AS YOU WERE

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3614, 15 September 1927, Page 3

AS YOU WERE

Re-Erection Aorangi Bridge

PROTEST AGAINST DELAY

Considerable surprise was expressed at yesterday’s meeting of the Oroua County Council when information was received through Mr. J. Gordon Eliott, M.P., that the question of allocation of the cost of he re-erection of the Aorangi bridge had been referred by the Main Highways Board to No. 9 District Highways Council for a recommendation.

The effect of this information was to cause the chairman (Cr. A. Campbell) to remark that the promised commission was apparently “non est” and that the w'hble position, which the Council had been lead to believe had advanced to thc stage when the Commission was about to sit to decide the whole question, was practically back to thc point when negotiations were first opened. As far as the Oroua Council was concerned everything possible had been done to expedite the procedure for the allocation of the cost and it was rather extraordinary and disconcerting that the matter should now have been referred to the District Council for a recommendation. The Council should certainly protest against th c delay. In thc opinion of the chairman if anyone should contribute to the cost of the bridge the Palmerston North borough should. He was satisfied that the Oroua Council was paying In maintenance mor c than its share. Mr. O. McElroy said he noticed that that it was proposed that the Commission should sit in Palmerston North and the Council should protest against this. Feilding was thc proper place for the Commission and the Council should take steps to sec that this was done. Cr. T. Green considered that thc Kairanga County should also bear a share of the cost.

The Council unanimously agreed to protest to thc Highways Board immediately in the appointment and sitting of thc Commission to decide the whole question.