NEW MAKARA ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1930, Page 13

NEW MAKARA ROAD

A COSTLY BUSINESS

NOTHING DEFINITE YET

The question o| providing improved access to Makara was discussed at tho annual meeting of the Makara County Council to-day.

>. Tho chairman (Councillor E. Windley) mentioned that the ratepayers had authorised the council to have trial surveys undertaken, but owing to the high cost, and the fact that there was little prospect of the work being carried out, the "matter was being held in abeyance.

Councillor J. Purchase said that the residents of Makara were under the impression that the project was being gone on with. He hoped that during the coming year it would be possible to deal with the matter in a more definite manner. In his opinion a road could be put through to Makara, which, having regard to the cost of maintaining the present route, would bo amply justified. Councillor A. J. Giddings said that he and Councillor Wheeler had ijispeeted the proposed route, and were convinced that unless a subsidy was forthcoming from the Main Highways Board the cost would be too great for the Makara riding alone. It was a much bigger job than the council thought it would be.

.The chairman remarked that it was true that the council had been authorised to make trial surveys, but that was on the understanding that there was every possibility of the Main Highways Board subsidising construction. Subsequently it was learned that there was very little hope of such a subsidy. In view of the high cost' of the surveys, it was not thought advisable to continue with the project uuder such circumstances. "I cannot sec myself that Makara can undertake the burden, and I would strongly advise them not to, unless they get a subsidy from "unemployment funds or from the Main Highways Board,",added Councillor Windley. "The matter can be gone into again, but even if. the work is carried out with unemployed the surveys will still have to bo made. . . It is a necessity, of course, and the matter .will be further looked into, but I think it is desirablo that we should know that the work will be done before we spend money on the surveys."