NGATIMARU RIDING

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 21, 20 August 1928, Page 3

NGATIMARU RIDING

INJUSTICE TO STRATFORD.

COUNTY COUNCIL PROTEST

A strong protest against the inclusion of the Ngatiinani Riding in the Stratfcircl County was voiced at the meeting of the Council on Savin, day.

The County Solicitors (Messrs Ruthcrfurd, Macalister and Coleman) forwarded the following letter rece.ved from the Clifton County S v’ioitors: We arc now advised hy the Department of Internal Affairs that the .Public Works Department will provide a subsidy of £3 for Cf for the metaf ling of the Matau Kiore Road, and that £IOOO on accotmt will he placed on tliis yehr’s, Estimates. The Department further advises thpt it is proposed to make the alteration ol boiuidltries as set out in the petition, and ask 3 that we consult with your Council us to. a suitable date frccu which the merger sh.alMako ( effect. We shall be obliged, therefore, if. will advise ns a s l« the- wishes pf your Council in the nhtter. The Clifton County Council suggests September 30th, being the half* year, as a suitable date, as it would enable the Stratford Couldv to lake in ham; any part of the im'falling during next summer. ■.

• Mr Iff 1 ’Walter, M.P., forwarded a letter from the Prime Minister, stating that the doclaildion of the road us a highway must stand over t.ll tho metalling had so far advanced as to justify such a declaration. Cr. Murray drew attention to tho New Plymouth Ciiamer of Commerce, gigiug the med'iug of the road from Puriuigi to Mijtau.

JR PITT’S PROTEST

Mr, Pitt- said the Riding had now

been thrust on the. Stratford County, and/ he thought the Council had boon '* vorjTutijustly treated. The Commission recomnieuded tlvt the Riling go into Stratford Comity, in order to help the railways, but ho could not sec the force of this argument. The 1 dfceisVm of; the Commission wa-si * very weak one. The raising of a loan of £9OOO for the road brought up another, nnpnitrly. The' Publiq Trust Office considered the land oiv tho Douglas North Road) as' not sulk*

cieiit security for a loan authorised

Could the Office consider Ngatimaru land as a sufficient security for a loan? He thought not. Ho consid-

ered if very unjust that the Council should he -saddled with the Riding toj

help a Government ‘ Department which, was fUty, years behind tho

times. Tito general opinion was 'that the whole .of Ngatiinani should go to the Inglewood County, The

gift of tho Government of a .subsief was a. gift! which could never be taken advantage of. Cr. Murray moved that the chairman and Cr. Pitt take charge of the

matter, ami that they have power to decide on the name of tho new Riding, if necessary, and after con-

ference with the solicitor, to reply

to the Govern,ippnt,

A DANGER

€r. Woji'e expressed the opinion that if the road was metalled before it was declared a highway it would never be declared. Cr. Pitt said the Government promised £3 for £l, out he \\nted to know where the £1 was coming from.

The chairman said the chairman Of the Whangamoma County Council (Mr Clcland) had made the suggestion that all the rough country should be put into one County, when special subsidies could he arranged. If that was done the roads 'could be made without rates. The Clerk said it would be difficult to arrange the rates if the ■Ridiujr was taken over in the middle of the year. The most suitable time would be at Hire time of the general election of Counties, when the representatives could be arranged for. The motion was carried.