GREAT SOUTH ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 190, 12 August 1926, Page 9

GREAT SOUTH ROAD.

LOCAL BODIES CONFER. STOCK PROBLEM DISCUSSED. 1 A conference of local bodies concerned to deal with the question of a stock route from Papakura to Westneld, was held at Manurewa last evening at the invitation of the Manurewa Town Board. Those present were: Messrs. T. Clements and A. R. Petrie (Otahuhu Borough Council), F. M. Waters and F. Kearsley (Manukau County Council), A. Hall and W.Brown (Papatoetoe Town Board), Rev. W. C. Wood and D. Weir (Papakura Town Board), and A. C. A. Sexton and W. T. Cox (Manurewa Town Board.) Mr. J. R. Page, engineer to the Manukau County Council, and Mr. W. J. Lopdell, engineer to the Papatoetoe and Manurewa Town Boards, were also present. Mr. A. C. A. Sexton was unanimously appointed chairman. In opening the meeting, the chairman referred to the increasing danger to the travelling public, pedestrian traffic, and private property in general, through the continued utilisation of the Great South Road as a stock road. He summarised the business before the conference as being, firstly, tho finding of a suitable route," and. secondly, the matter of finance. He suggested that after the route had been defined and the proportionate cost ascertained, the Government should be approached with a view to the insertion of a clause in the Washing-up Bill empowering the conference to deal with the financial side of the matter. Mr. J. R. Page explained that the length of unformed road on the proposed route over the Manurewa Hill had not been determined, nor had the cost been estimated. He was not prepared to commit himself in either respect. Mr. A. W. Hall stated that his board would have preferred a route on the western side of the Great South Road, although the matter had not been fully discussed. Mr. T. Clements stated that the Otahuhu Borough Council was in a similar position. "We don't want the stock," he said, "and will fight hard against bringing them over the proposed Tamaki Bridge. It would mean that the stock would, traverse about a mile of our streets." He further stated that his council would only consider a scheme applying to the western side of the Great South Road. The Rev. W. C. Wood explained that Papakura's only possible route lay to the east of the road. In referring to the chairman's remark that the cost ot the proposed road would probably not be heavy if equitably allocated, the Rev. Wood questioned the fairness of taxing a heavily-burdened community to provide a stock road. He considered that the stock owners should be required to make a small contribution per head of stock driven over the route. The chairman considered that a penny per head would probably bring in a substantial amount. After further discussion the chairman moved to the effect that a sub-commit-tee be set up consisting of delegates from tbe local bodies represented to discuss with the auctioneers and freezing companies regarding the possible future location of tho stock yards, and a route to the yards. This was-seconded by Mr. T. Clements. Mr. F. M. Waters objected to the motion in view of the delay which he thought would be occasioned. In his opinion the eastern route was the only possible one, and the proposed interview would be fruitless. Mr. A. R. Petrie: The saleyards have to be shifted eventually, so why go to the expense of this route?" Mr. A. W. Hall spoke in support of the motion, Mr. McCallum agreeing with Mr. Waters in urging the necessity for prompt actiou. The motion was carried. Mr. AVaters dissenting. A further motion by Mr. Petrie, seconded by Mr. Clements, was carried unanimously as follows:— "That the Government be approached with a request that it set up a Commission forthwith to consider the following questions: (1) The suitability or otherwise of the present site of the Westfield saleyards; (2) the settling of a route for stock approaching Westfield from the south; (3) the allocation of the cost of construction and maintenance of such a route, and any question of compensation arising out of the same." This was seconded by Mr. F. M. Waters and carried. It was further agreed that the conference suggest that Mr. W. S. Short be chairman of the commission.