TOKOMARU HIGHWAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 90, 14 March 1935, Page 12

TOKOMARU HIGHWAY.

COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. MAKERUA PLAINS PROJECT. In a letter received at the meeting of the Horowllenua County Council, on Saturday, the district engineer of the Public Works Department stated that when the Alain Highways Board met the council at Levin, no undertaking was given that the No. 60 Highway would be completed on its existing route before any deviation was made over the Makerua plains. It was recognised, however, that the issue raised and expressed by the council was an important one from that body’s point of view, and the board’s intention was that any work which might be contemplated on the Makerua route would not prejudice the provision of financial assistance towards the reconstruction of No. 60 highway. At a previous meeting of the council it had been decided to write to the department stating that, while the council offered no objection to an engineering survey of the proposed route to Palmerston North via Makerua and the Rangitane toll-bridge, the council desired to emphasise their desire to see the No. 60 Shannon-Palmerston North Highway completed. The letter from the district' engineer was a valuable one, said the chairman (Cr G. A. Monk) because it gave the department’s position in the matter. The attitude of the ratepayers in the northern end of the county was that they had been unfairly treated, remarked Cr L. H. Best. As far as ridings were concerned, they were the second to largest ratepayers and yet they had received no sealed roads. Their car maintenance was therefore heavier and they had not the same roading facilities. Cr C. P. Jensen said that, no definite promise to complete No 60 highway had been given by the board, but an understanding had been given that it would not be overlooked. A reply like the one received might mean that if money was spent, on the proposed Makerua route then there would not he the same amount available for No. 60 highway as there might have been. An understanding had been received for the completion' of that highway, and it was the council’s duty to see that it was done. It was somewhat disappointing to see money spent at Makerua before the completion of No. 60 highway. The chairman stated that the council would give way to nobody to see the No. 60 main highway completed. When the council started the project it had a definite programme of work, which fell short of what was intended because there was not sufficient loan money available. Light could now be seen and he proposed, at the proper time, ‘to submit to’the board that sufficient money he placed on its estimates to complete at least half of the formation on the Levin-Palmerston North No. 60 highway Nevertheless, No. 60 had not been neglected and the council wanted to see the Tokomaru roads the same as in other parts of the county. On the motion of Cr L H. Atkins, seconded by Cr F. J ; 'tyder, the communication was rcceiv gcl.