ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 15, 15 December 1937, Page 11

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

IN MANAWATU COUNTY. LOAN OF £lߣoo MOOTED. Proposed by Cr. A. N. Morcom, and seconded by Cr. J. Boyce, the following motion was carried at the monthly meeting of the Manewatu County Council yesterday: That the council take steps to place before the ratepayers a loan proposal of £IB,OOO for the re L construction and sealing of the following roads: (1) llongoteaLongburn Highway; (2) LongburnRangiotu Highway (from Rongotea to Glen Oroua); (3) KopaneAwahuri Road ; and (4) Frecklington’s Line (from Bulls Road to Campion’s Line); the last two roads (Kopane-Awahuri Road and Frecklington’s Line) to be subject to their being declared main highways and the £3 for £1 subsidy being available. The engineer (Mr H. V. Bond) submitted an estimate showing the council’s share of the total cost (£65,644) as £15,661. The details were as follow: Rongotea-Longblirn Highway (74 miles). —£17,313 as Main Highways Board’s share ; £5771 as county’s share; total £23,084. Rongotea-Longburn bridge (140 feet). —£4500 as Highways Board’s share; £750 as county’s share; £750 from other local bodies; total £6OOO. Kopane-Awahuri Road (31 miles).. —£7320 as Main Highways Board’s share; £2440 as county’s share; total £9760. N Rongotea-Rangiotu Road (2J miles) —£7500 as Highways Board’s share; £2500 as county’s share; total, £IO,OOO.

Ohakea Road (51 miles). —£12.600 as Highways Board’s share; £4200 as county’s share; total £16.800. Grand t0ta15.—£49.233 as Highways Board’s share; £15,661 as county’s share; £750 from other local bodies. Total, £65,644. The procedure to be taken by the council now involves sending the proposals to the Local Bodies Loans Board for approval, and if that is forthcoming a poll of the ratepayers is to he taken. THE DISCUSSION. Cr. Morcom said that if the ratepayers turned the loan down they would not be able (in their lifetime) to secure what the loan offered. The proposal affected three-quarters of the ratepayers, and the deputy-chairman of the Main Highways Board (Mr A. J. Baker) had given the council distinct encouragement in regard to the Loiigburii-Rongotea Highway. From one area in the middle of Tile county half if the ratepayers did not get on to a sealed road until they were in an adjoining county. Within the last three months there had been a deputation to the council asking for the sealing of the Longburn-Rongo-tea Road. The petition was signed by over 130 ratepayers, and these ratepayers should vote for the loan and see that their neighbours voted for it too. This was their chance, and if they did not vote for it, it would be of no use bringing any more petitions to the council. Cr. Morcom then moved the motion, Cr. Boyce seconding it. Mr A. Iv. Drew (the clerk) suggested that the council enedavour to secure a loan in excess of the amount mentioned in the engineer’s estimate. It it was not all required it need not be raised, and it was always good to have a “bit up your sleeve.” To make the loan too big would frighten the ratepayers, said Cr. J. H. Perrett. Cr. J. Boyce ssid it had to be impressed on the ratepayers that the sealing would be done only oil mam highways. There would be opposition to the proposal, but that was selfish because it would come from areas that already had sealed roads which the ratepayers in the middle of the county liad assisted to pay for. Now was the time for the section of the county which already had sealed roads to support the section which had not. The lower end of the county had been penalised ever since the big loan of £60,000 bad been raised. If the subsidy of £3 for £1 could not be secured from the Main Highways Board the money would not be taken up. As it was now, the Longburn-Rongotea Road, in metal, was costing as much as maintenance and interest for a sealed road. Cr. D. W. Reid agreed with Cr. Morcom, also stressing the fact that the loan should be as small as was reasonably possible. Cr. Boyce: Is this estimate a liboral one? Mr Bond: It is made on liberal lines on to-day’s prices. But I cannot foretell the futurp. _ , , The chairman (Cr. W. E. Barber) said that some little time ago he had mentioned big proposals, but this was rather side-stepping that. He did not mind that, however. The present proposal was a straight-out one for four roads. Personally, he thought that a loan of £IB,OOO would be sufficient. , ~ The motion was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously, Cr. Morcom expressing his thanks to members for their support. He hoped the ratepayers would give the loan Proposal the same treatment. It was the only method by which the roads could be sealed.