WORK ON. ROADS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 121, 25 May 1933, Page 9

WORK ON. ROADS

AS MEANS OF RELIEF

ITS VALUE DISCUSSED

The value of the work done on relic? works'was' a question discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Makara County Council. (' Councillor W. S. Wheeler said that very little good had been rceeived for the money spent on the roads, whera a lot. of unnecessary work had been done. Roads had been widened and new roads constructed which were not need* cd, thereby placing an extra burden oil posterity because of the extra maintenance costs. Ho maintained that it the money had been spent "over tho fence" in assisting farmers who were unable to spend money in maintaining their properties and preventing land from going back into disrepair, an asset would have been created within tho county instead of a liability. In his riding there were sonic properties which were paying. well ten ..years ago, bub which had fallen into disrepair ami were riot now returning any rates. Only about-72 per cen,t. ( of the"■ council's rates had been collected,' and this was a. very poor percentage.' If tho farmers could not pay their rates noivy what chance would they have jf paying them in the future? Councillor C. H. Phillips could not quite agree with what Councillor "Wheeler had said about the roads and the unemployed. He thought that soraq good had been done and he did not think that it could have helped matters if the money had been spent in helping tho farmers. AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW. Councillor' B. W. Bothamley agreed.with Councillor Wheeler in regard to1 unnecessary work done on the roads and the suggestion that better value would have been received had the money, been spent on the "over the fence" scheme. Previously the council had1 levied rates which had been paid and it had been able to carry on, but now, it levied rates and many ratepayer* could not pay. However, he took an optimistic view and thought that tho> forthcoming Economic Conference woulil rectify matters. Councillor W. Horrobin concurred with most that had been said, but in regard to the "over the fonce" scheme, he said that the Makara County, owing to its proximity to the city, had a. large number of men wko were unfitted to work on farms. He feared that things were going to be very difficult in' the futhre. • . Mr. E. Windley, the retiring chairman, said that the "over the fence 1' scheme was practically unanimonslyj favoured by the council, but the councillors could not agree that thc_ burden^ of tho ratepayers should be increased; in order to put the schemes into ■opera" tion. "I think our policy is one of economy, and tho least said about that thai" 6oonest mended," said the new chairman, Councillor B. W. Bothamley, after his election. : .