PAREMATA BRIDGE POLL

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 35, 11 February 1935, Page 8

PAREMATA BRIDGE POLL

(To Hie Editor.)

Sir,—l should like to place before my fellow-ratepayers the position now reached with, regard to the Paremats Bridge proposals. We recently carried a poll for;-a toll" bridge by a large majority. This was estimated to cost up to £11,000 for a wooden bridge and toll house. The committee of the Pukerua Ratepayers' Association thought this a good proposition, and the ratepayers showed by their votes that they "agreed. When tenders for the work were called it was found that the total cost would be about .£15,000 instead of £11,000. This would involve the taking of another poll on a much worse proposal. •It was less likely that the whole cost would be met by the earnings -of the ,toll gate. An application, to" the Government for a subsidy^ was unsuccessful, but the matter was referred to the Main Highways Board.' This board made the present offer to build a 24ft wide concrete bridge and road costing upwards of £20,000 provided the ratepayers of Taupo Riding contribute £7000. This scheme included the dedication of three miles of road to connect Plimmerton with Pukerua Bay by the Walker Estate. The £11,000 loan proposal is now cancelled and a poll will, be taken on Wednesday, 13th inst, to raise a loan of £7000 for this main highways bridge. This loan will involve one farthing in the pound rise in the rates. , It will be remembered that some years ago, when Councillor Button became our representative on the Hutt County Council the .rates were ljd in the pound. Last year'they were 3d in the pound. With-the opening up of the Walker" Estate-and the better access provided by" the bridge a great increase will certainly occur in the number of ratepayers and the rates should then' drop- again.

. This bridge is a necessary and obvious step in the development of the Taupo Riding. It'may be many years before it becomes urgent as' a main highways measure. The railways have shown generosity in facilitating the construction of, the road. It was the 'unanimous action in voting for the tdll bridge' that brought about the splendid offer of the Main Highways Board. We have much to thank the Hutt County Council for and especially Councillor, Button, who have been indefatigable in pushing on the construction of the bridge.'

.1 should like to mention one or two objections that have been raised. Some Plimmerton people say they want a water supply first: ' A' water supply involves a drainage system. These two are hopelessly costly with the present1 population. ' The bridge will increase the population and bring the water nearer. The ambition, of one or two makes them want their properties to be improved in, accessibility and value entirely, at ( tne public expense. We have had some experience of this type at Pukerua, but fortunately it is rare. One "Motorist Ratepayer" says that he voted <foir the toll bridge because he would save 2s 6d a trip. We 'can trust him\to" vote for the new proposal, which will save, sol he says, 3s 6d a trip. I wish to warn my fellow-ratepayers against being Influenced * by letters "appearing in.^the papers over various norn de plumes. I have read a number of these and I' consider that in literary style and "subject matter'they have a strong family resemblance to each other. • \ It was' the wholehearted way in which the ratepayers voted at the poll for the toll bridge that convinced the Government that they are in earnest about the "matter, and this, combined with the -Government's dislike for 'a toll gate, brought forth the present offer, whiclws as gotid a scheme as we can hope to get and much better than we expected.—l am, etc., G. M. HENDERS9N, President, 5 Pukerua Ratepayers' Assn., . (To the Editor.) Sir, —As a ratepayer, I have waited to hear the honest facts with regard to the opposition against the Paremata Bridge. I.have read several circulars sent out by the Paremata Bridge Association, I have atterided.several meetings where prominent ratepayers have stood on the public platform and advocated the bridge, and I have read statements to the Press in favour-of the bridge, signed by the public men who are supporting the proposal. But I have looked in vain for an honest statement from the opposition! There has certainly been a campaign of anonymous letters with various personal attacks against the Hutt County Council, and this morning I received by post (as a ratepayer) two anonymous letters reprinted .from your contemporary. These" reprints have been sent out by post to all ratepayers. They are a straight-out copy,of -the anonymous letters-" appearing in the paper, but surely if > they were to be used as propaganda Hby 1 post they should have* had '"a"' signature/ The fact is that from beginning to end .there has not been one signature by the opponents of the , bridge to any letter in the Press, nor to any circular by post. Nor has the opposition called any meeting to place before ratepayers any argument against the bridge! As a ratepayer, therefore, I have decided to accept the straightforward statements of the Hutt County^ Council and the supporters of the bridge, and I would suggest to ratepayers that they look after' their. own interests by voting for the bridge On 'the 13th.—I am, etc., DISGUSTED. "The Post" has received a number of additional letters from. correspondents who support the proposal. '