MAKING HEADWAY

Northern Advocate, 9 November 1934, Page 4

MAKING HEADWAY

KIOREROA ROAD ! COUNTY COUNCIL CONTRIBUTES £250 RESPONSIBILITY ON LOCAL BODIES A definite forward move towards the provision of reading access to the deep-water port at Kioreroa was made at the Whangarei County Council meeting to-day. when it was decided to contribute £250. Members agreed that a certain amount of responsibility for linking the port with the town and districts devolved upon the local bodies.

Cr. J. H. Hayward, who represented the Council at the conference with Mr. Baker, inspecting engineer of the Public Works Department, submitted a report. He said that Mr. Baker made it quite clear that the department would make £2400 available when the local bodies were prepared to do their share towards the construction of the road.

The general feeling of the conference was that the Borough and County Councils should find £IOOO, in which event the Public Works' Department would complete the work, but the difficulty hinged upon an apportionment. The Mayor suggested a contribution of 50-50, but this was strongly disputed by the county representatives on the grounds that the work was of far more importance to the borough, which would absorb the lands on the route when they • became revenue-producing. “Previously, when_we have discussed this matter,” said the chairman. Mr. L. Webb, “we have had nothing definite to siay that the road would be completed, even in the event of our assistance. Now we know exactly where we are. From the completion of the road we will derive a small benefit, but nothing compared to the borough, who in addition will eventually reap the advantages of any industries which might be established at the port.”

Mr. Webb then moved that the council contribute £250 after the end of the financial year. He was opposed to further conferences being held with the Borough Council. “Let them do their job and us do ours,” he said.

This latter statement was contested by Cr, Hayward, who seconded. He preferred co-operation between the local bodies, which, after all, were only departments serving the interests of ratepayers, which in many instances were identical. “There has been a lot of criticism levelled at the Harbour Board, but they had definite instructions from the ratepayers to give us a deep-water port and the necessary facilities,” said Cr. [Hayward. “Unlike the council, the Harbour Board in undertaking its task had no previous experience with which to be guided, and under such circumstances some mistakes were inevitable. I think 'we should help them over what is really .the last ditch. There has been too much pessimism connected with this job. The fact that inquiries have been received from companies interested in the establishment of industries at Kioreroa shows that Whangarei Harbour offers advantages commercially.” Mr. Hayward also regarded the recently completedloan conversion operation carried out by the board as particularly good business, especially in view. of the! lack of assistance from citizens.

Cr. F. Elliott agreed with the previous speaker that a conference with the Borough Council might be advisable. He noticed that the Mayor had not received unanimous support from the council regarding his suggested limitation of a contribution of £SOO, and Cr. Elliott believed that the borough would, and should, contribute more. . In replying, the chairman said that no one could convince him that the county should contribute more than £250, which was a fair and equitable amount. In the event of a conference, the only result would be that the Borough Council would attempt to force the County Council to contribute more. The motion was then put and carried unanimously, no action regarding the future conference being taken.