To Revert To Manaia Riding

Northern Advocate, 12 March 1948, Page 6

To Revert To Manaia Riding

The county clerk, (Mr G. H. Lloyd) inquired the council’s policy for the next financial year regarding the Whangarei Heads Road, at present, declared a county main road for the purpose of uplifting and expending the special Government grant of £IOOO, £ for £.

••The council's policy in this matter requires to be defined, as estimates for the current year will shortly be in the course of preparation,' said Mr Lloyd. ‘‘lf the road is to continue to be a county main road, expenditure on it will be a charge upon the general account,” he added. The chairman: It would not be fair to hand the road back until the council is sure it is lit for the riding to manage. The council, or a committee appointed by the council, should inspect the road 'first before handing it back to the riding, he added.

The engineer (Mr K. W. King) said repairs to the road would probably start in a fortnight. The road would be returned to the riding’s control when the grant was spent, and the job completed. Cr P. S. Carter moved that the riding take over the road when the grant was spent. Cr W. M. Fraser said the road should remain a county road for a year, as it would take a while to spend the grant. "Would that interfere with the allocation of next year's expenditure, he asked.

The chairman said the resolution which made the road a county road designed to make lifting of the grant, ■possible.

“We can’t make the road a county road for a further term.” he explained. Cr H. E. Hewlett: I think we should not be in too great a hurry to

revoke the declaration, and I support Mr Fraser's suggestion that the road remain a county road for another year. The road may be made a main highwav—we have a good case, he added.

Cr C. A. Lovell said some members of the council were frightened of the financial position, and whether the council would be able to maintain the road. If the amendment went through the riding might still be in a bad way and the council would have to maintain the road. Cr Carter: Three ridings show a debit of about £2OO. but Manaia riding showed a debit of only £34 yet the council is being asked to declare the road a county main road.

Cr Fraser: I will not rest until until Manaia is put on a better footing than at present. It carries a lot of loreign traffic.

Cr Carter's original motion was carried and the road will be returned to the riding's control when the grant is spent. VVAIPU COVE PETITION

Mr May also asked the council for its comments relative to a petition from Mi’ 'A. Y. Provan. of Waipu Cove. The petition suggested that the “six miles of highway on the Maungaturoto Gorge Road be temporarily revoked and these miles be allotted to the Waipu-Mangawai Road.”

The chairman: Formerly the council decided not to revoke any highways but to do our best to secure more.

Cr H. E. Hewlett: We should keep the highways we have. This suggestion would make a break in the highway It would be a mistaken policy.

His motion that the council should not approve of the suggestion was carried.