Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1929-02-07, Page 3THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7th, 1029 Huron County Council (Continued from Last Week) Various motions regarding grants to agricultural societies, etc., were referred to the executive committee, The members of the county road commission and the county engine­ er were appointed to attend the con­ vention of the Ontario Good Roads Association at Toronto. . Penalty for .Unpaid County Hates A motion was proposed by Reeve Milne, seconded by Reeve Hill, that all taxes due the county by municip­ alities must be paid on or before De­ cember 31st in each year, otherwise 'five per cent, will be charged on same, this to apply to 1929 taxes and after,—Carried, Another resolution instructed the clerk to prepare a by-law enabling Die treasurer to collect back • faxes due previous to the next preceding three years. In connection with a motion to make the usual grants to agricul­ tural societies, the' clerk was in­ structed to enforce the order that all agricultural societies must make the returns requested by the council be­ fore the county grant is paid.' Two petitions were presented to the council in opposition to the one presented the previous day with re­ ference to the change In the Wrox- eter school section. These were re­ ferred to the education committee to be considered along with the ori­ ginal petition. The Agricultural Representative G. R. Paterson, agricultural re­ presentative, addressing the coun­ cil, spoke of clean seed and proper’ fertilizers as necessary aids to in­ creased production. He advocated the taking of a census of the county with a view of having the county de­ clared a “better bull area.” This census could be taken b5f the muni­ cipal assessors. His department was prepared to assist farmers in treating sheep for tapeworm, which was the cause of much loss and suf- urged that in breeding the best pro­ curable stock ibe obtained. The short courses and public speaking contests would be continued this year, having proved useful in the past. The county stock judging team last year took fourth place among thirty-two teams, and he hoped the council would continue the grant for this purpose. “ He sug­ gested that a trip be organized among the farmers of Huron to ob­ serve conditions of crop-growing and stock-raising and the various types' of farming iix other sections* University of Western Ontario Prof. Kingston, of'the University of Western Ontario, was invited to address the council. He said the enrolment at the University was increasing and was at present ten1 or twelve per cent, above that of last year. About ninety per cent, of the students came from the thirteen counties Of the University’s district. There were fifty-one from Huron, hot counting those attending affilia­ ted colleges. The University Sum­ mer School also was well attended. Including grants from the Provinc­ ial Government and the City of Lon­ don, the University had an annual income of $420,POO; it yearly ex­ penditure was half-a-million, leav­ ing a deficit of $80,000. C. A. Robertson, M.P.P. C. A. Robertson, M.P.P.-for North Huron, addressing the council, said he thought the. county was on the right track in asking for more con- sideraton in the matter of the up­ keep of public offices. The cost of education was becoming, a very ser­ ious matter and the tendency was to draw more and more from the rate­ payers/ The county should, have a representative at .the convention of the Ontario .Educational Association and the School Trustees* Association He th'o-uglit high schools should n- ter more to the special needs of the districts in which they are situated. The people were entitled to the best service obtainable from these because of the large .support given them. If university work was to be done dn local centres, the people might expect to pay for it.” By-law No. 16, 1928, (naming the standing committee of council), was amended by providing that the War­ den shall be one of the members ap- poirited by the county council on the Children’s Shelter committee. Ask Increase of Gas Tax A motion presented by Messrs. Hill and Collins, and adopted, ask­ ed that the Provincial Government increase the gas tax to five cents a gallon, that the grants on all roads be increased to fifty per cent, when good roads legislation is Complied with, and that the Province assume ninety per cent, of the cost of Pro­ vincial highways. • Concrete Walks in * Square * The following motion was pre­ sented by/ Messrs.. Craigie and Beat- tie and. was referred to the county property committee: “That In view of the fact that it is the intention of the town of Goderich, as soon as the weather will permit in the spring, to construct concrete walks through the Court House Square and a curb­ ing round the outside of the same and on the- inside of the roadway, be it resolved that the county construct around the court house, and oh its own property, a sidewalk or pave­ ment to link up with the town’s work, and also that it construct a concrete driveway from the south and north to connect with the coun­ ty property.’’ Motions for Road Commission The following motions were-pre­ sented and sent to 'the good roads commission: Henderson—Stalker: That .some improvement be made to the nar­ row bridge on the county road north of Belgrave. Mole—McKenzie: That the road between Ashfield and Wawpnoph from the 9th to the 4th concession be rebuilt during the coming year. Craigie—Sweitzer: That the york of cuttinng down and protecting the’ bend or turn in the road at Saltford Hill be recommended. Adams—Beattie: That a grant be made to assist in the upkeep of street lights in Londesboro’ for the benefit of traffic on the county road. A, P. Keyes—Middleton: That the cost of installation and maintenance of two lights at Bayfield bridge, and of one light at each of the two in­ tersections o.n the hill leading to the bridge fpom.the south be paid for from the county road funds. McKibbon-^-Henderson; That the work of improving the county road from Wingham' to Bluevale be com­ pleted as far as Bluevale and that the work be dohe as early In the year as possible. Collins—Keys; That road No. 13 which was taken off the county road system, leading from the boundary between Morris and Grey east five and a half miles to Ethel police vil­ lage and joining road No. 19, and al­ so boundary between Morris and Grey east on the 11th and 15th con­ cessions of Qrey three-quarter miles that was formerly on the county road system be put back again on said system. • Blue Water Highway Turner—McKenzie: That whereas the Blue Water .Highway, through the county of Huron and other coun­ ties such as Lambton,T Bruce, Grey and Simcoe is now a courity gravel road, and whereas it is rapidly be- "Coming an internatibmrikf travelled highway between the United States a.nd Northern Ontario /along Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, and the upkeep as a county gravel road is therefore exceedingly high and'out of all proportion to' other county roads: be it resolved that w’e peti­ tion the Highway Department ’of the Ontario Government to take, it over as .a Provincial Highway and have it paved as soon as the finances of the Department will permit; and in the meantime that we ask it to have Provincial road signs placed along the highway, and that the .-other counties through which the road passes be asked to make similiar re­ presentations to the Department, and that a copy of this resolution be for­ warded to the other counties and al­ so to the Blue Water Highway As­ sociation to the City of Sarnia. Ask Increase of Salary At the Thursday- morning session requests from Messrs., Young, coun­ ty treasurer,, Patterson, county en­ gineer, and Govenlock, inspector of the House of Refuge, for increase of salary were isept to the « executive committee. , A .motion presented by Messrs. Beattie and' Wright, and adopted, was to the effect' that the chairman of each committee bring in a report at the December meeting as. to, the number of meetings held ■ and the cost of same,, and that the mileage of members attending committee meetings be base'd upon the. number of miles travelled, by automobile rather than by train. Messrs. Beattie and Adams mov­ ed that the Provincial Government be aSked to increase the subsidy on county roads from fifty to sixty per cent.-—Carried. For. Better Bhll Area A motion in Jine with the sugges­ tion of Mr.’ Patterson, agricultural repe’sentative, the previous day was adopted, to the effect that each township in the county be asked to have its assessor report on the num­ ber of purebred and grade bulls in the township.. Motions sent to the good roads commission: Ballantyne—Sweitzer: That the bridge across the Sauble River on county road No. 8 in the township of Usborne be rebuilt. Snell—Higgins: That the ap proaches to the bridge at Exeter b widened and tlie face of the roa: he repaired. II, A. Keyes-—Collins: That th county maintain one of the stree lights on the county road in the vi Inge of Ethel. ■ it was moved by Messrs, Nebb an Sweitzer that the council pass a h law giving affect td a resolution ot the township council of stephen taking advantage of recent legisla­ tion giving townships the same pow* ep as towns and cities with respect to the sale of lands for taxes. This was referred to the legislature com­ mittee, O. Ginn, inspector under the Corp Borers Act, addressed the council on Thursday afternoon and gave much information as to the working of the Act, and. II, T. Edwads, inspector for the Children's Aid Society, spoke briefly of the work under his charge, A great part of the Thursday af­ ternoon session was occupied with consideration of committee reports, New Equipment for Registry Office The county property committee re* ported that the Provincial inspecto/ of legal offices had ordered that all wooden fixtures in the registry of­ fice should be replaced by steel fil­ ing cabinets and boxes, with a new steel car for conveying hooks: from office to the vault. The cost of the ohanges demanded was estimated at' $8,000, and the committee asked that the whole council go over to the registry office and make a per­ sonal inspection before coming to any decision in the matter. This . suggestion was . carried out, and on reassembling after the visit to the registry office the council de­ cided that no action should be taken at this meeting but that tlie„matter should be left oer to the June meet­ ing. Thomas Gundiy L.C.A, Officer In consideration of the report of the legislative committee, it was de­ cided to adopt the recommendation for the appointment of an officer to enforce the Liquor Control Act and High Constable Thomas Gundry was appointed as such officer. The annual morion requesting the Government grant on highway ex­ penditure was introduced and adopt­ ed. The expenditure in 1928 upon the county road system, upon which the grant is based, was $183,646.94. The final session of the * council was held on Friday morning. •’ It was moyed by Mr. Neeb and se­ conded by Mr. .I-Iubbard, regarding the transfer of pedling licenses due to illness, or. any other justifiable cause, that this be allowed only to licenses who are residents of Huron, and with the approval of the War­ den and treasurer,—Carried. -Joint Meeting wjth Bruce Council The Warden and clerk were in­ structed to get in communication (With the county council of Bruce With regard to a joint meeting in June and the following committee was appointed -to carry out all ar­ rangements: The Warden, clerk, "treasurer, and Messrs. Craigie, Hill, Trewartha, Middleton and Adams. It was decided that the corn bor­ er inspector should be paid by, the hour instead of,by the day as at pres­ ent, the rate to -be 75c. an hour. • By-laws By-laws’were then introduced and adopted, as follows: No.fl, 1929, appointing auditors. No. 2, amending by-law No. 16, 1928, respecting standing commit­ tee of council. No. 3, fixing salaries of county officers. No. 4, appointing Thomas Gundry an officer to enforce the Liquor Con­ trol Act, at a salary of $200. No. 5, granting certain privileges to the township of Stephen regard­ ing collection of arrears, of taxes. No. 6, appointing Thomas Gundry county high constable, No. 7, authorizing the Warden-and treasurer to borrow money to pay current- expenses. - „ * No, 8,-confirming the expenditures ordered at the January sitting of the council. No. 9, amending.-the .hawkers’ and peddlers’ license bylaw, ; ■ No. 10, extending... the .period for sale of lands for ’arrearsof taxes from three t-o five wears. This concluded tlie business of the January meeting, add after a brief address by the Warden, in the course of which he thanked the members for their co-operation and assistance in the work of the session, the coun­ cil rose and sang “God Save the King” and “Auld La’hg Syne,’’ and adjourned to meet the first Tuesday in June. REPORTS Legisl attire Committee The legislative committee report­ ed its concurrence in the resolution from the city of Osliawa looking to the assumption by the Province of fifty per cent, of the cost of upkeep ot county goals; in .the resolution from the county of Simcoe asking that the Highways Act be amended so that the road superintendent of a township may be discharged by unanimous vote of the township council without the consent of the Minister of Highways; and in the ’esolutions from the counties of Iruce and Hastings respecting tlm admission Of indigent patients to ospitals, and urged legislation by ae Provincai Legislature to safe- >iard the counties and local muni- polities against impositions and xcessive charges, tie Magistrate teid'-s report, the committee recom­ mended that in the ease of children of tender years every reasonable method of correction be tried before sending these children to industrial schools for a term of in the matter of the report of-the special committee, the adoption of a system of quarterly audit and. payment of Children’s Shelter accounts was re­ commended, also that the appoint- mentment of a Liquor Control Act enforcement officer be left to the council. Another recommendation was that a by-law 'be passed in ac­ cordance with the request of the township of Stephen giving that township certain rights under Pro­ vincial legislation as- to the sale of lands for arrears of taxes, Report of the (jlopler Jas. B. Reynolds, goaler, reported there had been 116 prisoners com­ mitted in 1928, for offences stated: Intoxicated, 21; theft, . 16; having liquor for sale, 12; vagrant, 11; as­ sault, 10; intoxicated with cars, 8; insane, 6; breaking and entering, 6; indecent assaut, 4; reckless car driving, 3; carnal knowledge, 3; car theft, 3; false pretences, 2; peddling without license, 2; Hotel Act, 2; In­ land Revenue Act, 2; speeding with car, 1; car without light,1; robbery, 1; giving liquor to minor, 1; having liquor unlawfully, 1. There were nine prisoners in custody at the time of reporting. Cost of daily rations per prisoner, 131c. Eiluca lion Conunittec The Education committee recom­ mended that the following trustees be appointed: R. S. Hays, Seaforth Collegiate Institute; H. B. Chant, Clinton Collegiate Institute; A. J. Irwin, Wingham H. S„ Wm. May, Exeter TI.S.; J. J. Robertson, Gode­ rich Collegiate. Other recommenda­ tions were: That arbitrators be ap­ pointed to determine the boundaries o U.StS. No. 14, Turnbury and How- ick; .and that no action be taken re­ garding the proposal or compulsory appointment of a trustee for each ■high school or collegiate institute from outside the school district.. The arbitrates appointed by the council in accordance with the re­ commendations of this report were Dr. Field, I.P.S., chairman; D. C. Ross, Brussels and N. W. Trewartha Clinton. „ Children’s Shelter Committee The Children’s Shelter Committee reported that they had visited the Shelter and had' found it in first- class condition excepting the kitchen where some painting and new floor covering were recommended. There Were nine children in the Shelter, seven boys and two girls, ranging in age from 7 months ,to 13 years. They, all seemed, to be in good health and seven of them were attending school. The matron, Mrs. Elliott, was keep­ ing the home and children in good condition, and the committee regret­ ted that she had handed in her resi­ gnation. Finance Cbnnnittee The Finance committee recomend­ ed that no debentures be issued to coyer the deficit in the provincial highway account but that the a- mount be paid out of general rev­ enue as much as posible eaph year; that the rate for county purposes be two mills on the dollar and that the commission be strongly urged to keep within this estimate. Executive Committee The Executive committee recom­ mended .the following grants: $100 to each .agricultural society holding a fall fair: $100 to each spring fair; $100 each to the South Huron and North Huron Plowmen’s Associa­ tions; $25 to each public library in the county; $750 to each hospital in the county recognized by the govern­ ment; $25 to the Hensail and Wing­ ham seed shows $150 to the Salva­ tion Army Rescue and Children’s Home, at London, Ont.; $50 to the School Trustees’ and Ratepayers’ Association; $50 to the National In­ stitute for the Blind; $200 to the agricultural representative for jun­ ior extension work; $25 for the. up­ keep of flower beds around the court house; $25 for each school fair. The acceptance of tenders as follows was recommended: Printing, the Signal; bead for the goal, E. U. Cleveland; groceries, C. M. Robertson. Th© following salaries and allow­ ances were recommended: Warden, $100; clerk, $1700; treasurer, $1,- 650; Crown attorney, $1100; county engineer, $3600; goaler (with fuel and light) $1000; matron of goal, $225; goal physician, $120; turnkey (with no extras for fuel and light), $000; manager house of refuge, $700 and $100 for upkeep of car; matron of house of refuge, $700; as­ sistant matron, $400; inspector of house of refuge, $300; physician of house of refuge, $400; school inspec­ tor, for expenses, each $535; audi­ tors criminals justice accounts, $5 per day each and 10c. per mile one Way travelled; 'auditors county ac­ counts, $50 each; caretaker of court house and registry office, $900; county councillors, $5 per day each and 10c. a mile ohe way travelled. County Rond Commission Tlie county road commission re* commended, with, regard to a num* ber of motions referred to the com* mission, that these im given eonsid* eration when preparing the program This applied compelled to keepof work for the year. to the motion of4Meesrs«- Heuderscm and stalker re bridge at Belgrave, the motion of Messrs. Mole and Mac­ kenzie that the road north of Dun* gannon be rebuilt this year, the mo­ tion of Messrs. McKibben and Hen­ derson that the road construction easterly tom Wtoskam be continued to Bluevale, the motion of Meagre. Craigie and Sweitzer that the work on the bridge hill road at Goderich be completed,*the motion of Messrs.: Ballantyne and. Sweitzer that the Thames Road bridge be rebuilt, and the motion of Messrs, Snell and Hig­ gins regarding improvements to the Exete bridge and approaches. Re­ garding the motion of Messrs, Col­ lins and Keys, asking that certain i additions be made' to the county road < system, the recommendation was that no action be taken until a further re- j port is had from the Highway’s Ad­ visory Boar.d.‘ With reference to motion of Messrs, Turner and Mac- Kejizie, asking the Province to take over the Blue Water Highway, the recommendation was ’’that. action on this matter be deferred, as the coun­ cil of 1927 had entered a similiar re­ quest, and the matter was laid be­ fore the Highway’s Advisory Board in 1928; and advice from the De­ partment is being awaited.” With regard to several motions re certain lights on county roads, the com­ mission. recommended that consid­ eration be given these matters after the commission had had an opport­ unity to examine the situations. An­ other recommendation be sent to the Advisory Board of the Department of Highways requesting a report on the matters placed before it in Sep­ tember last. The commission asked approval of a new system for the payment^of accounts, whereby Miss Tye should be appointed treasurer for the coun­ ty road commission and the county treasurer should pay over to the commission the funds in lump sums, as the accounts were passed. This procedure, it was claimed, would el­ iminate a great deal of unnecessary work and permit the payment of ac­ counts at an earlier date, This clause of the report, however, was not concurre'd in, the remainder of the report being adopted. REPORT RE INDIGENT CASES IN HOSPITAL Andi Other Matters Referred to a Special Committee in December The committee •‘appointed to en­ quire into matters referred to by the Warden at the December meeting of the county council presented its re­ port. '’From investigation tve find/’ says this report, “that the present legislation ’regarding' the admission of indigents to hospital treatment free is being greatly abused and lacks very much in the necessary machinery to insure fair enforce­ ment; that it tends towards pauper­ izing those who would otherwise dis­ dain to foist themselves on the char­ ity of others, many of whom are not so well able to pay as they are them­ selves, but in many cases they are not apprised of the position they are placed in by those too intent upon a sure collection of fees, for we believe the word indigent is rather flippant­ ly used and that tlie patient is so classed without proper evidence.” To guard against the abuse Of a well-meant privilege of relief the committee suggested (1) that pre­ cautionary measurers such as are em­ ployed in the admission of cases to the county house .of refuge be ap­ plied to all who seek the public char­ ity of free maintenance in hospitals; (2) that such cases should under no account be admitted under any doc­ tor’s or their own recommendation, but such be subject.to the enquiry and judgment of a board, composed of the Reeve of each municipality and the medical health officer or such other person as the municipal­ ity may appoint to pass upon the fi­ nancial need and as to whether the case should not be provided for in our own hospitals (extra hazardous cases requiring immediate action to be considered exceptions and. these to sent to our own hospitals); (3) that all indigent cases except those suffering from tubercular trouble should be sent to our county hospit­ als and that th© county be in no sense held responsible for non-resi­ dents in any hospital or for those sent to outside hospitals except by the county’s recommendation. It was also recommended that the former method, of assessing the charge first upon the local municipality from which the patient is admitted, be re­ stored, and that remedial legislation be granted counties or the municip­ ality concerned to give them power to proceed against any party or par­ ties to recover damages where main­ tenance in hospitals has been obtain­ ed by false statements either by the patients themselves’ or by those se­ curing theii* admission. Commitments to Industrial School The committee also urged the pas­ sages of legislation regarding the ad­ mission of incorrigibles or thos© so called to industrial schools so that the Reeve or members of the local council should be consulted; also that in all cases should patients or guardians be compelled .to maintain .such cases instead of the charge being assessed against the county; that the school should be a record of the whereabouts of the parents or guard­ ians, and when the parents or guard­ ians removed from- the county that county should cease to have any re­ sponsibility. Maintenances of Piovineial Offices With reference to the maintenance of offices by the county, the coxnmit- tee sought to. “assert the principle or procedure that the . county should not be responsible for the Upkeep of any office which is not serving the county; that if the county provides the office, the heat, light, water, caretaking and general equipment, the povince which receives the rev­ enue .and appoints the officer should pay for the necessaries used in the performance of the duties of the of­ fice* such as blanks, paper, Ink, tele­ phoning, etc.” Stenographic Service “The committee has decided after much investigation as to the proce­ dure in other counties that the sten­ ographer service rendered in the county is very much out of date and Unsatisfactory, some offices in the court house having too much assist­ ance and some having none at all, and that there should be an adjust­ ment of tlie same looking to a more systematic system being employed, where the service will be paid for by the party or office receiving the service and the county shall only he responsible for services .rendered for which it is liable to pay,’’ In order to bring about a more satisfactory service in these respects, th© committee recommended that the legislative committee of the council take the matter up with the inspec­ tor of legal offices, the county judge, the county solicitor and the other of­ ficers concened- with the idea of making an arrangement to prevent duplication and much unnecessary expenditure of county funds and that any stenographer employed for county purposes be appointed by by­ law and the duties fully defined. Payment of Accounts The committee further suggested that no accounts be paid unless the same be signed or approved or an order - issued or the same by the Warden, and that all accounts of a doubtful character be submitted to the county solicitor for his opinion as to th© county’s liability. Regarding Children’s Shelter ac­ counts, the committee recommended that they be audited and paid quar­ terly in the same manner as goal and house of refuge accounts, the present system of monthly payment entailing to much unnecessary trouble and too .many meetings. L. C. A, Officer ■Finally, the committee advocated the appointment of an officer to en­ force the Liquor Control Act in this county. A very considerable sum had been .lost to the county by the present method of having prosecu­ tion under the Act handled .by a Pro­ vincial officer, as under this method tho fines went to the Province. In. ^he past year the police magistrate had sent to the Provincial Treasurer $620, about ninety per cent. of. which was under the L. C. Act, or about $525 which should have come to the county. The appointment of a county officer would not only mean additional revenue to the county but would tend to more effective en­ forcement of the Act by having ah additional officer on the job. This report was signed by Herbert C, Cox, chairman; E. F. Klopp, W. J. Henderson, J. J. Hayes, Warden; and George W. Holman, secretary. Heart Palpitating Made Her Threat and Chest Throb Many people may be unaware of having anything wrong with their heart till some little excitement, overwork or worry starts it to palpitate and throb, skip beats, beat fast for a time and then so slow as to seem almost to stop, then it causes great anxiety and alarm. Mrs. O. Hicks, Chatfield, Man., writes:—{iI used to be very bad with palpitation of the heart and sometimes, with the least excitement, it word4 seem to beat very fast and make ngr, throat and chest throb. “I wm told by a friend to try Trite «0e. t bex el «|-d|riggMb; deeMw, or matfe# * MNtat' yrioe by thi- iMkMri ’<k, IM*.