HINTERLAND ROADS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 February 1927, Page 6

HINTERLAND ROADS.

IMPROVEMENTS URGED

PATEA SETTLERS’ DEPUTATION.

Asking that encieavouiis. be made to improve the loading conditions in the hinterland of the Patea County, a deputation of 12 ratepayers of the iVlour miahaki riding waited upon the county council at its monthly meeting yesterday.

In receiving the deputation, the act-ing-chairman (Ch. W. G. Belton) expressed regret that, owing to. indisposition, the chairman (Cir. J. Gibbs) was unable to be present. He> ..atimated, however, that .any' questions raised would be placed before Or. Gibbs and would receive due consideration by the full council.

Mr. R.. Lilburn, who led tho deputation, explained thiat it v/as as the result of a meeting of ratepayers held at Ngutuwera on January IS. when the question of the condition of roads within the riding had been fully ventilated, land it had been decided to approach the council with a , request that action he taken to improve road, ing facilities as soon as possible. Councillors present at tTie ratepayers’ meeting had given them to understand that tbeie were not sufficient funds to put the roads in the desired order, a..; more than half the amount available from rates was absorbed by the main roads. The meeting wished him to emphasise, however, that if attention was not given to the feeder roads in the riding prior to the winter, many would become almost impassable and the ultimate cost of putting them in would be greatly increased. J| SUGGESTED DECISION. %

“For want or a little attention our roads are gradually getting worse and worse,” said Mr. F. J. Finer, who supported the previous speaker. He suggested that, in fairness to the back blocks settlers, the council would be within its rights in .rescinding the resolution declaring certain routes as main highways. Tie thought that if the council was not .faced with the responsibility of giving special attention to. the main .roads, ‘it would be able to. allocate its revenue on a more equitable basis and “give roads in the hack areas the same treatment proportionately as was at present given to the traffic routes nearer the centres.

' Tlie opinion that, as the main, roads were .subsided and had for so many years taken a big proportion of the county revenue, the amount expended on them could be reduced by half, was advanced by Mr., O. S. Highland. Mr. Highland’s remarks were endorsed by Mr. A. Dossier. Referring to Mock 9. Mr. O. O'Reilly said that about two years ago the settlers had- been granted 80 yards of metal, which they had put on the road without labour charges to the council. Hie .settlers had asked for another 25 yards, but, though this had been promised, it had not been delivered. He suggested that fat one particularly bad spot on tlie hill some four or five yards of metal should be .spread immediately. He also called attention to the removal of ■ a culvert, which hiad not been replaced. SUPERVISION OF WORK. Mr. D. Jarvis thought that tlie work oj) surfacemen should be given closer supervision.' Mr. W. W. Hicks complained of the condition of the Puhau Road, ' while Mr. G. Daniell Called attention to the Oniata Roiad and Mr. D. Carrol referred to the Were Were Oonga Road, tlie speakers urging the transport difficulties which faced settlers during tlie winter period. “To put tlie whole thing in a nutshell, the roads are in a deplorahi* condition,” said Mr. J./K. Laird, w® had convened the ratepayers’ meetinF Replying to Mr .Finer’® siiggestioSi the acting-chairman of the council pointed out that the main highways were made a first charge, on the county and. had to be maintained according to the standard set by the Highways Hoard. If Mr Filler’s proposal were put into effect it would mean that the ridings would have to maintain their respective lengths of main highways, and, owing' to the greater length of such within the Moumahaki riding, it would be confronted with greater costs in this respect than the. other ridings. The scheme, therefore, might not prove altogether favourable to the riding. Dealing with Mr Highland’s suggestion, he explained that the council received a .subsidy of 3Qs on the £ fbr maintenance, and, while no unnecessary work was undertaken, it would be obvious that reduction of the work would not assist the council. Mr O’Reilly’s comp’aint had been correct, but the metal would go oii the road. He wished to point out, however, that the road_ had received 75 yards more than had originally been provided for, and at 27s a yard that amount became a charge on the county. The question of the supervision of the work of surfacemen, which had been brought forward by Mr Jarvis, was one that had been previously discussed by the council, and would doubtVss receive further consideration.

QUESTION OF FINANCE, He agreed with Mr Hicks that- an endeavour should be made- to keep the Punau road open, and the council bad resolved to arrange for bridging timber. The Oiuata road, spoken of -by Mr Daniell, was a particularly wet one, owing to the number of springs .along its route, and to keep it open for motor traffic all the year .round would necessitate greater exiieiiditure- than could_be\ met from the present rates-. Referring further to the vicinity, Cr. Belton said the council appreciated the work which Mr Daniell had done in assisting to keep the roads in order. Summing up the situation, Cr Belton said it would be- obvious that the question was' p?ie of finance, arid was particularly difficult in the ease of the Moumaiiaki riding, owing to the excessive length of roads in proportion to the rateable acreage'. 'The present rate was insufficient to meet the Cost of permanent improvement by metalling throughout the whole area, and; if this were to be clone immediately,' it would be necessary either to increase the rate or arrange a special loan for the riding. The council, however, appreciated the difficulties of the -settlers, and was anxious to do everything in its power to assist ‘them. The question of the main roads al'•ovations could not he discussed in the absence of the chairman, but on his resumption of office this matter, together with that of the .supervision of surfacing work, would be considered. Tri the meantime he thought'arrangements could be made to put another grader on tile Tiding roads to assist the one at present engaged, but he could not give an undertaking concerning metal supplies. Replying to a further suggestion, made bv air Finer, to the effect that if the influence of the council was brought to bear the Government might oive further assistance, towards -backblocks roading. work.' Cr. Belton ex- k p’-iued that- amounts were allocated 9 th ough the Public Works Department to each district, al’. of which at present had to be content with less than was deemed necessary for requirements.