ROAD TO FREEZING WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16309, 16 August 1916, Page 8

ROAD TO FREEZING WORKS.

. * , QUESTION OF MAINTENANCE. [ 5 !BT TELfJOnAPH. —OWK CORRESPONDENT.] ', WHANGAREI, Tuesday. f The difference between the Whangarei 1 County Council and the Freezing Com--5 panv over the maintenance of the road to the works has not yet been satisfactorily settled, though hopes are entertained that agreement will be reached before long. Heavy stock traffic in wet weather so cut up the Heads Road that it became almost impassable, and the council found . itself faced with exceptional maintenance expenditure. The council previouslydecided to ask the company to collect a tax of Is per head on all cattle driven . over the road to the works. In the event of this not being done the council notified its intention to erect a toll-gate. In turn the company notified that, in view of this action, the works would be closed. The manager of the company, Mr. Rowlands, attended the meeting of the council on Fridav. He explained that it was ' only with* the greatest difficulty that the 7 companv had been able to keep the works - open latelv. Stock had become so dear a that it was doing business at a loss. The , method of taxing stork would fall hardly on the company, and he contended that e such action would not be taken in the i case of a dairy factory. The works were e onlv small, yet they gave the same terms t as the larger ones in New Zealaud. He emphasised the difficulties which it had to face in lightering stock, and the long 8 drive to the works, which resulted in - shrinkage. A tax running into £1000 per s annum would place it at a disadvantage, and it would be better to send stock to c Westfield. Ships called infrequently, and a they had meat in the works now which had come in last December. By the water l e route the cattle were knocked about. He ii suggested that the council fix periods 3 when the road could be used and he would r i try and meet it. He thought it possible ,1 the company would consider the granting j of a lump sum to assist in maintenance. v | After discussion the council set up a ' committee consisting of Messrs. Keav, ,_ _ Morey. Mclnnes. and the engineer to ( j ' discuss the matter informally with Mr. (t Rowlands to endeavour to arrive at ; , . settlement.