Mot County’s Fault if No Backblock Metal

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1939, Page 3

Mot County’s Fault if No Backblock Metal

Assurances that the Whangarei County Council was in no way to blame for the retarding of the fiveyear plan, were given by the county chairman, Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay, at the council’s annual meeting today. “The council is doing everything possible to co-operate with the Government in putting into operation the five-year plan,” said Mr Mac Kay.

“The fact that the scheme has been retarded is no fault of this council, and it is only right that ratepayers—especially those still awaiting access—should be made familiar with the position. “The finances of the county nave been strained—-in many instances to the detriment of the existing roads—to co-operate and provide the monetary conditions attaching to the majority of grants provided, but at the same time, we have for future guidance the assurance' of the Prime Minister that should a local body be unable to provide a contribution towards the cost, that fact will not be allowed to stand in the way to prevent the carrying out of the scheme. Statement Recollected.

“For the information of backblock farmers who still find themselves without metalled access, I will here quote assurances given by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works on the subject of the five-year plan. “The Prime Minister, on September 18, 1937, is reported to have said: ‘lf any backblock farmer finds himself in the mud in a few months’ time and with no prospect of getting out of it, then all I can say is that he will not be able to blame the Government. I know that some county councils have their financial difficulties, but this will not be allowed to stand in the way.’

“And on July 28 of last year, the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, is reported as having said: — ‘Regarding the Government’s five-year plan on backblock roads, this would be completed in three and a-half years’ time (two and a-half years from now), and then there would not be a single unmetalled road in the backblocks.’ “This council has submitted to the Public Works Department for the current year grant applications totalling £24,700, and although wo are now in tlie third year of the five-year plan, these grants represent those items not yet provided for in the first year plus the second year’s programme 'of the plan.”