BETTER ROADS WANTED.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLV, Issue 689, 8 August 1917, Page 3

BETTER ROADS WANTED.

Proposal to Borrow £6,000 in KaHkati Riding.

Speaking at the list meeting of tbe Taurantja County Council the Chairman (Gr Sou they) aiid he had approiched the manager of the Bank of New Zealand in regard to financial fmatters and bad been informed the Council could borrow up to £4,000 by way of overdraft. If any Riding, therefore, desired to carry out emergency work of a permanent natnre it could borrow for it temporarily and later refund the amount from the Kiding account.

Cr Lochhead spoke in favour of metalling the main road in his district. He would like to see art attempt made to set the machinery in opera tion for raising a loan. If necessary the money could be raised by debentures. The whols county was intere'ted in the main road and if a ban were raised for metalling the 'fauracgaKatikati Road he thought that the remainder of the county should also make a contribution of about one-tenth of the cost of the work. The Government should also be approached for a subsidy, as there were Crown lands in the district that would be benefited by better roads. There was much traffic on the road from Te Puna to Tauranga and the roads were cutting up. This road and the worst portions of the thoroughfare to Katikati ought to be metalled. There was not a decent road leading into the Bay of Plenty. They should make a start, purchase their own plant, aid metal the worst portions of the road already referred to prior to next winter. #

The Chairman expressed himself- as in sympathy with Cr Lochhead, but pointed out that at pesent the Council could not hope for a Government subsidy on any metalling work that was undertaken. He stated that although there wib a aum of £600 to credit for works in the Waimapu Riding it wms only after much difficulty that be had been able to secure £60 for the metalling job at the Experimental Farm. He was endeavouring to get another £60 for metalling* near Majur Mayfield's property. He did not think they would get a Government subsidy while the war was on. Ec favoured raising ■ loan of aay, £10,000, a*d the spreading of the work over a number of yean. A piece of the TaurangaTe Puke road, near the Waitao Bridge, needed metalling.

Cr Lally said he bad been over the piece of road at the Waitao. The cheapest and quickest way of dealing with it was to lay tied faacines, 6 inches thick. There was a supply of ti-tree near the road, and he urged that the supervisor should put down fascines. They would last for two or three years and by that time perb'apa they woull be able to metal the road. They could not put out metal in the winter.

I Cr Lemon said the- crux of the problem was the labour question. Even if they had the money he would be sorry to see the work attempted under present labour conditions. Mr Gray gave a comparison of the wages paid a few years ago and those ruling to-day. .

Cr Stewart stated that a deputation of Katikati settlers had watted upon Cr Hume and himself at Katikati recently, and requested that a loan of £6,000 be raised to complete the metalling of the, main Waihi Road from the Aungatet* to the County boundary. Cr Stewart's remarks were on the lines of those published in our issue of July 30. He told the , deputation that the Council's policy hj?d always been to go in for small loans ■nd secure a Government subsidy. There would be no difficulty, ia getting j a loan, but where was the labour to| come from? With the prospect of ninef months' fine weather was it wise to| lose the subsidy and pay the increased! cost of labour? When the war wasl over employment would have to be found far the returned men. He thought they should wait for the termination of the war, and he hoped it would be over in six months.

The Chairman said he was doubtful whether the Katikati Riding would be allowed to borrow £6,000. If they went on with the work at the present time he was satisfied they would not get a subsidy. He referred to the increased cost of labour and thought it advisable for the Katikati people to defer the question till such tiue as they could get a subsidy.

Cr Hume said a portion of the Kaiikati roads were almost itnpassabltt. The rates of the Riding were about £300 per annum and under present conditions they were burying that money. He favoured borrowing £6,000. The money that they were now burying in mud would pay the interest oh ti loan of, sayjl £5,000. After the worst portions were metalled a man wijh a wheelbarrow could keep the road in order. He quoted an instance to show that the price of cattle in the district was prejudically affected by bad roads as buyers were prevented from attending tbe sales. It would pay them handsomely, even if they were called on for more rates, to have good serviceable soads. The Chairman said that after the Katikati Riding paid its share of ad ministration it had about £200 left for roads. A loan of £6,000 would mean an increase in the rstes. I Cr Hume said in his opinion the main road right through the county should be metalled. He moved: That application bs made to the authorities for permission to barrow a loan of £6,000 for metalling work in the Katikati Hiding. [ Cr Stewart seconded. I Mr Gray slid the Borough Council had decided to charge in future ten shillings per day for the use- uf each! punt. That charge was prohibitive. I The proposition was all right where; the stone was delivered alongside the! road at 5a 6d per yard, but there was • considerable addition to the cost when it bad to be brought across the harbour. The stone at the T« Puna Quarry was of good quality, but they could do nothing there without the expenditure of a considerable cum of money. Cr Hume: As far as Katikati is concerned there is plenty of metal in the creeks. Cr Stewart: The Council possesses a good bluestone quarry at Athenree. Cr Hunre: I don't see why we should have bad roads if we can get good ones.

Cr Lochhead again reiterated bis desire for better roads, and did not deferring the matter. The question of labour was perhaps a serious one, but the Council should not sit down, and he believed the farmers would essist with the work. They bad a lot to do before they could employ labour. Tbe question of installing machinery in tbe Te Puna Quarry ought to be considered. If they started the metalling work now it would be two or three years before the scheme was completed. Cr Laity: If Te Puna borrows the Council has no power to compel the rest of tfce county to contribute. Cr Lochhead argued that the Katikati Road was a benefitto tbe whole county and all the county should assist in the making of ■ permanent road. '

Cr Stewart said a suggestion bad been made'tbat Te Puna and Katikati Bhould combine in itieing a loin for ■ crushing p]nnt. Cr Lochbead favoured tbe installation of a crusher in the Te Puna Quarry, also trucks for the transhipment of metal, and a.traction engine to drive the machinery and haul the tncki. Tbe Glerk pointed out that daring the wax the Council could not borrow more than £5,000 in any one year. The Chairman said be waa quite willing to agree to other Ridings borrowing if they desired. So far as bis Riding was concerned he would wait until be could get ■ Government iublidy. Cr Hume's motion was put and carried.