COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1923, Page 8

COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

TARANAKI AND EGMONT. THE QUESTION DEFERRED. The question of the proposed alteration of boundaries between the Taranaki and Egmont counties, with the object of doing away with the dual control that exists in the case of a road boundary, was the subject of some discussion at the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday. Some time ago ti deputation from the Taranaki Council waited on the Egmont Council and suggested* that the present boundary, the Puniho Road, should be altered to allow the Taranaki county to include all the sections fronting on the Puniho Road, and so give them complete control of the road. A committee of the Egmont Council reported in favor of the proposal, and the matter was deferred to enable the other councillors to visit the district and go over the roads. At yesterday’s meeting, the chairman of the council (Councillor Green) stated that he was of opinion that it would be in the best interests of the council to concede the strip of country asked for. Councillor J. Young strongly opposed ceding any territory. He recognised that the present system was unsatisfactory, but. thought that a' commission should be set up. He could not understand the generosity of the Taranaki Council in wishing to take over the responsibility of thi road. They had t ever given any indication of being willing to make concessions before. Egmont was entitled to home share of the Puniho toll gate revenue. Some years ago the then chairman of the Egmont Council (Councillor Fleming) and the speaker had waited on the Taranaki Council and had endeavoured to get

some toll gate concessions, but they could* not get the slightest consideration, ratepayers not even being allowed a return trip through the gate free unless they returned the same day. Regarding the’state of the Lower Puniho Road he considered this did not reflect greatly on the administrative ability of the Taranaki County, as Egmont had in the past been able to metal some of its byroads out of general revenue. Councillor Tosland also strongly opposed the proposal. He considered the Lower Puniho Road, which Taranaki had controlled for the past twenty years, did not do them credit. He thought Taranaki and Egmont should ■ join hands and approach the Government for a subsidy. The secret of the dissatisfaction with the ratepayers at that end of the county was due to the Taranaki County having the whole of the toll gate revenue. He strongly favored a commission, as he considered that by giving away any territory they would weaken the whole structure of the county, not only in the north end but in the south as well. Councillor Young pointed out that only a little while back they had fought hard and successfully to defend the interests of the ratepayers against the aggression of other pounties, and to give up territory now would be to undo that. Councillor J. Pettigrew was of the opinion that road boundaries were not suitable. The proposal to cede territory was for the sole purpose of getting over dual control of the road. It did not propose to cede anything like the territory they had fought to retain. He did not think that there was any possibility of obtaining a share of the toll revenue. If there were Waimate would have had a share of the Hawera toll gate revenue before this. Moreover, they did not know what the road might cost in the future. Councillor Collins said he had also been opposed to giving any territory away, but after viewing the country he favored adopting the committee’s report. Councillor Gibson thought it was preferable to arrange the matter amicably with the Taranaki Council. Councillor Young said they had no guarantee that the Taranaki Council would forego the 15 per cent, if the territory were ceded. -Councillor Gibsons We hve their assurance to that effect. Councillor Young was strongly imposed to ceding any territory. He doubted whether Taranaki would be prepared to give them any territory and allow them to maintain the ro; d. After further discuss*. >n. the matter was deferred, pending receipt of alternative proposals from the Taranaki Council.