CONTROL OF OHURA ROAD

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1930, Page 8

CONTROL OF OHURA ROAD

HIGHWAYS BOARD RETAINS DUTY. REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTER. The district engineer (Mr. P. Keller) notified the Whangamomona County Council on Monday that certain powers, rights, duties and liabilities in respect to the Stratford-Taumarunui main highway had been delegated by the Main Highways Board to the council. As the board had assumed full responsibility for the maintenance and any construction work on the highway, however, it appeared advisable that the board should revoke the delegation of pawer so as to have complete control of the road. Before taking any such steps Mr. Keller asked whether the council had any objection. The chairman, Mr. N. R. Cleland, thought the proposal was a good one. The road' was looked upon as a highway. He assumed the board could undertake the duty of keeping the road clear of stock. The council decided it had no objection to the necessary steps being taken. The Stratford Chamber.of Commerce notified that represen .ations had been made to the Minister of Public Works urging the prosecution of work on the Ohura Road. The reply was that expenditure on that highway whether for deviation or otherwise was a chaige against the Main Highways account. His reply to a question in Parliament by Mr. W. J. Polson was- contrary to that. The importance of improving that main highway was really urgent and the Stratford Chamber proposed making representations to the Acting Prime Minister when, he was at Stratford next week, and they asked the council to arrange for a delegate to assist. The chairman and Mr. Law were appointed to represent the council. CHAIRMAN INDIGNANT.

BOROUGH WORKS COMMITTEE.

“If anyone thinks he can handle my job better than I can he is welcome to have a go at it for I’m quite piepared to step out. When this matter was discussed in camera by the works committee there was none of these objections; it is only when the Press is present at the council meeting that this sort of thing occurs.” Thus spoke the chairman of the works committee. Mi. S. A. Ward, at the meeting of the Stratford Borough Council on Monday night. Mr. Ward’s remarks were made in reply to Mr. R. F. Harkness, who objected' to the work of improving Pembroke Road between Broadway and Cordelia Street being commenced, as the result of a decision of the works committee, before the council had confirmed the decision. The work it was proposed to do, he said, would not make a thorough and lasting job. “All this has already been discussed by the ' works committee which consists of the fu 1 ! council,” the Mayor interrupted, “and we are only wasting time going into it again here.” Messrs. C. H. Speck and A. H. Trotter also objected to the work being started without the confirmation of the council, but the Mayor terminated the discussion and put the motion. The three councillor mentioed voted against the confirmation of the works committees recommendation but it was carried by a majority. , . . The substitution of mechanical contrivan .es to do work that was previously effected manually is typical of tlic modern age, but when it was suggested to the Stratford Borough Council on Monday night that stock drovers thought the council might metal''certain portions of the southern end of Portia Street in order that the driving of stock through the borough by car might be facilitated the councillors hailed the proposal with ’a mixture of humour and surprise. Portia Street is part of the route oxer which stock must be driven when it negotiates the borough. The drovers request was not granted. Appreciation of the work of the town clerk, Mr. P. Skoglund, and his assistants in arranging an entertainment m aid of the Boys’ Band uniform f™d wa s expressed by the Mayor, Mr. P. Thomson, at the meeting of the .Stratfoid Borough Council on Monday night.