TAURANGA-TE PUKE ROAD PROBLEM

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVII, Issue 10035, 26 March 1929, Page 3

TAURANGA-TE PUKE ROAD PROBLEM

QUESTION OF SUBSTAN'II.4 L SUBSIDY SUGGESTED DEVIATIONS. At the meeting of the District Highways Council on Friday last, Mr R. King (Tauranga County representative) raised the question of tho Tauranga-Te Puke road. He said that in regard to the recommendation put forward by the Tauranga County Council, asking for a £3 to £l subsidy on this road, the Council had received a letter from Mr Watkinson dealing with only a portion of the road, that portion from Waitao to Papamoa.

Mr Watkinson said that that

was so. Mr King said he would like to reaffirm the desirability of the application receiving favourable consideration by the Highways Board, He asked whether it would be out of place for the Highways Council to again press the matter. The Chairman said it was no good making a further recommendation. He could write and ask the position. Mr King pointed out that the road was not too good and would get worse as the winter advanced. The County Council had expressed a desire to do something if the recommendation were approved. The Chairman asked how much the Council was prepared to do. Mr King said the Council had asked for a £3 for £l subsidy. The Chairman said he had a "let ter from the County Engineer asking for an estimate lor the whole work. That was for the County to ascertain, not for him. It was a County road. He had only dealt with a portion of the road to show the cost of putting that in or I '' as compared with making the deviations that had been proposed from Papamoa to the Waitao. The request for the deviations had been placed before the Main Highways * Board ,and that Board had requested him to work out the relative costs before it considered the matter of granting a£3 for £l subsidy. He had accordingly had a survey made, and forwarded the information to the Council asking whether it would find its portion of the amount required for the deviation work on a £.3 for £l basis.

Mr King said tho Council had never asked for the deviations. The Chairman said the matter had been brought forward by Mr King in the first place, and he naturally took it that when matters were brought up in that manner they were brought up on behalf of the Council. Mr King said he merely brought the matter up in a general way as a suggestion, and not by authority of the Council. He brought the suggestion forward entirely as a matter for the Highways Council to consider. The Chairman pointed out that when such matters were brought forward it had to be concluded that they were on behalf of the County Council. It was not the function of the Highways Council to deal with suggestions from private individuals. Mr King reasserted that he hail no authority from the County Council. The Chairman said the point was that a deputation waited on the Main Highways Board, and the instructions he received were that he was to make a survey and prepare estimates of the three different routes, which he had done. If the Council did not approve of the deviations all it had to do was to say that >it was prepared to raise a certain sum only on condition that the money was used to improve the present main highway. Personally he quite agreed with Mr King that the deviation was not necessary. The Council would have to maintain the present highway, and the deviation would also put a level railway crossing in the main road. Mr King said the only point where ho differed from tho Chairman was the statement that he he ' brought the matter up by instruction from the Council. The Chairman said it could only bo assumed when matters like that were brought up that they were brought forward at the instance of the county council. Further lengthy discussion ensued on this point and also as to the desirability of pressing for a reply as to whether the Highways Board would grant a £3 for £l subsidy for the road. The Chairman pointed out that it was not much use the Board saying it would grant such a subsidy unless the County Council knew exactly what tho cost was to be of putting the road in order. His estimate for putting tho portion from the Waitao Stream to Papamoa in order was £9llO, and that was only 4 miles 28 chains. ■Mr King said the work could only be done if a liberal contribution were made. The Chairman pointed out that the Tauranga. County was already getting liberal contributions from the Main Highways Board. The Council could not expect to get special consideration on every highwav.

Mr King said it had to be borne in mind that the Council had a considerable length of roads. The Chairman said that other counties were in the same position. In the Rotorua County, which it was always considered was a county getting liberal treatment, th<“ county paid £lO a mile towards its highways, but on working the figures out it was found that the Tauranga county got better treatment at the present time than did Rotorua. There was Only one highway on which the Tauranga County was spending more than £lO a mile.

Mr King: Which is that? The Chairman replied on the Tauranga - Whakatane road. On none of the others was the county spending £lO a mile. He asked whether the County Council was opposed to the proposed deviations. llr King said the council had not vet considered the matter. The County Council was blamed for the condition of the road, but it was not able to do the work without a substantial subsidy.

The Chairman pointed out that it was no use blaming the Highways Board for the state of tlic Tauranga County roads, Mr King knew that as well as he did. To say that if it could not get £3 for £l the road could go to pieces was a very wrong attitude. Mr King: “I did not say that.”

The Chairman: “But you say that if the contribution is not made the road goes to pieces.” Mr King: “That is simply what you say.” The Chairman : “But you know that is the attitude of your Council. So far as the matter of the deviations is concerned, let us have a reply as soon as possible.” Mr King said he would as soon as the Council had considered it. He asked if the Chairman thought the Council should prepare estimates of putting the road in order.

The Chairman said ho did, for its own sake, otherwise it would nut know what its position was. Mr King said the matter was a very difficult one from the ratepayers’ point of view. Mr J. Reid asked what the length of the road was. The Chairman said it was about fifteen miles. His estimate for 4 miles 28 chains was £9llO. A good portion was unmetalled and the cost would work out pretty stiff. Mr King said that from the farmers' point of view the main road for him was from his farm to the railway station or butter factory. He would be only too delighted to see the road between Tauranga and Te Puke metalled. This closed the discussion.