COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 641, 7 February 1914, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

— FURTHER CONFERENCE. ARRANGED. BACKBLOCK REQUIREMENTS. The meeting of the Backblocks Local Bodies' Association convened for Friday, was opened yesterday afternoon in the Waitomo County Council Chambers. There were present Messrs A. Scholes (president), and O'Dwyer (Waitomo), W. Sandison and J. Risk (Ohura), Ford (Kaitieke) and Buddy (Awakino). Mr P. Mora, secretary to the Associatun, wa3 also in attendance. - The presiden\ in his opening address, Baid he \ i-htd to make it clear that the meetir ' was not a regular conference. I had been decided at last meeting he ! !at Ohura that the next regular c • verjnce should be held at Taumarunui. and the present meeting could decio *. rpon a date for that conference. I: ■ was glad to welcome Mr Boddy, th:; Awakino representative. The Awt.kino County had come into existence : ince their last conference, and was working under very similar conditio is to the other affiliated counties. In dealing with the matters fur discussion, the president touched on the main road difficulty, the delay iri approval of plans by the Government engineers, and the issuing of authorities for the expenditure of votes. Regarding the delay in the issuing of authorities the president said as far as Waitomo County was concerned no authorities had been issued, consequently no work could be done. The Council was blamed for this delay by many people who did not understand the position. Even if the authorities were issued now it would he the end of the season before the preliminaries could be got through and contracts let. This was a serious position and it was only rigiat and proper that the people should understand where the responsibility rested. In connection with the matter of finance tha president said he had been asked to explain certain matters in connection with borrowing from the Government. They were all anxious to go in for big schemes where possible, but the difficulty lay in the fact that if, say, £20,000 was applied for they might only get £2OOO granted. How ever, if the Council got the ratepayers' consent for the full amount it was quite siafe to acteept the smaller sum and go on with the scheme. They would probably get a further amount granted each year sufficient to carry out the projected work in a reasonable time. MAIN ROAD DISCUSSION. Mr O'Dwyer, in speaking on the main road question, referred to the state of the main road between Te Kuiti and Mokau. Portion of the road had been handed over to the Council in a bad state of repair and there was no money available for the upkeep of the road, He was strongly of opinion that the main arterial roads should be a national work. However, the Counties' Conference had decided against it and the road was in such a condition that it was imperative some action should be taken. The road extended for 28 mlies through Awakino County and 21 miles in Waitomo and both bodies were deeply in terested in the road. Personally, he was of opinion that a light railway was the solution of the difficulty. Such a line would be an asset to the ratepayers instead of a tax, as was the case of the road. He was of opinion the Wairere Falls could be utilised for power for an electrical scheme, and a report on the subject should be obtained.

Mr Boddy said he regretted that the chairman of the Awakino County was unable to attend through illness. Mr Leech had certain remits which he himself had been unable to get. In connection with the main road question he thought any scheme promoted should embrace the whole course of the road. The Awakino people felt they should help and he would like tn see an equitable scheme arrived at for the mutual benefit of the two Counties. The main road question had been discussed by the Awakino County and a resolution carried in favour of the taking over of the main roads by the Government and that a conference of backblock counties should be arranged to go into details and submit a scheme for the favourable consideration of the Government. Difficulty would, no doubt, be experienced in defining main roads but he felt that could be arranged satisfactorily. Referring to the railway he considered it a good scheme The counties interested should take the initiative and get an expert report and thought his Council would agree to share the cost. Pio Pio in the meantime would be the objective, but not for long. Branches to Aria and Mangaotaki and the extension of the line to Mahoenui would follow. They should report as to the power available.

The chairman said he was pleased to hear the remarks of Mr Boddy. There was evidently a concurrence of opinion regarding the matter. He was sure the Waitomo County would be glad to work together with Awakino and inaugurate a comprehensive scheme for the benefit of both dis tricts. All schemes of this descrip tion were governed by finance, but in this instance he thought there should be little difficulty on that score.