PIAKO COUNTY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20993, 21 December 1939, Page 10

PIAKO COUNTY

PATRIOTIC COLLECTIONDS CRITICISM OF REGULATIONS (Special to Times) TE AROHA, Wednesday The monthly meeting of the Piako County Council was held on Monday when those present were:— Mr W. C. Kennedy (chairman), Messrs Burgess, W. McLean, W. Rushden, J. Stewart. A letter was received from the Minister of Bublic Works, the Hon. R. Semple, to the effect that his department was prepared to find £375, at the rate of £3 for £l, for improvement to the roads on the Crown block at Tahuna. The matter was deferred for one month.

A reply was received from the Railways Department in regard to the decking of a bridge at Walton. The department had claimed from the council the sum of £4O Is 9d for the supply of timber and labour in replacing six planks. The statement of the claim set out: Timber, £l2 13s Id; labour, £lB 13s lid; transport of men from Putaruru on three days, £8 15s 9d. The department contended it was cheaper to transport the men by lorry each day than to shift camp. The chairman said that in his opinion the charges were utterly ridiculous. It was decided not to accept any liability. The chairman reported that he had attended a meeting in Hamilton at the invitation of the Minister of Housing, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, to discuss rural housing. Those present had agreed that making funds available to farmers at a cheap rate of interest was a step in the right direction, but he himself thought that the Government should administer the funds. Discussion was deferred till the next meeting. The question of a collection for patriotic funds was discussed at length. Mr Rushden said that until such time as there was some alteration in the regulations, he did not think any voluntary contributions would be made. Mr Burgess said that at present the farmers were too busy to attend to the matter. He agreed that the regulations would have to be altered before people would respond. At the close of the meeting Mr Kennedy wished all the members of the council, the staff, the press and the ratepayers the season’s greetings. Mr Stewart reciprocated Mr Kennedy’s good wishes on behalf of the council, and Messrs F. Clarke and Homer replied on behalf of the staff. It was decided to send seasonal greetings to the former chairmen, Mr F. W. Walters and Mr W. R. Lowry, and also to a former councillor, Mr J. Hanks, who was in hospital.