COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1942, Page 2

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL. NEW BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION. The monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council was held yesterday, the chairman, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, presiding. An apology for absence was received from Councillor J. IV. Colquhoun. The County Clerk, Mr J. C. D. Mackley, reported on steps he had taken in appealing against a Government order for the suspension of work on the construction of a new bridge over the Ruamahanga River at Te Whiti. The clerk’s action was confirmed. Advice was rceived that the District Engineer, Public Works Department, had recommended the construction ot the Wanui-o-mapu Road 'Bridge by the council’s own staff and plant, now that cement supplies were available. Ministerial approval had been given. The Minister of. Transport, . Mr Semple, advised that he was enquiring into a request by settlers for an improvement in the bus service opeiating between Blair logic Junction and Homewood. The Inglewood County Council forwarded a copy of a resolution adopted by it, expressing its grave concern about the existing policy of withdrawing from industry for home defence purposes for the duration of the war, the available manpower required to maintain the country’s economic stability and recommending to the Government that after a period of training, (he men should be returned to industry and to their homes with full military equipment. They should then become members of a militia, incorporating the Home Guard, such military organisations to be compulsory and to be kept on an efficient level by comnulsory attendance at parades. The Masterton Council decided to support the resolution.