Not Even a Good Pig Track

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 44, 20 February 1941, Page 3

Not Even a Good Pig Track

BACK ROAD IN KIWITEA COUNTY Tho question of assuming responsibility for future maintenance of Smith's Road, Upper Kawhatau, Rangi wahia, was debated at yesterday’s meeting ot Kiwitea County Council. The Linder Secretary, Public Works Department, wrote advising that the road had been completed and excepting for certain repair work, estimated to cost between £3O and £4O, was ready for the council to take over. Cr. D. Stent expressed strong opposition to the council taking over the road in its present condition. He anticipat ed ; in the event of the council assuming responsibility for the road, that it would be required to face up to a heavy liability. Tho Public Works Department should first complete the job and make a really good road before asking the council to take it over, he said. He was opposed to the council being “bull dozed” into taking it over. Agreeing with Cr. Stent, Cr. W. G. Clapham expressed the opinion that it was not a road at all and he claimed that the first heavy rains would result in the council having to find £4OO or more for extensive repairs. “We are only looking for trouble if wo take it over in its present condition,” said Cr. S. A. D’Ath. Cr. J. H. Williamson agreed with the expressed but if the Public Works Department cleared tho road of ; lips and attended to the water-tables, he questioned whether the council could refuse to assume responsibility for future maintenance. The chairman (Cr. L. T. McLean) considered that the work dons did not make it a road. In the first case it had not been put in the proper place and if forced to take it over it would become a consSfcv.t liability to ratepayers. Jt was not a fair thing to expect the council to take over the road and his view was that the council should not accept the road. While confident, that the council's overseer (Mr. J. llallinan) could supervise the work to be* done on the road, councillors could not agree that he should undertake to supervise the repairs, arguing that the responsibility was that of the Public Works Department. In any case the council could not commit itself to accepting any liability whatsoever while the road was in its present condition. “It would take you all of your time to drive pigs up it,” remarked Cr. fcstent in describing the condition of tho road. It had been constructed on a steep face in zig-zag formation and recent rains had caused a great deal of damage. Cr. W. P. Shaw recalled that tho council had undertaken to maintain the road if it was built. The Public Works Department, on representations from the council, had constructed the road and he felt that the council had a re* ! sponsibility in the matter. Ho was of . the opinion that it. would be a good idea . to leave the matter in the hands of • tho overseer with instructions to confer i with the Public. Works engineer and • point out. what the council required. Jie - agreed that the road was likely to be- - come a liability. I Councillors were not prepared to coiu--3 mit themselves to the extent suggested - by Cr. Stent and it was finally agreed that action be deferred pending receipt , of a report from the county overseer j who was directed to confer wth the i Public Works engineer as to the cost ol i the work to be done.