IRKSOME DELAY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 August 1924, Page 10

IRKSOME DELAY.

EGMOXT COUNTY COMPLAINS. ROAD CONSTRUCTION. AWAITING HIGHWAYS BOARD’S AUTHORITY. At yesterday’s meeting of the Egmont County Council, the position regarding road construction work and the expenditure of loan moneys for that purpose was accorded a lengthy discussion, during the course of which much dissatisfaction was expressed concerning the delay experienced in receiving necessary authority from the Main Highways Board. The Council desired to send a deputation to place the position before the Minister for Public Works and the chairman of the Main Highways Board. The discussion resulted upon the recopit of a letter from the District Engineer Public Works (Mr T. M. Ball), in which he advised, with reference to the Council’s proposals for reconstruction of the Elthain road and the Taungntara and Mangalminc bridges, that the CJouncil had already submitted proposals for reconstruction totalling £21,000 between Opunakc and Puniho, and that the proposals for Taungatara bridge were already approved and may be proceeded with. It might be advisable, however, to apply to the Highways Board for £ for £ subsidy on the latter work. The other items mentioned could very well stand over until the next estimates, as it. was highly improbable that the Council could expend more than the £21,000 already applied for next season, even if two bitumen plants were employed. The matter would be brought before the next meeting of the Highways Council. In asking the. Council to submit full particulars of the proposals to be carried out, Mr Ball pointed out that the Highways Board required that all permanent bitumen work undertaken should be supervised by an engineer approved bv them.

The chairman (C r W. 0. Green) said it Avas uncertain as to when monetary assistance avouUl be‘received from the Highways Board, or as to Avlien permission Avould be granted by the Board to proceed with reconstruction Avork. He thought the Board, like other Goa'ernment institutions, was hampered in its activities by'“red tape.” Referring to the constitution of the Board, he thought it should have more representatives of . local bodies, Avho Avould be in a better position to give attention to the Avork than the Go\ r ernment officials. The Council would have to give serious consideration to its position regarding road reconstruction. The Avork was urgently needed, but unless the permission of the Highways Board was granted the Council, should it proceed. to meet the expenditure out of its loan moneys, Avould run the risk of losing the subsidy. The Council had £1.0,000 of its loan money, and Avero bound to take up a further £IO,OOO in November, and it Avould; be hard oil the county if it. had to meet the interest charges AA’ithout receding immediate benefit from the money. Unless the Council took immediate action the roads AA'ould be in a Avorse condition next year than they AA’ere uoaa* and Avould cost proportionately more to maintain. He suggested that representations should be. made to the authorities . stressing the necessity for permission to expend the loan money immediately, even if that entailed waiting for the subsidy.

Ci Gibson asked Avhether a deputation from the Council to the HighAvavs District Council AA’ould be of assistance. The chairman replied that there Avas no certainty regarding the next meeting of t!ie Council, but agreed Avitli the previous speaker that that bodv should not be ignored. * Cr Collins thought it Avas intolerable that the County Council should be hampered in its Avork and caused to pay interest on loan money AAdiich they appaiently had not the right to expend. The Council should act at once, and if necessary, go right to the “fountain head” to ascertain the position. Cr Gibson moved that- y deputation Avait on the District Higlnvays Council provided that a meeting Avould be held at. an early date, failing Avliich that the deputation Avait upon the chairman of the Highways Board and the Minister of Public Works.

The chairman said that the best plan would be to approach the Higlnvays Board through the District Highways Council, and failing* the immediate grant of a £ for £ subsidy obtain permission to expend the money Avith the understanding that the subsidy Avould be made available as early as possible. Eventually it was decided, on the motion of Ors Gibson and Collins, that a deputation Avail: upon the chairman of the Highways Board and the Minister for Public Works, the chairman of the District Tfiglnvavs Council to be adA’iscd. The chairman and f'rs Collins and Toslnwl were appointed.