Mr. Semple's Tour

Northern Advocate, 22 February 1939, Page 4

Mr. Semple's Tour

Whangaroa County’s Plight

(From Our Special Reporter.) AWANUI. This Day. Contributing factors to the financial position of the Whangaroa county being by no means satisfactory, said Mr T. H. Hayes, the county chairman, leading deputations to the Minister of Public Works at Kaeo on Tuesday, lands. were non-payment of Native rates, high hospital rating and the increasing cost of road maintenance. No rates were received in respect of 30 per cent, of the total valuation comprising items shown as Native and Crown lands. ■’ ! ‘ Common Difficulties. Difficulties common to most local authorities with hospital rating were accentuated by the fact that the- Whangaroa Hospital Board district comprised only the Whangaroa county, and ratepayers were doubly penalised through the non-payment of both rates and hospital fees by the Native population The hospital rate was approximately 3d in the £l, , leaving 8d for the use of the county.

Native Kates Problem. Considerable relief would result were Native rates paid, and the Minister iv.as requested to impress upon his colleagues, the necessity of an early investigation of the position; Increased Costs. Road maintenance costs had shown a remarkable increase, rising steadily from ££22 in 1935 to £2050 last year, not proportionate to the extra mileage of roads opened. With increasing numbers of vehicles and greater speed, the position gave grave concern to the county. Emphasising inability of finances to stand more than maintenance costs. Mr Hayes said that, in common with other Northern counties, Whangaroa was fiwfcd with the urgent, necessity for replacement of the majority of bridges. Reading Needs. the'Minister .probably had taken note of the broken nature of the country,! and the low standard of formation compared with modern practice. .... the council was unable to undertake much more than the maintenance of the highways in their present condition.

For urgent consideration was improvement of alignment grades and replacement of bridges. Particular attention was drawn to the dangerous alignment on Oretere Hill; and the necessity for raising the road surface above tidal flow on the flats. This would involve some ahd tehiheement of. existithg bridgesl ‘‘This county has had no relief as a reifllt of the introduction of the State highway system, and we will be grateif you w:ll give our problems special consideration,” Mr Hayes concluded. • -. •• Minister Offers Help. “We realise that Whangaroa has problems greater than most owing to the nature of the country, scattered population arid Maori rating problem,” said Mr Semple in reply. “Thaj; the Maoris population of Whangaroa exceeds the white, intensifies here a.problexn which is a national one, and for which some relief must, be’ found.” ‘ Increasing costs of road maintenance' was due largely to the fact that the narrow roads are not capable of standing up to modern high-powered traffic requirements. Mr Semple outlined his policy of mechanised construction, and promisthat some of tire plant would be brought to the district. He also dealt with proposed measures to assist ’struggling counties.