DISSATISFACTION FELT

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1933, Page 11

DISSATISFACTION FELT

POSTAL AND RAIL SERVICES.

OTANGAWAI RATEPAYERS ACT.

The principal business before the monthly meeting of the Otangawai Ratepayers’ Association was to bring before the Post Office authorities and the Railway Department, the widespread dissatisfaction of the district with the present mail service and arrival of goods at Matiere. Resolutions suggesting where improvements could be effected were carried.

The chairman, - Mr. Passau, informed the meeting that the Matiere Citizens’ Progressive League had already held a meeting protesting against the existing conditions. Other districts were intending to do likewise. Mr. Julian said that a letter posted in New Plymouth before 10 p.m. on. Sunday did not reach Otangiwai until the Friday’s mail delivery, as now it could not reach Matiere in time for the Tuesday's delivery, as was the case formerly. Mr. Passau pointed out that the letters posted in Auckland on September 8 did not reach him until September 14. In Mir. Dunn’s opinion the biggest drawback was that now it was not possible to reply to correspondence on the same day as it was received. Business people in Matiere now found their goods arriving a day or more before the invoices said Mr. Passau. In the case of perishable goods, this was disastrous.

It was decided to send the following resolution to the chief postmaster’ at Hamilton:—

“That this association ask the Post and Telegraph Department to endeavour’ to make some improvement to the existing timetable for incoming and outgoing mails for the Matiere district. To meet the requirements of the district, it is suggested that outgoing mails should close at Matiere at 4 p.m. and that this mail be despatched on the goods train from Stratford which arrives at Matiere at 9.5 S p.m. To make this possible it is suggested that mails be left in the charge of the Railway Department’s caretaker until the arrival of this 9.58 p.m. train. Furthermore, the present timetable foi’ incoming mail, is also very inconvenient owing to its late arrival. Often goods brought to Matiere by the goods train have arrived a day or more before tire invoices have reached the Matiere business people concerned? and in the case of perishable goods ,it makes the position very awkward for them.”

The next business before the meeting was the question of the delivery of goods at the Matiere station.' After discussions on the inconvenience of the present system, it was decided to send the following resolution to the district traffic manager, Wanganui:— “That this association ask the district traffic manager, Wanganui, to alter the existing arrangement of goods for Matiere being carried on to Ohura and then brought back to Matiere on the following day, as much inconvenience and delay is caused by so doing. The present arrangement is very inconvenient to the residents of Matiere and surrounding districts and is absolutely disastrous to the condition of perishable goods. Also,, a change is very essential for the importation of materials for our local dairy factory. To meet the requirements of our district, we respectfully request and strongly urge that either Okahukura or Taumarunui be made the trans-shipping station for Matiere goods; furthermore, in the interests of public safety, it is sincerely requested that suitable lighting arrangements be installed at the Matiere station, and that such light be lighted before the arrival of each train.” The secretary was also instructed to write to the directors of the Ohura Valley Dairy Company asking for their support in the above matter. The question of a porter for the Matiere station then came under discussion, Mr. Passau stating that the gross tonnage for the Matiere station was more than sufficient to justify the appointment of a porter. Mr. Higgie suggested that even if there was not sufficient work to keep a porter engaged full time, he could be given the work of keeping the station yard in order. . The secretary was instructed to write to the district traffic manager asking' for a porter for the Matiere station. Correspondence was received from the Ohura County Council over the legalisation of the Mangapapa East Road. It was resolved to write to the county asking them to proceed as soon as possible with the legalisation of this road. The association also decided to ask the Ohura County Council to proceed with the metalling of the Mangapapa West Road (Mr. Ritchie’s road) as soon as possible. A further resolution to the Ohura County Council asked that the county complete the metalling of the Mangapapa East Road from de Malmanche’s to the end of the rating area. Another motion carried embodying metalling was: “That the Minister of Public Works be written to asking if he could make provision on this year’s estimates for the metalling under a special grant of the Waikaka Road from Mangakaikatea Junction to Candison’s corner on the Whenuakura West Road.” Correspondence was received from the Main Highways Board stating that they would not take over the section of metal road between Niho Niho and Matiere as a main highway. Mr. Passau: The main highway is unmetalled, and this road, the Whenuakura Road, and from Etherington’s cornel- into Matiere has to carry all the heavy traffic that should go over the main highway. I The settlers rated themselves for a | special loan to metal this road, but it was | never metalled to carry the traffic that it now has to carry. The metal has been worn out that the Main Highways Board should repair it. It was decided to write to the Main Highways Board asking them to supply sufficient metal. to repair the damage done to this road by main highways traffic. . Arising out of the above resolution, came the question of metalling the main highway between Matiere and Niho This would relieve the Waikaka Road of much traffic, said Mr. Passau. Further-. ‘ more the suspension bridge was unsafe for heavy traffic. The cream lorries had to halve their loads when taking cream to the factory. The matter had already been mentioned to Mr. Albertson, the district engineer, and he had given representatives a sympathetic hearing. It was decided to forward a letter to the Main Highways Board asking them to metal this portion of the road.

The chairman stated that as soon as the new bridge at Chaytor s was com-

pleted metalling was to be commenced on the Mokau-Ohura Road. Seven and a-half miles were to be metalled. It was resolved to write to the Waitomo County Council asking for their co-operation in giving a metalled outlet to the Te Kuiti highway by metalling the 1J miles of clay portion in the Waitomo county. A resolution was passed as follows: — “That this association wi-ite to the Minister of Internal Affairs strongly protesting against the 3d a bale proposed levy on all wool, for the betterment of wool, and that this association considers the Meat Board could do the necessary work without any extra expense to the farmers.”

A lengthy meeting ended with an animated discussion on the advisibility of financial trading on the part of the local Ohura Valley Dairy Company.