STOCK ROUTE SOUGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20669, 15 September 1930, Page 12

STOCK ROUTE SOUGHT.

PUTARURU AND MAMAKU. DIFFICULTY OF FINANCING, [BY TEXKGK.VTH. —OWN COBUESPOKPENI.] MATAMATA, Saturday. A petition asking that a stock route b<* opened between Putarurti and Mamaku, and signed by tho Rotorua and Putaruru Chambers of Commerce, the Mamaku Settlers and Ratepayers' Association and the Auckland Automobile Association, was considered at a meeting of the Matamata County Council to-day. The petition urged that such a stock route would facilitate tho passage of animals from the East Coast, and keep them off tho Mamaku Bush main highway. It would also facilitate tho removal of stock to the healthy country near Putaruru. Land suitablo for settlement would bo opened up, and it was suggested that the work was suitable for utilising unemployed labour. A deputation consisting of Messrs. Sneddon and Baldwin (Lichfield), Fitzherbert and Tayloi (Putaruru) and I'nrrival (Mamaku) waited on the council in support of (he petition. Mr. J. H. Anderson said that if the council handled tho matter it would entail a largo expenditure, while if a Government "grant was made it would bo deducted" from tFie amount granted annually to the council. The stock route might have been a practical proposal some years ago, but now it was considered that the Mamaku Bush Road was wido enough for cars and stock. Mr. \V. 11. Allen, in whoso riding the proposed stock route; via Sclwyn, largely a lies, said ho felt it was a matter which the settlers should impress upon the Public Works Department. lie recognised that the proposed route would greatly facilitate the removal of stock from the Mamaku areas, and while hj? was willing to do what he could, financial consideia* tions prevented them from taking the ma.ter in hand. However, he was willing to inspect the route again with these suggestions in view. The matter was then dropped, it being left with the petitioners to make the next move.