MAUNU TAR-SEALING

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1928, Page 7

MAUNU TAR-SEALING

EINANCJNG OF SCHEME. SOME OBJECTION RAISED. COUNCIL GARRY ON. The scheme for tar-sealing the Wihangarei-Maungatapere road under the fund for roads adjacent to the ■borough was finally decided upon at the Whangarei County Council meetou Friday evening.

lu moving its adoption, Or. Hayward pointed out that, through not taking one of the three alternative schenios up, the council -was losing £4OOO yearly. Maunu was the only riding that was in a position to finance tho scheme.

In seconding the motion, Cr. F. Elliott hoped that increased amounts would soon be available for expenditure on district roads, so that other similar schemes would be able to x>artleipate. “Not nearly enough ’’ was sufficient at the present time. The council in the past had endorsed the principle that roads should be reconditioned, but where possible it was advisable to put down a more permanent surface. By supporting the Maunu scheme, which was the only one that could be considered at present, they would be doing the right thing by the council as a whole.

Strong objection to the method of financing was raised by Cr. F. McDonald, who considered that as 90 per cent of the traffic which passed through Maunu was under (the petrol tax, instead of paying three for one it should contribute nine for one, .Some other ridings, notably Hikurangi, by supporting the present proposition would benefit later on when they put forward similar schemes, but not so with Kiripaka, where there was very little main highway, Maunu was undoubtedly the richest riding in the county, and it seemed to him out of place that its representative should go cadging money from his poorer neighbours. The Maunu people should cultivate a greater spirit of ' independence, and with Mangakahia, another rich riding, finance their own scheme. Kiripaka could not afford to help them.

Cr. McDonald then moved as an amendment: “That Mangakahia. and Maunu ridings provide the county’s share of the •scheme.” '

This was seconded by Cr. J. A. 8. Mac Kay, who wished it understood that he did so. not because Wiairua was not prepared to contribute its quota, but on account of what 'Cr. McDonald had said. Maunu, where the rates were lowest, should not approach the county as a whole until the rates for the riding were brought on a level with those paid by the other ridings. Cr, Elliott, denied the implication that lie was supporting the Maunu scheme because of expected, future assistance for Hikurangi tar-sealing. He pointed; out that the whole county was asked to contribute £266, of which Kiripaka would only have to find £lB annually. When such projects for the advancement of .the county were before the council, all should pull together and support them. It was only feasible that ratepayers from all ridings would at times pass through Maunu, thus sharing to a certain extent in the benefits.

Why should Mangakahia or any ether riding be called upon to bear the brunt of such a scheme, asked Cr .R. 8. Allan, who had been absent .when the scheme had been previously discussed. When the three schemes were lirst put before the council no protest was raised against the country as a whole supporting the chosen one, but now, when it was seen that the Maunu scheme was the only one practicable, some councillors wanted! Mangakahia and Maunu to shoulder the whole of the responsibility. The ratepayers of his riding were already taxed up to the hilt, and had helped themselves by raising a special loan for reading purposes. Certain roads were like the neck of a bottle, having to take all the traffic. Examples of this were Hikurangi and Mangakahia, where the foreign traffic using the roads was much more than the local traffic.

Referring to what Cr McDonald had said, he reminded the Kiripaka representative that when the equalisation of accounts was decided on the latter’s riding had be'en well treated. Cr McDonald: “Why shouldn’t it?”

The chairman called for order. He said th'afc the Maunu scheme was the only one feasible at present, and it was no use killing the whole thing by turning it down. Cr A, Stephen favoured support coming from the whole county, but agreed with Cr MacKey that before assistance was given to Maunu the rates for that riding should bo brought up to those for the rest of the county.

The chairman pointed out that the scheme provided for the raising of au extra ha.lf-ponny on Meiunu riding.

Cr A, J. Mae Kay was of opinion that when the council was offered £?« to £.l it would be very bad business to let it lapse. He was sure that Waipu would not begrudge its small contribution to such a worthy object. Cr Hayward voiced his surprise at hearing that Maunu (was the richest riding of the county. If the land were rated on productive value the riding would bo among the most heavily burj doned. In .asking for a contribution of £26G annually for three years from the whole county, he did not feel that he was pressing- unduly hard upon any riding. For the sake of a similar sum last year the council had already lost £4.000. The Miaunu [Road was used liiore or loss by the whole county. “Less,” interrupted Cr McDonald.

“Anyway, wo cart your butter boxes over our road, Cr McDonald/’ retorted the Maunu representative, amid laughter. Cr Hayward stressed the point that the highway was the only outlet for the produce of a considerable district, which had no railway running through it. In launching a big scheme such as this, parochialism .must be dropped overboard. This closed the discussion and the amendment was then put, only the mover and seconder supporting it. The motion that the scheme be gone on with was carried, the mover and seconder of the amendment bejng the only dissentients.