WOMAN'S PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 33, 9 February 1937, Page 9

WOMAN'S PROTEST.

OTAHUHU FOOTPATHS. SPEEDING CAR DANGERS. At the meeting of the Otahuhu Borough Council last evening a woman ratepayer who was present made a spirited objection to the state of the footpath in Atkinson Avenue, a secondary highway which carries a large volume of traffic, most of it being heavy. She said that while the road was a veritable speedway and had no less than eight intersections in a short distance, such was the state of the footpath that pedestrians were forced to walk on the road and run the risk of being killed or injured by speeding cars. Not only were the existing foot-tracks cut up by cyclists and cows, but they were overgrown with grass which, at this time of the year, was ruinous to clothes. In mentioning the largo amount of rates paid by ratepayers in this area she stated that for many years past they had had little or nothing in return. The system of selecting the streets to receive concrete footpaths was next attacked by the speaker, who suggested thnt the council had left itself open to the charge of fa'vouritism in certain areas, whereas if it had commenced from a central point such a charge would not be justified. She protested vigorously against a system which forced ratepayers to be burdened with heavy rates to provide luxury roads for motorists from outside areas while the interests of ratepayers were neglected. The Mayor, Mr. C. R. Petrie, M.P., pointed out that the Borough Council had 28 milee of footpaths to maintain, and owing to the heavy maintenance that would be necessary it would be impossible to tarseal them all. He stated that if the ratepayers were prepared to sanction a loan of £8000 the council could go on with a scheme of concreting all footpaths. It was the policy of the council to undertake permanent works only, and it could point with pride to tha expenditure of £4000 during the present financial year on the laying down of concrete paths. That £4000 had been obtained from revenue, said Mr. Petrie, and was an achievement no other council had equalled. In assuring the ratepayer that her complaint would receive attention, Mr.' Petrie said it would take time to do all the paths, but the council had made a start and would continue the work.