IMPORTANT TASK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27040, 26 March 1949, Page 3

IMPORTANT TASK

MIDDLEMARCH HIGHWAY OPINION OF TAIERI COUNCIL One of the six most important tasks requiring the attention of the Ministry of Works in the South Island is the Mosgiel-Middlemarch-Dunback highway. This opinion was expressed yesterday at the meeting of the Taieri County Council, in reply to a letter from the South Island Local Bodies’ Association, which requested a statement by the council on what it considered' the most important public facility needing the attention of the Ministry. The proposals of local bodies throughout the South Island are to be considered by the association, and the six most important will be referred to the Ministry. On the suggestion of the county engineer, Mr G. King, the KyeburnMiddlemarch road as far as the Rock and Pillar area was included in the county’s proposal. Cr D. Murdoch added that if the county could put forward a single large scheme it would encourage greater consideration from the association.

Abbotshill road, Abbotsford, had been graded in response to requests to the county, and was in good condition when he visited it. Cr J. W. Penno, chairman of the council, stated in reply to a complaint from a ratepayer. The ratepayer said that there had been no need for the road to be graded, and after the operation the road had quickly become a morass of mud. The engineer's suggestion that a tour of the county to assist in the preparation of the year’s estimates should be made by the Works Committee and the representative of the riding concerned was adopted.

Cr Murdoch said he had seen a newspaper report in which Cr T. Carruthers was quoted as saying that the council was not interested in the realignment and rebridging of the road through Kokon'ga and Hyde. Cr Carruthers stated that the report was not correct.