QUESTION FOR WAIMAIRI COUNCIL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25227, 4 July 1947, Page 5

QUESTION FOR WAIMAIRI COUNCIL

Sir, —In a recent issue of “The Press” a report appeared under the heading “Waimairi Value Increasing.” This report states “It is gratifying to the council and ratepayers to have completed an extensive sealing programme. which includes sealing maintenance accumulated during war years. The result of this work should be a material benefit by a future reduction in maintenance costs.” Now, Sir. I would like to ask the Waimairi Council why it has neglected a stretch of the Asylum road “about 200 yards’’ and left it in the shocking condition it has been in for months past. At the present time it is dangerous to motor traffic. Trusting the council will see its way to spend some of its credit balance on this piece of road.—Yours, etc., H. C. ELL. June 27, 1947.

[The Waimairi County Clerk (Mr H. A. Ferguson) commented on this letter as follows: “This road was reconstructed and sealed during the year 1945-46. but, owing to an unstable foundation, the sealing deteriorated and will again require complete reconstruction. This involves major expenditure, and as a comparatively small revenue is derived from rates in this locality on account of exempt properties (Sunnyside, etc.) the cost constitutes a financial problem which is at present under consideration by the council. In the meantime reasonable maintenance is being carried out until the further reconstruction work is undertaken, which in the case of sealing can only be done under suitable weather conditions.”]