DUAL CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 245, 16 October 1929, Page 9

DUAL CONTROL.

MOUNT ALBERT ROAD

FORCING THE ISSUE,

Mount Albert main road is under the dual control of 'the Mount Albert Borough Council and the Mount Roskill Road Board. At last night's meeting of the latter body a report was read from the worksi committee on a recent conference between representatives on the subject of maintenance. The report stated that owing to the half-width of Mount Albert Road under the control ol Mount Roskill being covered with metal, the whole of the traffic was confined to the other half belonging to the Borough Council, which is paved with concrete and bitumen. The consequence was that the bitumen-surfaced part of the road was continually breaking up and having to be repaired. During the short term the road had been constructed, Mount Albert had spent £400 in maintaining it. Mount Roskill was therefore asked to share the'cost.

The Mount Roskill works committee is of the opinion that the main cause of the road breaking up is the lack of under drainage and the seepage water from the Mount Roskill side did not contribute toward the damage.

Last night the Mount Albert Borough Council asked the Mount Boskill Road Board to enter into an undertaking within 14 days to contribute on a 50-50 basis toward the maintenance of their part of Mount Albert Road.

The clerk stated that he had forwarded the request to the engineer of the Main Highways Board, who asked for further information before replying.

Mr. E. Foote moved that the Mount Albert Borough Council be informed that Mount Roskill cannot act in the way suggested without the concurrence of the Main Highways Board. He thought the request for a decision in 14 days was rather peremptory.

Mr. S. Scarboro thought otherwise. Mount Albert had requested the board repeatedly for a satisfactory settlement. The work required to be done, he had been informed, would cost £300.

Mr. S. I. Goodall said Mount Roskill could not contribute toward work done in another district.

Mr. G. E. Tansley thought Mount Albert was entitled to immediate consideration.

It was further explained that the delay had been caused by the ratepayers having turned down the proposal to concrete Mount Roskill's portion of the Mount Albert Road. The board was now waiting for the consent of the Main Highways Board to contribute £2 to £1 toward 'the, cost of paving with concrete that portion of the Mount Albert Road under discussion.

The board decided to communicate this information to the Borough Council in keeping with the resolution.