USE OF ROADS

Opunake Times, 21 October 1947, Page 3

USE OF ROADS

MILKING COW HERDS COUNTY REPORT The difficulty of maintaining county roads to a desired standard under existing conditions, coupled with the adverse effect of the practise (in most cases unavoidable) of transferring dairy herds bv road to other farm properties, is shown in the following report submitted by the County Engineer, Mr. R. S. Martin, at last week’s meeting of the Egmout County Council: “The figures given have been obtained from interviews with each individual farmer concerned and show that in total some 5,* 234 cows are being driven over a length of 20 miles of road by 67 farmers daily, exclusive of the Main Road. Solely as a basis for discussion I have submitted coss to each individual based upon a levy of Id. per cow per chain. The rate of one penny per cow per chain was arrived at on the assumption that 50 per cent more than average maintenance is required on these lengths due to the extraordinary traffic. The _ average maintenance cost per mile in this county is , £SO, so that for the 20 miles concerned at £25 per mile the council would be compensated at £SOO. This would mean an average cost per year of £7*lo-0 to each of the farmers concerned and the actual individual levy, if adopted, would be as shown on the schedule.

The actual assessment of the chainage is a most difficult one and whether or not che method suggested is the best one is open to debate. However, some_ remedy is needed as the practice is an ever growing one and the maintenance of the lengths concerned not an easy task.” A schedule of the farmers concerned showing the number of cows, drainage traversed and relevant remarks'as to the situations of the farms concerned follows the above report. (The schedule shows whether the farmer owns property on both sides of the road, on one side only hut separated, or on one side connected. etc.) It was agreed by Councillors that cases were known where farmers used the _ road (many chains in some instances) in order to same their farms, but production interests were points also to he considered. The discussion, was deferred till next meeting as reported is our last issue.