MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10827, 26 March 1932, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

BOARD’S SPECIAL GRANTS. A communication from the Pending Borough Council, was before the Tauranga Borough Council at its last meeting. It was intimated that the following resolution had been passed by the former Council: “That in the event of the Highways Board deciding to continue special grants to enable counties to make a percentage rebate of rates to county ratepayers the Board be requested to make similar grants to boroughs under 6000 population on the following grounds: I. (a) That very few of the smaller boroughs own profitable undertakings—such as electrical supply—to supplement their rate revenue. (hi That owing to the smallness of population the burden of maintaining roads and highways is. comparatively speaking, a greater burden in small boroughs, (c) That a considerable mileage of main highway is frequently included in small boroughs, (dl That several small boroughs on account of considerable tralllc, bad, prior to the benefits accruing from the main highway funds, laid down in permanent materials, several miles of streets forming part of main highways. (e) That extensive areas of farm lands are included in small boroughs, and the higher horouugh rates are a heavy burden to tin’s class of ratepayers. (f) That the interests of ratepayers in small boroughs are more directly bound up with » those of the farming community than are ratepayers in cities and larger boroughs. 2.—That a copy of this resolution be fowarded to the Member for the District, the Minister of Public Works, and all boroughs under 6000, with a request that the boroughs accord their support to the resolution and represent their support to the Minister of Public Works and their member.

The Feilding Council’s letter added: “Paragraph 2 of the resolution sets out the action my Council would like you to take in the event of your Council supporting the resolution.’’ Cr Newsham moved —That the resolution of the Feilding Council be supported. Cr Bloor seconded the motion, which was carired Unanimously.