THE HUTT ROAD

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 224, 9 June 1923, Page 11

THE HUTT ROAD

DELAY IN CONSTRUCTION OF PERMANENT SURFACE STRONG PROTEST FROM HUTT VALLEY “BEATING THE AIR” Members of the Hutt Road Board took advantage of the opportunity presented by a meeting held yesterday to pass the year’s estimates to discuss the delay in proceeding with the construction of a permanent bitumen surface for the road. The Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) presided, and there were also present Messrs. AV. T. Strand (Lower Hutt), J. McEwan (Petone), H. D. Atkinson (Hutt County), G, Windley (Makara County), and H. \V. Shortt (Eastbourne and Johnsonville). A statement was submitted showing that last year’s expenditure amounted to £3600 4s. lid., and the estimates for this year, amounting to £4OOO (£l3OO for labour and £2700 for material), were approved. Mr. Windley said that the board, th* body that had no control of the Hutt Road, was blamed for its bad state. That was unfair. It seemed to him that the city was delaying the construction of a permanent surface for works nearer town. Ho did not think the contributions of local bodies for the maintenance of the road were on a. fair basis. Mr. McEwan stated that under the Hutt Road Act license fees imposed should be used to diminish the cost of maintenance by local bodies. It was clear (on the opinion of Mr. Martin) that license fees should have been imposed in 1918. He wanted to know why,., since 1918, nothing had been done towards the construction of the permanent service, .and why they bad not secured a plant of their own. The chairman said that the fees only to be imposed when the permanent road had been laid. That was fully understood when the Bill was put through the House. He believed that the fees could be imposed, but in his opinion to do so would be a most dishonourable act. By a plebiscite, the motorists had agreed to the system of license fees when the permanent roadway was secured. He did not think the Highway Board would take over the. road and its control. To have gone on with the road during war tima while costs were high would have beeu ruinous, but ho admitted that that did not apply to last year. He would, like to see the Hutt Road gone on with. The view of the City Council was that the town work should be completed and the Hutt Road then proceeded with. There was also the question of securing metal good enough for the Hutt Roadj and that would involve the doubling of the plant at Ngahaurangi, which would be a costly business. . Mr. Shortt: The question is whether we should get a double plant or wait for twelve months, when the present plant will be available. It was stated that the city engineer thought it probable that there might be some waiting time in connection with city works, and that the men and plant could then be switched on to a portion of the Hutt Road. Mr. Strand, referring to the protest of . his council at the delay in the construction of the permanent surface, said it was felt that the bad - state of the arterial road between Lower Hutt and Wellington prevented progress in the Hutt Valley. "They felt that the city had sufficient work to concern itself with. Although his council got the curses for the bad state of the road, it was not really responsible. Consideration should be given to the advisability of altering the constitution of the Road Board. The City Council ought to be relieved of its responsibility for the road. Board members felt they ought to have the accessary powers to impose a more equitable levy. The local bodies concerned were not in a position to take over the City Council’s 38 per cent, of the cost, but they should have a voice as to when the work should start, instead of it being left to the City Council alone to say when. If these changes were made, it would be a board constituted like other local bodies with similar powers regarding the raising of loans. ■ The question was whether they would be better off for the twelve months delay. He thought the immediate prosecution of the road at the end of that term -was problematical, because of pressure for necessary work exerted on the City Council from all directions.

Mr. Wright said he hoped to have the Hutt Road completed before his term of office as Mayor of the city expired. Mr. Strand asked if it wore not possible to do something to the road. Local bodies were being harassed continually by motorists, lorry drivers, and others as to what they intended to do and when. Mr. Shortt asked on whose shoulders fell the cost of maintaining the road. Mr. Wright: The local bodies. The Government could not be expected to contribute anything, as it had already dealt generously with the Hutt Road Board.

Mr. McEwan again declared that the board was empowered to impose certain fees on motor vehicles, and that those foes had not been imposed. He moved: —“That the City Council be instructed to at once take the necessary steps to construct a permanent surface tor the Hutt Road.” In seconding the resolution, Mr. Strand asked if the City Council would be prepared to accept help from the local bodies in the immediate construction of the.road-

Mr. Wright, answering in the negative, stated that the City Council would not delegate to another body the right to raise loans involving city ratepayers.

Mr. Strand said he could not leave the meeting without making’ a strong protest against the delay. The motion was carried.

Mr. McEwan moved: “That license fees be imposed concurrently with the commencement of the permanent surface on the Hutt Road.” The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Strand said that the residents of the Hutt Valley were determined that something should be done towards the starting of the work before the end of the financial year. They wanted a sound bitumen road.

Mr. Wright informed the delegates that they had no power beyond that of passing the estimates. A realisation of that fact would prevent them from beating the air. It was useless to expect the City Council to proceed with the construction of the road within twelve months. A committee, consisting of Messrs. W. T. Strand, J. McEwan, and G. Windley, was set up to consider the best means of getting suitable metal and plant for the immediate construction of the road. POSITION OF MAKARA COUNCIL Tho position of the Makara County Council in regard to tho Hutt Road was

outlined by the chairman (Mr. Windley) at yesterday» meeting tne Mr. Windley stated that neither ho nor any other member of the Hutt Road Board knew exactly what hi# position was at the meetings of the board. It seemed as though all the power which should bo theirs was >n the hands of the City Council, and that the City Council had power to stop anything that the board decided upon. Legal opinion had been obtained, stating that the board had power to enforce a tax on motor vehicles, but tho City Council was of opinion that tho tax should not be levied until the work of constructing a permanent surface on the road waa proceeded with. Ho was of opinion that the tax should be imposed, and the proceeds go towards the reconstruction of the road. The board should move to have the levies on local bodies readjusted. So far as the Makara County was concerned, it was an obvious injustice that they should contribute towards the maintenance of the Hutt Road.