OUTSPOKEN INDEED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 805, 30 April 1910, Page 6

OUTSPOKEN INDEED.

TEE HON. B. IFKENZIE AND THE tohNBQNVH£E TOWN BOAED.

Local authorities wfll no doubt be interested in the reply given by the Hon. R. M'Kenzie (Minister for Publio Works) yesterday to a deputation from the Johnsonvillo Town Board, which applied for a grant towards tho cost of the construction of a large concrete culvert across a portion of the main road in the town district. Mr. Luke, M.P., said that the new concrete culvert took the place of an old wooden culvert which had been in use for many years. It had to be remembered that the road served as a county road— Mr. M'Kenzio: Yon can't haw a county road within a town district Mr. Luke-. Well, it seres the purpose of a county road. _ ' Mr. M'Kenzie: You might say the same of Lambton Quay. In conclusion, Mr. Lake said that what was desired was a £ £or£ subsidy on the cost. ' ■ %x. Rod, chairman of the board, declared that the board was entitled to consideration in the matter on account of the fact that lately the road had been largely used' for Government parposes. If it had not been that,hundreds of-loads'of material had passed over the road in coanecton with the additions at the Porirua Mental Hospital the new culvert might not have Been needed for another year, or two, "Wo are at your mercy," added Mr. Moore, in concluding some (supplementary remarks. . . , . Mr M'Kenzie: I don't suppose that yon formed yourself into a-■.town--to.-trict for philanthropic purposes. (Laughter.) You did so -for your, own henehtDidn't you how? (Fur^^ghter.) Replying to' the deputation, Mr. M'Kenrie said that he was sorry that he could not assist it. First of aU he had no money for the purpose-because Parliament did not allow him any votes for works of the kind in a town district or borough. When the. district in question wasfformed that step was taken with the knowledge that the cost of the county roads in the. lortHf would then have to be borne by the few BetUers around. -As a matter of fact, the county could under some circumstances call upon the board for contributions towards the ttiatatenanee of arterial roads. The Government was pot m a position to borrow money to spendwi works in a borough or town district. It was more important for the JovarnuWt to 'assist sparsely seWcdi coun£w otherwise there would be no roads leading to the towns. •: Mi. Mooro; Supposing wo had .Ist this culvert fall in? , V, Wil _ Mr M'Kenzio: Wo should have tobuilt it and kept tho cost out of the Government, subsidy which you get. (L !ii S reKflrd to fte cartage to Porirua, Mr M'Kenzie said that the major portion of the work had been tortoi contractors, and if the board, allowed the Sartors to damage their roads that was their look out. , Mr. Rod: What could we dorMr. M'Kenzio:' How about a wheel Mr. Rod: But we might not have the power to collect it. ; Mr M'Kenzie: A local authority prefers to try and squeeze something out of the Government. (Laughter.) . _ Before the deputation, withdrew Mr. Moore expressed the opinion _that rt a county could compel a town district to Sbscribe to works, wrthin the,«.unty ' Sea tile town district ought to be able to compel, tha countyto contributei towards the cost of a work similar to that Mr 6 M'Kenzie: No doubt you coukl, but you would have to prove your case.