MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Matamata Record, Volume XIII, Issue 1111, 3 April 1930, Page 4

MINISTERIAL VISIT.

IMPRESSED WITH DISTRICT Arawa Street Problem. Question of Subsidy. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, broke his journey from Tauranga to Tirau, on Wednesday, at Matamata, for lunch. During his stay the opportunity was taken by the Town Board to lay before the Minister the question of financing the surfacing of Arawa street. In the absence of the chairman of the board, Mr. J. Buchanan, tke Minister was met by Mr. J. Mclntyre, who was supported by Messrs. I. Black and W. J.' Stanley, commissioners, and Messrs. D. V. Saunders, town clerk, and V. B. Forbes, foreman. In welcoming the Minister to the district Mr. Mclntyre apologised for the unavoidable absence of the chairman. He hoped the Minister was favourably impressed with the district as he travelled through it, foi that had a bearing on their request, In a particularly lucid manner Mr, Mclntyre then outlined what he called the board’s problem. He said that twelve or thirteen years ago the area was first constituted a town district. At that time there were nine miles of roads waiting to be dealt with, which had now been attendee to. . A sewerage loan of £24,000 anc a water loan of £36,000 had later or been approved by ratepayers, while there was also a loading of £9OO foi a road through the town which hac "been taken over from the county The total debt of the town was £68,500, which had to be borne by 325 ratepayers. When these charges were met the board had little left tc work upon. • The important business they desired to place before the Minister was in regard to Arawa street. Thej were fortunate enough to have pari of this road declared a main highway. The extent of the road was 11 chains and the width 66 feet, anc their problem was to meet the surfacing cost of this area. The roac not only carried the whole traffic oi the town, but was also a through

road carrying the traffic from the easl 'to Cambridge and Tiray. They had ' been in communication with the Main Highways Board, but this body would only subsidise on construction up to a width of 18 feet. The estimate to comply with highway regulations • was £I4OO, and this figure was a conservative one. Of this amount the Highways Board would only contribute £350 or £360, leaving the Town Board to find over £IOOO. Some years ago the ratepayers had approved a £20,000 loan for roading improvements, but unfortunately the scheme was submitted in schedule form with so much allocated to each street instead of the whole sum being treated as a general streets improvement loan, and thereby giving elasticity. Of the £20,000 loan some £6600 had been spent on highways. The position now was that having used the proportion of the loan allocated for Arawa street they would have -to. find the present amount necessary (£1000) from the general rate fund. What they aimed at was to get the Highways Board to treat the 66 feet of road as work, in which case the town Board share would be £7OO. He noticed the Howick Town Board had recently received £3 for £1 for the construction of a concrete road, so that it was clear the Highways Board had power to vary their subsidies. If

they could not get an extension of declared highway right up to No. 9 main highway, as they sought, then they hoped that they would at least secure an additional subsidy for the full width of the street. In reply, the Minister stated that le was pleased to ge J the opportunty of meeting board members. He lad been particularly impressed some ago when he went through the listricl with the evidence of progress. The land farmed seemed to >e equal to the best in New Zealand nd appeared to be worked on scienific lines, and he was amazed at the •rogress made since he had passed hrough .the same district some 30 years ago on a bicycle. Referring to the request of the board, Mr. Ransom stated that they of course recognised that it was purely a Highways Board matter. However, he would be pleased to confer with the chairman of the board to see if it was possible to subsidise on a greater width, and he would do what he could in support. The Highways Board was self-contained so far as its decisions went, though highways were declared through him. lh regard to the extension mentioned he advised them to take the (Continued in Next Column)

matter up with the District Highways Council, which was sitting now to see what extensions were to take place. He would be pleased to do what he could to assist. Some two years ago legislation was passed giving the Highways Board greater elasticity as to expenditure, and they were guided largely by ability to pay. The town had incurred a heavy burden, and he thought they were wise in doing so, because with such a. district behind *it the town would advance and advance fast. Mr. Mclntyre thanked the v JVlinister for his promises. He agreed Mata- , > mata would progress and go ahead. They were a bit unfortunate in their load of debt at the moment, and the board’s watchword was economy. At the same time he realised that the town must not remain stagnant