“It is No Concern of Ours! ”

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 239, 9 October 1936, Page 6

“It is No Concern of Ours! ”

NEW ROAD OVER RANGES. OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL DECLINES TO CONTRIBUTE “What’s this?” exclaimed Cr. A. Campbell (chairman) at yesterday’s meeting of the Oroua County Council, when the county clerk had concluded reading a letter from the Public Works Department suggesting that the copnty shoulder some of tho cost of legalising the new road over tho ranges as well as the payment of compensation for land and fencing. “That’s the new road over the ranges which the Public Works Department is building,” replied the county clerk. “Wo are not much interested in that,” remarked Cr. 0. McElroy. "It is no concern of ours,” interjected Cr. T. Green. As far as the county was concerned, continued the chairman, there would be no compensation payable, as he understood that there would be simply a transfer of property in the closing of ono road and the utilising of land for the new route. However, it was something the council did not expect to be confronted with. liis view was that tho work was undertaken by the Public Works Department to find employment for relief -workers leaving the aerodrome job and also to provide an alternative route to the Gorge road. There was an additional reason, and that was that the new road would prove valuable to tho Power Board as it would practically follow the line of the service lines over the range. Cr. Campbell went on to state that there was no demand for the road by the ratepayers of the county, but there had been a call for an alternative route by the motorists of the Dominion.

It was agreed to notify the Public Works Department that the council could not accept any liability for any of the costs incurred in making the new road.