BOUNDARY ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1923, Page 2

BOUNDARY ROADS.

TARANAKI AND EGMONT. | NEW AGREEMENT REQUIRED. A deputation from the Taranaki County Council, comprising the chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett) and Cr. J. S. Wooldridge, V. Meredith (overseer), and R. Ellis (county clerk), waited upon the Egmont Council in connection with the maintenance of the Puniho boundary road, which is at present under the jurisdiction of the Taranaki County Council by an agreement entered into in 1908 by the Werekino and Parihaka Road Boards, and taken over by the respective councils when those boards merged. Mr. Connett said that while the terms of the agreement may have been quite satisfactory under Road Board control, the Taranaki County had felt for some time that the whole position should be reconsidered. “You will have seen by* the financial statement covering a period of eight years recently supplied you by our council, that we have contributed mud) more than our fair share of the cost of upkeep, which has been as little as could, be done to keep the road in reasonably good order,” proceeded Mr. Connett. “We therefore ask you to meet us in this additional amount expended, and ailso agree to terminate the present arrangement with a view to dealing with the matter in a way more satisfactory to both councils and more in keeping with present day requirements. The disadvantages are pateiit to all of us. The fact of two bodies being jointly responsible for the upkeep of a road is not favored, for to keep track of ail expenditure incurred means a separate account and workmen to record their time for such special work, which is at times overlooked by them. There is not the same community cf interest between the ratepayers, they having to approach their respective councils in connection with road improvements.” Mr. Connett added: “In the matter of loans, too, there is a distinct disadvantage. Were it possible to agree upon an alteration of boundary there is no doubt it would be preferable to the pre sent position, although probably neithe T of us is desirous of losing territory, and possibly the ratepayers concerned would not agree. However, to put something tangible before you, with the sanction of ratepayers concerned, we will undertake the whole responsibility of the Puniho Road, and agree to cancellation of the agreement now existing between our two counties in connection with the upkeep, of the Oxford-Saunders Road, l if a satisfactory boundary line to the ' w’estward of the Puniho Road can be mutually agreed on.” Cr. J. Wooldridge said that such an arrangement would assist ratepayers at the lower and upper end of the road to raise loans, as with the dual control they could not get the required nurnber of ratepayers. To the chairman, Mr. Connett said that the Egmont County Council had to contribute 15 per cent.- to the upkeep of the Oxford-Saunders Road. The clerk said that they had made one I ay merit.

The chairman thought there was no doubt some alteration was required. He did not like giving away territory, but he thought if ono body or the other took control of the road* it would be far better. Taranaki had controlled the road for some years, and he was prepared to admit that they had looked after it better than Egmont could have done. He favored a boundary at the back of the sections abutting on to the road.

Cr. Donald agreed. He pointed out that the road had to carry a lot of traffic from the Upper Newall Road. Cr. Young considered the Parihaka Road Board had looked after the road well. He did not like giving up territory. They had lost too much already. Cr. Toeland considered the Taranaki County Council had got enough out of the toll-gate to tar-seal the road. Cr. Gibson agreed that a road was not a good boundary, but he objected to the principle of giving up territory. The chairman admitted that they Tvere obtaining a good deal of revenue from the toll-gate, but on the other hand Taranaki was striking the maximum rate, viz., 3d, plus 9-18 d hospital rate. The chairman added that It was evident the council was averse to giving away territory. Some alteration was nece*ssary, and he suggested that a committee should be set up to meet the Taranaki County Council. A committee consisting of Crs. Young, Gibson, Donald, and the chairman was set up to meet a committee from the Taranaki County and report to the council. Mr. Goodwin, a ratepayer on the road, submitted a petition, which he stated was signed by 99 per cent, of the ratepayers in the area, asking that the territory between the Punilm Road and the Waiweranui river should be merged in the Taranaki County. The chairman stated that the matter would be considered by the committee set up.