HUTT ROAD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11254, 5 July 1922, Page 6

HUTT ROAD

BOARD’S IMPORTANT DECISION. PERMANENT SURFACE TO BE PROVIDED. An important decision was reached, by the Hutt Road Board of Control yesterday, when the following motion, moved hv Mr W. T. Strand, Mayor of Lower Hutt, and seconded by Mr J. W. McEwan, Mayor of Petone, was carried: —* That the Hutt Road Board of Control prooeed at once with the construction of the best permanent road that it is possible to construct within its powers. The meeting of the board was held in private, the Mayor of tho city (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.) presiding. The board’s decision is m accordance with tho powers conferred by the Hutt Road Amendment Act, 1917. Tho Act authorises the Wellington City Council —the controlling authority—to construct part of th© Hutt road for part of its width in concrete to such depth as it thinks fit. For such a purpose the council is empowered to raise a loan of £30,000 by special order, an appeal to th© ratepayers being unnecessary. Tho interest and sinking fund on such a loan would ho deemed as part of tho-oxpenditure uponunaintenanoo, and would be proportionately borne by the various contributing authorities.

If is of importance to note that tho Act says that tho road shall be put down in concrete, and that a limit of £30,000 is placed upon the expenditure for such a purpose. The board is therefore required to proceed within ■the statutory limits laid down, and further investigation will show whether it is advisable or possible to do so. It might bo thought necessary to secure a further amendment of the Act. More complete information will be placed before the board when it meets again on July 19th.