FOOTING THE BIG BILL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2128, 21 April 1914, Page 11

FOOTING THE BIG BILL

FOR THE HUIT ROAD

LOCAL BODIES HOLDING OFF

Local bodies interested in the expenditure incurred in tho formation of the Hutt Road sent representatives to discuss tho matter at a conference held in tho Town Hall yestorday afternoon. Tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr.; J.' P.

Luke) presided, and other local bodies wore represented as under:—Messrs. H. E. Kempthorne (Lower Hutt Borough), J. W. M'Ewan (Potone Bqrough), P. JUoldsworth and B. Lynneberg (Onslow Borough), F. Townsend (Miramar Borough), W. Organ (Eastbourne Borough), M. W. Welch (Hutt County), F. T. Moore (Makara County), 0. Jerusalem (Johnsonville Town Board), and R. H. Webb (Upper Hutt Town Board). The City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) and tho City Solicitor' (Mr. J. O'Shea) were also present. . ' ... Tho Mayor explained the position created by the Gazette ndtico in re-' gard to tho allocation of tho expenditure. Against the total cost of £100,000 tho Government had promised to vote £40,000, leaving £60,000 to be, paid by tho various local bodies concerned. The sum of £22,800 was to be contributed by tho AVellington City Council, and, as he understood the position; that amount was regarded as reasonable. At all events , , there had never been any expression of- opinion: by. the City Council against the proposition. Members of the conference could, discuss the: ques-

tion of the Government contribution and also give their opinion' as to tho amount to be contrißuted by them. Hβ' admitted that the allocation would hit some of tho local bodies very hard, but in his opinion the commissioner (Mr.. Short), who dealt with the matter,.had discharged his duties in a. very fair manner. As * regarded the upkeep of tho road the City Council would agree to a board constituted.on similar lines to the old Hutt Road Board, with an extension of representation bo as to bring in all the local bodies interested. When the. board was constituted the City Council would be best able to carry out the work. To. put the m'eetr ing in order, he moved that tho conference proceed to discuss the., .question in reference to the £40,000 to bo contributed by the Government and as to the separate, amounts to be found by the local bodies.

This was seconded by Mr. Welch and carried, and the discussion; then proceeded. Mr. Townseud expressed the opinion that the total cost of the road had beon far. too great. He thought. all the local Bodies were in agreement on that point, and it seemed to him that thoy might be cascussing tho question from a wrong standpoint. ■ • ,

Mr. Moore considered that as the Government usually paid £ for £ to works of this kind no harm could' be done by going to them again. Hβ moved that the Government ',' be approached, and asked to contribute £10,000,. in addition to what had already been promised.. ...... Mr. Kempthorne seconded this. Mr. Welch: Well, I think, Your Worship, we're making a big mistake by going to the Government again. ' I think the Government mot us very fairly in this, matter. The late Minister of Railways (Mr. Millar) told us he

would j;ivo us. nqthhig, sent Government has done very wellto concede, what, they havo. Mr. M'Ewan did' not agree that the allocation of the cos.t,.w;as...a. fair ...one.. 'Pe'ton6'' : was i 'be!fig "as'tjd to contribute too much in proportion to the city;' Again, ho thought the cost of tho; road had been tbo great. ." They never wanted that expensive cycle track.. He thought £50,000 .would have been ample for the total ' cost. Tbo Government should be asked to regard .the.road as the begipning of a main arterial road, and tho expendiiwo should bo borno accordingly. . Mr. Holdsfrorth said his hands ■ were really tied in this matter; as his council had already. passeO a resolution. to agree to ' the expenditure as allocated. Using Mr.. M'Ewan's figures, Ihe Borough of Onsknv was in even a worse position' than Petone, but they thought the Government had met them fairly, and thoy agreed to accept. He thought, however, that tho conference should not admit too 'much' until the vote was on too Estimates. ,Mr. Organ moved as an addition to Mr. Moore's motion that the road bo' considered as a main arterial road, to bo opened by tho Government. ■Mr. M'Ewan seconded this. The Mayor objected to this being added to the motion. He would only take it as an amendment distinct from; tho motion. . Mr. Jerusalem thought the amendment' should not be carried. He argued that the Government would be doing a very fair thing if they contributed a further £10,000. Mr. Organ's amendment that the Government be asked to consider, the road as a main arterial road was eventually carried with one dissentient, the. Mayor. Thelatter said ho was sorry that some of those, who thought tho amendment was going too far, had afterwards voted for it. .... ....•■• ' •

It was-agreed that, as tlio amendment had been carried, it would be ol no iiso going'on with Mi , .-Moore's motion.. ':"■..' ' . -.-'.'

was carried, asking'the Mayor of Wellington to arrange a meeting to place the views o? the conference before the Government: