Councillors On County Matters

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 20, 1 May 1929, Page 2

Councillors On County Matters

Nationalisation of Highways

Reduction In Number Of Councillors

“We would like to hear an expression of opinion from the different candidates on County matters,” said the Chairman of the Ratepayers Association, Mr H. B. Matthews at the meeting last Tuesday night.

Mr Houston stated that the County’s finances were good. The ratepayers should take up the question of the chairman having the casting vote. There should be an absolute majority when it came to a vote, on all matters.

Mr Houston considered that the time was ripe for the ratepayers to move to have all main highways nationalised. Recently the engineer made a survey of all the bridges in the County and it would take sev-eral years rates to meet the cost of renewing them. The Main Highways Board had been asked fora big subsidy for the bridges of the County but they would only give £ for £. It the Main Highways Board took over the main roads it would enable the Council to take up grants tor the side roads.

There had been a larger amount of rates paid in voluntary than ever before but Mr Houston did not think the Council would collect more rates than before from the natives. He concluded by saying that the roads were in a better condition than was the case three years ago and thev were getting better value for work done than previously. The Chairman, Mr Matthews considered seven members quite, sufficient to administer to the affairs of this Countv.

Mr J N Berghan said he felt fully justified in saying that the financial position of the Council was satisfactory. He said the roads were in reasonable order and that the rates were coming down.

Speaking of the decrease in the number of councillors, Mr Berghan thought five would be sufficient for since the Highways Board came in they had taken a lot of work from members. Mr Berghan stated that he had travelled south recently and had motored over miles of good roads and he realised that the North had been neglected as far as roads and bridges were concerned. We will never have roads as good as the south until the main roads are nationalised which would give more money for the backblocks. Mr Barriball said that he had always contended that le Main Highways Board should takeover the mains roads and leave the by-roads to the County Council. He would favour a reduction in iWUiiiiikiUlHl

should not be an even number,

Mr Barriball held the same views as- Mr Houston and Mr Berghan re Native rates, they would experience some difficulty in collecting them.

Mr Kitchen stated that the subsidies from the Main Highways Board was to some extent responsible for the Council’s present financial position. The number of ridings should be reduced and stated that this would be altered before the next election. He agreed with the previous speakers that they would have difficulty in collecting Native rates after 1930. Mr H B Matthews said the matter of a reduction in the number of boundries will be put before the Executive of the Ratepayers Association who will put the matter before the County Council later. " ‘