MANAIA RIDING LOAN.

Northern Advocate, 6 August 1924, Page 2

MANAIA RIDING LOAN.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. POSITION ELUCIDATED. There was a large and attentive audience in the Onerahi Town Hall 011 Friday, whuJl Mr L. A. Johnson met the ratepayers by request, well over 100 being pres?!^ Mr J. E. I-lolmes, the convener of the took the chair, mitfpoducing the speaker in a few well-chosen w.ords. The people of Manaia, he said, had been very plucky and in the interest of progress had saddled themselves with large responsibility by way of loans. It was only natural they should desire to know something of how the money had been spent. At his request Mr L. A. Johnson, councillor for the riding; had agreed to attend the meeting and explain matters. On rising Mr Johnson was greeted with applause. He was gratified, he said, in spite of the weather to see so many present and should be happy to show them the exact position of the loan money and the way in which it had been expended. It had been usual to refer to the loan in question as the £800 loan.'' This wm not actually correct. The first year's interest was paid out of loan moneys and the amount available had been £7460. A pound for pound subsidy had been promised by the Government, but of this only £1000 had come to hand. For purposes of distinction the loan had been divided into two parts —Loan North, Whangarei Borough boundary to Waikaraka bridge with branch road to Onerahi, and Loan South, Main's bridge to McLeod's Hill. A sum of £3740 had been allocated for expenditure on each of these sections. Detailed cost of work done in each section was given, totalling in

the case of Loan Ntortli a sum of £3142, leaving a balance of £597 odd

to be expended. Loan South was treated in the same way and here, with the addition of £750 grant money, the sum available for future use was £2079. In the case of Loan North £2000 of grant money this year was absolutely assured, making £2597 to be spent in completion of the Whangarei-Onerahi Road. There was a chance of getting a further £1000 and thev might be sure he would not rest, till he got it. He considered the contracts for various wovks on the road had been let at « reasonable figure and thev could be assured nothing was lost

on them. The policy in regard to future loans would be. that a lump sum would be handed to Countv Councils tbe divided up as thought lit by th-: | local bodies. Over £7000 would be granted this year to Whangarei County i find in the allocation of this money j Manaia Riding loans would get prefer- ! once: He had secured that the Whaj ngarei-Onerahi Road should lie declared j a main road under the Counties Act.. Some £300 had been paid to the County J Council yeai'lv in rate.-? towards mam ; roads and they had seen little for it. 'In future they could call upon the j Council for a fair share of expenditure, j There were two matters in which he I had been approached last season by the ! Town Board —(1) Finger posts were being obtained and he trusted shortly [to see them erected. (2) He was not 1 in favour of grading the county road j from Onerahi to the cemetery at this j juncture. He thought it better to wait till the metalling of the ro*ul was com j menced so as to avoid doing the work | twice over. Again he thanked those I present, for their attendance and in--1 • vited questions a number of which we.-e answered satisfactorily by the county engineer and Mr Johnson. The chairman moved a vote of confidence in Mr Johnson, coupled, with hearty thanks for his lucid explanation ! of vital matters. Mr K. Clearv inseconding the motion, added a rider that the ratepayers express their complete satisfaction with Mr Johnson during liis term of office. Mr McDonald said he thought Onerahi Iv.ul received a fair deal from Mr Johnson throughout and that every one was satisfied. The vote of confidence and was passed with acclaim. Mr Johnson in returning thanks expressed gratification at having his hands strengthened by the anprenatioi! of those he worked for. He paid a compliment to the chairman for the consistent spirit he always displayed in public affairs and moved a hearty vote of thanks to that gentleman, Avhich ' wvas carried with cheers. j