THE HUTT ROAD

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2370, 28 January 1915, Page 6

THE HUTT ROAD

ITS MAINTENANCE

CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE

The system of control of the Hntt Road las been discussed a good deal of late. This road was built by the Government at a cost of £100,000 nude: ; an Act which provided that the Government should he reoouped for all expenditure by the local authorities whose, territories are served by the road. The cost was apportioned after very full investigation by Mr. W. S. Short, of the Public Works Department, > but the smaller local bodies /On whom demand was made refused to pay and declared the imposition iniquitous. Finally the Government contributed £40,000 out of the total of £100,000, and this silenced-the cry about excessive expense. There still remained, however, the question of how, and by whom, the road was to be maintained. It was,generally conceded that the proper authorities to keep the road in repair was the Wellington City Council, but the City Council could, not undertake the work in the ordinary way because they had no' proper assurance that the other contributory local bodies would pay their share of the cost. In the meantime the road has been left untended, and the surface has beon allowed to wear rather badly. This unsatisfactory state of things is likely to be terminated presently.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) explained the position of affairs to a Dominion reporter yesterday. The City Council, he said, could not undertake the control of the road and incur financial liability therefor because the corporation had 110 means of compelling the other contributing bodies t» pay their sharo. These bodies could simply refuse to strike a rate for the purpose of raising tho necessary additional revenue, and tho City would be powerless to compel them to pay. An indemnity from the Government was asked for, as a protection, and there had been negotiations on the question generally. The position tho City Council had always taken up was that they were quite prepared to do all that they were required to do under the Act, but the operation of tho Act had been blocked chiefly by 0110 particular borough. He had hail an interview that aftemooiv with tho Minister of Railways (tho Hon. W. 11. Herries) and the Attorney-General (tho Hon. A. L. Herdman), and tlie.y had agreed upon a set of proposals which would, 'ho thought, prove satisfactory. At anyrato he was prepared to recommend the council to adopt them, and a special meeting to consider tho proposals, would bo called without delay. If the council approved of tho *cheine, tho control and maintcnaanco of the road would bo >'aken ovor by tho Oity .at once. '