UAWA’S DIFFICULTIES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17425, 25 November 1930, Page 4

UAWA’S DIFFICULTIES

HEAVILY RATED COUNTY HIGHWAY BOARD'S SYMPATHY Tim inability of I In l maintenance lo keep pace with deterioration on Uawa ('mini\ roads was stressed by council members when they met the Main lligltv.avs Hoard yesterday afternoon. The deputy county chairman, Mr. .1. .McNeil, was in the chair, and others present were t rs. C. I'.. Smith, -J. 1.. Reeves. S. K. Spencer. .Mr. 11. h. Tempest, county clerk, and Mi'. .1. King, county engineer.

Mr* McNeil expressed regret at the absence of the chairman, ,Mr. E. B. Roland, who was seriously ill.

At present, he added, it was morn than the council could do to keep its roads up lo the standard it wished. Tim main highway, for instance, was not standing up to the trallic. If they spent all that was considered necessary on the highway, there would be little left for the cl.ay roads <d' the county. R was papa country, which was costly to maintain. The council could do no more than tit present, and it had barely enough to keep tire day roads in proper order. The shoulders of the metalled mads were breaking away as a result of Idle trampling of large numbers ol travelling stock. The council was laboring tinder the absence of good giavel, lie added, and the council had had to abandon its quarry, which became too costly lo work. Tt. was hardly lair to treat a county so ban* of rending material on the same basis as others more favorably situated. Several bridges required renewing. and the council had insufficient funds for the purpose. On the flats, rates ranged from 9s to 12s 6d an acre, not including the harbor rate, which was about 10s per bale of wool in addition to wharfage. The roads were, deteriorating faster than it was possible for ratepayers to maintain them owing to the high cost of metal.

Mr. McKenzie, acting member of the. board, expressed deep, regret, at Alt'. Roland's illness. The hoard realised the council's difficulties, and that it was confronted with a hurdle. It bad been pointed out. however, that the protection of the present metal was required, and the, lxiard wished to preserve the asset it had in it. The board desired to treat the council as leniently as possible, and it wished to maintain the main highway in reasonable order. The work of protecting the shoulders, he agreed, was necessary. The board had l>eon discouraging claims for additional lengths of highways, hut it. would treat the council’s position in as sympathetic a manner as possible.

Air. .Morrison said that a countv sue:lt as this which struck such a. high rate was entitled to more assistance than those which were rated on a low basis and were always clamoring for assistance. If the hoard could give any preference at all. the Tawn county would he one to his mind which should receive it.