OVERHEAD BRIDGES

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11876, 9 July 1924, Page 6

OVERHEAD BRIDGES

ERECTION DISPUTED DEPUTATION TO HUTT COUNT® COUNCIL. “TRYING TO PUT US OFF.” The Hutt County Council at its last monthly meeting decided it would not proceed with the erection of an overhead bridge at Pukerua, the loan for which was authorised by a poll of ratepayers in the district under a special rating area. Yesterday a deputation of Horokiwi ratepayers, in which riding Pukerua is situated, waited on the council to protest against the decision. Ratepayers in the district, it was maintained, had expended money on the understanding given last August that in the event of a poll being carried the work of erecting the bridge would be gone on with. It was a definite promise in writing, and now members of the district were at a loss to know the reasons for the council’s recent decision. It was characterised as a defiance of the ratepayers of the district. WOULD NOT AGREE. The chairman of the conncil (Mr A. I. Macka.v) explained that the Public Works Department, which had a scheme for a through road, would not agree to the bridge scheme. The department had offered to subsidise the other road which was a better one, and more ebuitale to the district as a whole, to the extent of £250. That road would provide the majority of the No. 19 special rating area with better access. He explained also that the amount for which a poll was taken, and the loan proposal carried. was not enough to complete the work. AGAINST THE SCHEME.

Letters also had been received from ratepayers in No. 19 area stating that they were against the -scheme being proceeded with. They had been, he said, to a certain extent misled.

The deputation asked whether the council would allow the work to proceed if ratepayers in the district would guarantee all payments in excess of the loan? Seventeen of the 31 opposers to the overhead bridge scheme who bad petitioned the council were not owners of land in the district when the poll was carried. Their objections, it was considered, ought not to he allowed to count. “TURNED IT DOWN.” The chairman: The Public Works Department will not assist in the construction of the road on which th" overhead bridge is to be placed, fhqft have absolutely “turned it down.” He thought they would get through road from Psremata, which would connect them right up. ■"WILL NOT BE PUT OFF.” On a hint being given by the chair* man that there was nothing more to bo. said a member of tho deputation exclaimed : “You are only trying to put us off. We are not going to be pot’ off every time. We are here to mk forjustioe, and we will get it.” The council affirmed its decision not to proceed with the work.