TAURANGA COUNTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21515, 12 June 1933, Page 11

TAURANGA COUNTY

ROAD METALLING PROPOSALS DEVELOPMENT OF FARM LANDS [from our own correspondent"! TAURANGA, Saturday The Tauranga County Council at its monthly meeting yesterday received a letter from the district engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr. H. Watkinson, stating that with a view to obtaining information as to what reproductive works were available for the unemployed, his department had asked him to submit a li?t of unmetalled roads, which, if metalled, would assist the settlers in further developing their farms. A list of roads was submitted, and Mr. Watkinson asked the council's opinion as to the order of priority of the works and to what extent the council would be prepared to assist financially. If the works were gone on with he understood the Unemployment Board would subsidise the wages, but not the cost of material and transport. The Public Works Department would most likely be prepared to assist toward the fatter cost if the council were prepared to find a portion. The council agreed to the order of priority in regard to 18 by-roads and decided that 10 per cent of the general rates produced from the properties fronting and served by each of the roads indicated bo allocated to the works.

The Bay of Islands County Council forwarded a copy of a resolution, asking county councils to approach their respective members of Parliament with the request that, irrespective of. party politics, they should give a guarantee to press for the complete derating of farm lands for road purposes. The council decided to support the resolution. The council appointed the chairman, Mr. S. H. MacDougall, and the clerk, Mr. H. Lewis, as delegates to the Counties' Conference. It was decided to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for sanctiort to borrow £I7OO, being the amount required on a £2 for £1 subsidy basis, as provided by the Main Highways Board for the re-erection of the Otamarakau, Kaikokopu, Aongatete and Te Mania '"a*'letter was received from tho Tn Puke branch of the Farmers' Union, stating that at a recent meeting it was resolved to request the council to seriously consider the question of refraining from striking any rates for the ensuing year. The letter stated it was considered that, owing to the poor returns farmers were receiving for their produce, they were not in a position to pay county rates, and, in the meantime, until the position improved they suggested that no rates be struck, liie letter was received.