RIWAKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 17 July 1925, Page 3

RIWAKA

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS ROAD BOARD AND COUNTY MERGING QUESTION DISCUSSED A meeting of ratepayers was held in the Kiwaka. Hall on Saturday evening to discuss the question of the Riwaka Road Hoard merging with the Waimea County Council. Mr J. T. M. Brewster (County Engineer) and Mr J. T. Brough (County Overseer), were present at the meeting. On being elected to the chair, Air Horatio Everett explained how the okl Highways Board resolved itself into a number of road boards, which in turn merged with the Waimea County, with the exception of the Riwaka Road Board. Some people favoured this class of local government, and others condemned it. As a result of widely expressed feeling, Mr Wilkinson had called a meeting to discuss the questions as to whether a petition for merging with the Waimea County Council would be supported. Mr Wilkinson was. then called upon to give his views on the matter.

He stated that this was the fourth occasion on which the question had been put" oefore the ratepayers, but, in the past nothing had been done. It was time that every avenue possible should be exploiter! to place the local government in, order. ; Roa<l boards, said Mr Wilkinson, were as a whole,. detrimental. If the- district was merged, it would bo possible to keep a gang of efficient men and a- grader on this side of the Aloutere Hills. Road boards had not the same facilities for arranging finance where large jobs were concerned. It was stated that, if the Riwaka. Road Board merged it would probably mean the other five Boards coming in also. Air Wilkinson, speaking of the Alotupiko and Wangapeka by-roads, which he had inspected recently, maintained that these were in a much hotter condi-tion-than those under the Road Boards. With reference to finance, it was pointed out that, lo erect* a much-needed bridge at the forks of the Riwaka river the sum required, with a Government grant- of £ for £ would involve the expenditure of the whole of one year’s revenue.

Mr Wilkinson then quoted rates levied by the county for by-roads in the various ridings, which compared more than favourably with the local rate. The list also showed that the fates in ridings, where there were no road boards, were lower than those which had road boards. The time had corne when a better foundation was needed for the roads on account of the extra traffic; more wear meant more money. Mr Wilkinson advocated that a crusher be procured to provide the proper metal as the river metal was not satisfactory. What- was required was better methods and better machinery, and the !M7il roads roads in ,tlie long run would he less expensive. Reference was made to the tremendous wear on the Alotueka Wharf road and the heavy cost of maintenance. The remedy suggested was a bitumen surface, which would probably come in time. The chairman then threw open the meeting for discussion. Air Titos. Cook asked what amount of rates the county collected in the Riwaka riding, This was figured o-ut at about £832. Air Cook was also of the opinion that the greater portion of the rates were spent outside the district. The chairman expressed an opinion that Riwaka had received their money hack for what had been done on the Motueka Bridge, together with the expensive work carried out on the Hills. Mr Brewster mentioned that 10 miles of the Takaka Hill had been declared a Government Highway, and would carry a subsidy of £3 for £l.

Mr N. Rolling inquired where all the extra money was going to come from, for the farms were already heavily taxed. Mr Wilkinson informed the questioner [hat- the money would come from the Consolidated Fund, and remarked that Nelson was too slow ill asking for Government money.

Mr Cook asked ■■*»■ the Waimea County Council could administer more cheaply than did the Riwaka Road Board? Air C. Harvey, while acknowledging that the County had a good overseet, thought that, if the six Boards were brought in, the work would be too much for one man.

It was pointed out. that an increase of the staff was not anticipated, but ‘probably more men 'would he required. Mr N. Rowling then raised several points with reference to- the present system of maintenance and payment of wages • The chairman considered that another inspector would be Required, hut thought it would be money well spent. He stated that the following points must he reviewed :—Whether it- was better to merge and secure the Government subsidy of £IOOO per year to spend the rates under expert overseers and gang system of working, or to continue under local control. Mr G. S. llarwood asked if metal could not be obtained from the quarry on the Takaka lliil ? This was considered probable, since that road was now a Government Highway. In reply to a question, Mr Brev-.vjr stated that the County nchninistiation charges were 6.7 pci’ cent, while the average for New Zealand was 9.2 per cent. Mr T. stated that the County spent a rate of 7-8 d upon 14 miles of road, whereas the Riwaka Road Board maintained 114 miles on a §d rate, and lie considered that Mr Wilkinson was not doing his duty to the district. The chairman called All’ Cook to a point of order. In defence Air Wilkinson outlined the procedure in connection with tue Hiding accounts, and stated that nearly alt the members of the Council were large rate payers, and would naturally keep rates as low as possible. Mr llarvev asked if Mr Wilkinson could conscientiously assure them that the 114 miles of road in the Riwaka. district would be'made better on the same or on a cheaper rate. Air Brewster staled that the Alain Highways Board expected Councils to spend on the roads an amount similar to that for tlie past three years ; and that the subsidy was an extra, and not- for the purpose of easing the rates. Mr W. A. A. Ryder then moved that this meeting of ratepayers', support a petition in favour of the Riwak,v Road Board merging with the Waimea County Council. ■ Mr Ryder said he had always favoured merging; for, under the present conditions neither party had the nppnr Utility of making a good show. Tu the matter of estimates etc*., they would have qualified men Tor the work. Mr ,T. S. Harwood seconded the mo-

tion. When put to the meeting the resolution was curried by 9 votes to 4. | Mr J. Scott stated that from expen- j cnee with counties in the South ho j thought that one overseer was sufficient j for the whole county.

lu reply to a question, Mr Wilkinson said that tho Council would not eniterUu'n the idea, of any rebate for prompt payment of rales. Mr Wilkinson agreed to get a petition drafted in proper form, and Messrs D ]<:. I'rv, J. Scott, and W. A., A. Ryder offered to do the canvassing for signatures.