STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 84, 28 March 1908, Page 6

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Stratford County Council was held on Wednesday, reports the Post-, to discuss proposed alterations to boundaries and other matters. Present: Councillors (J. A. March, ant (chairman), W. Hathaway, A. Brown, J. B. Hine, A. W. McCutchan, W. A. Wood, J. Christoffel, J. Thomson, and D. L. A. Astbury. There were also present the following members of the Mangunui Road Board: Messrs. W. Hathaway, T. Bottin, Randrup, G. Knox, and F. Jlackay. In opening proceedings the Chairman said it would be well if those present would make a note of some figures he had before him, as they might help in the coming deliberations. They were as follow:—North Riding—Capital value £38I),U00, unimproved value £213,000, population 1820. South Riling—£2l6,ooo, £130,000, 954. West Riding—£2lo,ooo, £131,000,749. East Riding—£4l7,ooo, £235,000, 1655. The north half of the East Riding (north ot the East or Ohura Road) possessed a capital value of £237,000 and an unimproved value of £120,000, and the south half £IBO,OOO capital value and £113,ooi) unimproved value. The number of ratepayers in the North Riding was 388; in tlie South, 178; in the West, 145; and in the East, 283. Councillor Marchant then explained that if anything was done in the direction of alteration of boundaries it lad to be done this month or remain as at pre-ent for the next three years. Th",v were shortly losing the Ohura iiidiii'r, and with it Councillor Mi-Cutchan* valued services. This would leave the Council with eight instead of nine members, and it would be for them to discuss whether this was desirable. It was also proposed to touch on the question of the merging of the Manganui Bond Board. He was glad to see the Manganui Road Board members present, and thought it was evidence of the good feeling existing. t>n the suggestion of the Chairman, who referred to the bearing the existence of th e Board had on the finances of the county, that an expression of views be given by the Road Board members, Sir. Frank Mackay said he would only be in favour of merging if it were agreed that the Beaconslield Road to the Kahouri Bridge be declared | a main road.

Councillor Marchant said that, in respect to the alteration of boundaries, unless the Manganui Road Board agreed to merging this could not very well take place. -\lr. Mackay asked whether a general rate was to be struck over the whole county in the future for the upkeep of main roads.

The Chairman said they had done as the law directed, according to the highest authority they could obtain. The question of differential rating had recently been submitted to Mr. T. F. Martin, who as late as March 7th of this year, in reply to the query whether in counties where main roads are constituted there is powor to levy rates differentially in each riding to maintain ordinary county roads, had expressed an opinion in the affirmative. ' Councillor Marchant read Mr. Martin s opinion and also his opinion (likewise in the affirmative) that in count if, where no special order creating man roads had been passed that the cost of maintaining all county roads must I:<> borne by each riding from the rates levied in each riding. (ieneral rates must be levied separately in each riding, whether or not of varying amounts. Mr. F. Mackay asked if the Stratford County Council would help the Manganui Road Board to form its district into a county. Councillor Astbury said he for o>ie would say "No." Mr. Mackay said it appeared to him that the Stratford County Council was trading on the iNorth Riding's good credit.

Councillor Thomson said the only reason they desired the merging of this Manganui Road Board was for the more equitable adjustment of affairs than existed at present. In reply to -Mr. "Mackay. the Chairman said he quite held that the liea--1 consiiold Road should be declared a main road. Councillor Wood said it was for a 'mutual gain that they would like the Board to merge. The Chairman produced figures to show that under existing conditions, with the Road Board within the county, C(i2s per annum was lost to the who.e county in subsidy, a proportion of whi;h would, if obtained, go to the North liiding.

Councillor Hathaway said he did not think the Manganui Road Board was prejudiced against merging if it hal any assurance of moderately fair treatment. Would the Council lie prepared to give the Manganui Road Board a lead v

Councillor JUtutclmn said £l7B per annum on subsidy alone would be the actual gain to the North Riding if i! merged into the county. In reply to a question l>y Councillor Hathaway, the councillors present all declared themselvc- in favour of dc'la ring the Beaeonslield Road a main road.

Hn the motion of Councillor Astbury it was resolved that in the event of the Manganui Road District merging into tlie county early as reasonably

practicable, the whole of the Beaconsfield Road be treated as a main road and declared a main road, if any other road in the county is declared a luaiu road.

Councillor Hathaway said that ss chairman of the Manganui Road Boa-'d ho should not have supported merging in any way if he did not think it would be to the North Riding's advantage to take this step. The Road Board members then expressed satisfaction with the position so far as merging is concerned, the Chairman thanking them for their attendance.

Passing on to the representation question, Councillor Iline said he thought that if a small new riding were formed, with the Whaugamomona County as boundary, coming up to Douglas, entitled to one member, the difficulty would l»e met. He would move in this direction, the new riding to be called " Maugaehu Riding." Councillor lline also moved that a special order to this effect be mail", the alteration to take effect at the ne.vi general election of members to the Council. Councillor Wood seconded and the motion was carried.

Councillor Wood said he thought the South Riding should contribute a quo;a to the upkeep of the East Road. 'Die North Riding had expressed itself agreeable to an allocation towards this object for the upkeep of that portion of the road from the Kahonri Bridge to Stratford.

-Councillor Marchant thought the matter of allocation of revenue one that could be dealt with at any time by resolution of the Council. The matter was allowed to drop.