Northern Highways Perturb Board

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 585, 11 February 1929, Page 14

Northern Highways Perturb Board

COSTLY EXPENDITURE

WAITEMATA COUNTY POSITION The expenditure of money on the roads immediately north of Auckland is reaching such proportions that the Highways Board is becoming perturbed. Air. A. E. Jull, chairman of the board, told one deputation this morning that the boa rdbecame subject to nervous disorder when the subject was mentioned, and another deputation that the board was very much alarmed at the cost of the present undertakings. The board met a deputation from the Waitemata County. The chairman, Mr. Marshall Laing, said that the Alain Highways Board had laid down a large programme of works on two main roads adjacent to Auckland Citj', the Auckland-Mamilton and AucklandHelensville roads. It was understood that work on the Auckland-Hamilton Road was held up on account of the fact that counties would not accept the Highways BWoard’s subsidies. In this case it was thought that money available for this road could be diverted to other roads adjacent to Auckland on which ratepayers were willing to find the necessary subsidy toward the board’s contribution. Air. Laing indicated that the county was prepared to find its share of the Titirangi road improvements. The board was told that the county had £4,100 in hand to subsidise the Waikumete-West Coast road, and that the ratepayers would probably be prepared to raise any further sum necessary for concreting. A £ 3 to £ 1 subsidy was suggested. Air. Jull: It seems to be short odds up here. The Albany-Wainui and Kauka-pakapa-Port Albert road prospects, and the chances of subsidies were fully discussed. ‘The obligations we are under in this locality are enormous,” remarked Air. Jull. “They are out of proportion to the assistance we can give in other places. We understand the present position of the settlers, but do try to understand our position. “If we allow money to be diverted into a whole lot of little side-issues we are going to delay the whole of the North. We agree with everything you say, but the roads will have to take their turn.” 6 Regarding Muriwai Road, the board was told that 95 per cent, of the traffic was from the city to the beach, and that the county had raised £3,700 and spent it on metalling. A request was made that the board should provide the metal for the remaining mile. A member of the council inquired what was likely to happen concerning reconstruction north of Kumeu on the Helensville Road. Air. Jull said the board was arranging to take tallies of the traffic and would then be in a better position to decide. The work was not on the programme for the first five years, but if necessary there might be some modification. He assured the representatives that there was no chance of any further reconstruction being put in hand next year in any case, and commented on the fact that a good metal road might yet be found to fill the bill. He complimented the county on its improved maintenance in this area. The board promised to go into a number of the questions raised.