WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1933, Page 3

WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY

METALLING OF THE ROADS EFFORTS TO SECURE GRANTS. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The Whangamomona County Council met yesterday, there being present Crs. N. R. Cleland (chairman), J. D. Law, G. Gower, M. P. Ford, W. J. Rawlinson, B. Neustrowski and E. B. Roberton. The Minister of Public Works, writing further in connection with the Putikituna Road metalling proposals, stated he was under the impression that the Kohuratahi, Whitianga and Putikituna Roads were to be undertaken from the same camp, but he had since been informed that Putikituna Road was in a more or less isolated position and could not conveniently be worked from the Waipuna camp. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining single men he had no option but to await the completion of metalling on the Kohuratahi, Whitianga and Mauku Roads. . Then, if favourable arrangements could be made with the Unemployment Board, he hoped to have the organisation now at Waipuna removed to the Putikituna locality.

He mentioned that he appreciated the struggle settlers were making in their efforts to overcome the difficulties of indifferent access, and the council could rest assured that he’ would maintain interest in their representations and in those of the council. Every endeavour would be made to complete operations in the Waipuna area as soon as possible. That no provision had been made on the estimates for the Putikituna Road need not be taken as an indication that nothing would be done, for with a considerable amount of work yet remaining at Waipuna there was little likelihood that any expenditure on the Putikituna Road would be brought to charge before the next financial year. “I feel that settlers will be gratified to receive the, Minister’s assurance,” remarked' Cr. Law when the letter was received.

Cr. Gower remarked that operations from the Waituna camp should be finished by the autumn.

OLD BRIDGE FAULTERING.

“With reference to your representations on behalf of the Whangamomona County Council for the provision of a grant so that, the replacement of the Whangamomona stream suspension bridge on Takumaroa Road might be put in hand, I have now to advise that in accordance with the council’s application on this year’s reading estimates this item received consideration but, due to the fact that the work is maintenance it was not possible to make provision for it out of loan money,” wrote the Minister of Public Works to Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., who forwarded the communication to the council. The Minister went on to point out that the Consolidated Fund had suffered such heavy inroads that he was not in a position to make any further commitments from that source. Indeed, before the Government was asked to do so he thought the council and the interested Stettlers might well endeavour to do something for themselves. He suggested that the council go into the question and ascertain whether it could make at least some offer to the Government which might be more acceptable than the present straight-out application for free money. “This,” said the chairman, “is in opposition to the policy contained in the promise of Mr. Coates some years ago, when he said it was the duty of the Public Works Department to reinstate all those bridges originally erected by the department in soft timber. That’ promise was given verbally to the Whangamomona settlers, but the policy underlying it has been observed for several years.” Other councillors remarked that the bridge had been condemned nearly ten years ago, and attention was drawn to the impecunious state of the settlers concerned.

The cleric was instructed to reply along the lines indicated by the discussion.

ACCESS FOR SETTLER.

.Mr. P. - Keller, district engineer, wrote stating that on the strength of Mr. Coulter’s offer to contribute £9O towards the cost of metalling 46 chains of Tawhiwhi Road, on the understanding that the 38 chains of Junction Road connecting his road with the Ohura main highway on the top of the Pohokura Saddle was also metalled, a sum had been placed on the current estimates for Taw-hiti Road, but no provision was made for - the connecting length on Junction Road. He felt that he could not approach his head office at the present juncture for a free money grant unless he received some financial support from the council. On the basis of Mr. Coulter’s contribution a sum of £75 appeared a reasonable amount to be found by the council. The estimated cost of the metalling of 84 chains was £572. Therefore, should the council agree to provide £75 and the offer be accepted by the department the council would be finding only one-ninth of the whole cost.

The council regretted that in view of its financial position it was unable to make •an offer, but the hope was expressed that the situation would not prejudice Mr. Coulter’s chances of getting Tawhiwhi Road metalled irespective of whether Junction Road was attended to or-not.

“No trace of any such application can be found in this office; nevertheless your representations will be given due consideration by the board if and when the application referred to is received,” wrote the Commissioner of Unemployment in acknowledging receipt of the council’s resolution to support the application of ratepayers of the Ngatimaru riding of the Stratford county for the establishment of a camp of unemployed relief workers for the purpose of forming a road of access t® a gravel deposit. Cr. Rawlinson said he understood the petition had since been lodged and a reply made. Advice was received from the Public Works Department that as from December 12, 1933, Raekahua Road, Tangarakau, for a distance of about 21 chains from the Raekahua stream near the south-east comer of section 7, together' with private buildings thereon, would be under the exclusive control and care of the council, provided (1) that the council arranged to legalise the strip of land necessary to include the formation in the road reserve; (2) that the department have no liability for the cost of placing the road on the present reserve when the buildings -were removed if it ever became necessary to do so; (3) that any buildings owned by the Crown be allowed to remain as at present at the department’s convenience and the department to have the right to remove them at any time. LOANS FOR DEVELOPMENT. Advice was received from the Local Government Loans Board to the effect that the Whitianga Road loan of £225 had been referred back to the council in order that that body might have an opportunity of considering the effect of legislation which was being proceeded with during the present session of Par-, liament with a view to providing an alternative method of finance for works undertaken for the benefit of ratepayers in defined special areas. The general intention of the legislation referred to was to empower a local body to do work

in a special area from the general account funds and to levy a rate over that area to recoup the general account.

After considerable discussion it was decided that owing to pressure on the county fund the council could not see its way to take advantage of pending legislation whereby funds might be taken from the general account for work and recouped from the ratepayers of the special area. Further, the council was loath to start a new scheme in view of the urgent need for the work being completed before the summer ended. “The position regarding Raekohua Road will now be looked into and the request considered in the light of available funds,” wrote the Hon. J. Bitchener, Minister of Public Works, in acknowledging a petition, backed by the council’s support, for the metalling of Raekohua Road between Tahora and. Tangarakau. The Stratford Hospital Board- wrote in connection with the same road that it was considering engaging a nurse with a car to attend to the needs of the whole district covered by the Tangarakau and Whangamomona Medical Associations. Difficulty arose, however, in the state of the road between Tahora and Tangarakau, and the council was asked what assistance it might be able to give in providing better access to Tangarakau. * STRATFORD AMBULANCE. A request for a donation towards the cost of an ambulance at Stratford was received from Mr. W. D. Young, secretary to the ambulance appeal committee. The council after consideration decided not to make a donation at the present time in view .of the fact that the sum aimed at had already been raised. It was stated that, the attitude of.the council did not mean that.it was unsympathetic towards the object, or that it failed to realise the desirability of a modern ambulance. Neither was the action to be taken as indicating any feeling of antagonism towards the appeal committee; it was simply that having consideration for the financial position of the county, hardships being experienced by ratepayers and the fact that the fund had already been over-subscrib-ed, the council did not feel justified in spending any money other than that absolutely necessary. In moving that the council refrain from making a donation Cr. Ford stated that he had made a* personal canvass of the Makahu district and in not one case had he been refused a donation. Councillors present expressed their own intention of making a personal contribution in recognition of the desirability of having an ambulance at Stratford.

The Waiapu County Council wrote enclosing an extract from a report drawn up by its solicitors in which it was shown how cumbersome, expensive and almost impossible it was to secure native rates under present legislation. They referred to the establishment of a Natives Rates Commission early in the year, bUt pointed out that so far the result of the Commission’s findings had not been published. In the event of the Commission’s report being adverse to any definite alteration in the present law the council proposed to call a conference of all county councils to consider the matter and formulate proposals to put before Parliament with a view to rectifying the present inequitable position whereby native land escaped its share of its just liabilities. The Whangamomona council was. asked to express its, views concerning such a conference. Sympathy with the objects of the; Waiapu council was expressed by the council and it was decided to support the proposals should the occasion arise.

The chairman mentioned that the grader had made a start on Mangapapa Road and had operated on the Mount Dampier and Moki Roads as well. It was now working on the Tahora Boad, but its use was delayed on account of having to send the blade to Stratford for repairs. Cr. Robertson considered, that quite half the damage necessitating the use of the grader on Mangapapa Road had been caused by the heavy carting from a sawmill. . He thought it a fair thing for. the owner of the mill to pay, half the cost of the grader. This course was adopted by the council, and the owner is to be asked to complete the removal of the' plant while the weather remains fine.

The application of Mr. I. Telfar for the lease of a vacant piece of land adjoining the Whangamomona township near the traffic bridge was declined, but it is to be pointed out to Mr.. Telfar that the same object—the keeping in of his coWs, could be obtained by blocking up a bridge. Pipes to repair culverts on Rewapota and Mangapapa Roads are to be procured.