillor R. Smith) was adopted subject to audit. The treasurer stated that the financial position was not satisfactory. The year commenced with a credit balance of £5309 in the general account and finished with a credit of £2942. In the general account there was an excess of expenditure amounting to £2367. Several reasons were given for this state of affairs. It was stated that considerable unexpected expenditure was incurred owing to. the fact that £4OO more than the estimate had been spent under unemployment schemes. Mr. Hardinge reported that the 1939 balance sheet had been returned from the’ audit department without any tags and would be printed. The Department of Labour, advised that the council would be required to furnish to the nearest Social Security Department or Labour Department, the proposed schedule of work required to be carried out under the No. 13 scheme. It was stated that the generous subsidy allowed last year would not be available this year. The council was urged to set out the estimate for work required before the rates were struck.

“It is a most costly way of carrying out any work," stated the county engineer (Mr. H. F. Toogood). "It is an organised system of loafers." It was pointed out by the councillors that "many of the men were supporting themselves on their working tools. It was decided to write to the secretary of Labour stating that the council suggested that the work be carried cut under a co-operative system.