METAL FOR MATAU ROADS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1934, Page 6

METAL FOR MATAU ROADS

GOVERNMENT HELP SOUGHT THREE LENGTHS BADLY NEEDED. DEPUTATION TO MR. W. J. POLSON. With a view to securing help in pressing for the metalling of roads in the Matau district a deputation of settlers and members of the Farmers’ Union under the chairmanship of the president of the Stratford executive of the Farmers’ Union (Mr. T. T. Murray) waited on Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., at Stratford on Saturday. It was hoped the Hon. R. Masters would attend also but he was unable to do so. In a letter he signified his willingness to meet the settlers in the future or to consider any requests they might put in writing. Four years ago the settlers met. at Matau to formulate plans for having metalling done in the district, the chairman stated. A set scheme was drafted and of the items in it the Matau-Kiore length had been metalled, but important feeder roads were not metalled to the extent required and it is desired that two miles of Junction Road, two and a half of Matau north and one of Mangamaire be done. The question of metalling the Matau-Purangi stretch of Junction Road had been raised and while .he did not think there was any objection to the proposal the fact remained that the other lengths were urgently needed and there was no alteration in the decision of the settlers, he thought. The settlers, he continued, wanted to avoid having to make any contribution to the cost. An expensive scheme to build a road for tourist traffic in the South Island was mooted but he considered there was no work more needful than the metalling of backblocks roads. The day for large loans had gone as the country was already loaded in that direction with more than it could afford to bear. The State had an interest in 80 per cent, of the Matau farms and through metalling roads in the district the State would be doing not only what was its duty but would also appreciate State assets. Mr. L. Ayers stated that the settlers had committed themselves in order to metal the Matau-Kiore road and could not afford to pay anything further themselves. “We are carrying a very heavy general rate and a special rate,” Mr. W. Rawlinson said. “The council is reluctant to expend any more money in the district and it looks as if our only chance is to have the roads metalled at no cost to us.”

It would be far better to spend unemployment money on community schemes than to concentrate on clearing individual farms, Mr. J. Wood said. Much money had been spent in the district on widening roads that could better have been used to do less widening and more metalling, Mr. J. Moody said.

Mr. G. H. Rawlinson referred to the meeting at New Plymouth which he attended and said he explained that the settlers could not commit themselves to any expenditure on the Purangi-Matau stretch. “SETTLERS NOT UNANIMOUS.” “There seems to be a feeling that the settlers are not unanimous regarding what they want,” said the chairman, “but I think I can say the settlers are united in desiring the completion of the scheme outlined four years ago.” The chairman of the Whangamomona County Council, Mr. N. R. Cleland, pointed out that though metalling had been done between Kiore and Matau many settlers still had to traverse lengths of mud roads to reach the metal. The settlers should press for metal on subsidiary roads and they would be unwise to load themselves with debt to gain the metal. In the Whangamomona county many settlers were carrying the burden of loans raised to metal roads when times were better. There was no better object for unemployment funds than the metalling of roads in the backblocks. Mud roads would have to be metalled and every effort made to make the backblocks more attractive.

He was particularly glad to meet the settlers on the question, Mr. Polson said, for he had been deeply interested in the problems of Matau. He was trying to interest the Public Works Department and the Minister in a comprehensive scheme to metal roads in the district so that the settlers would no longer have to contend with mud. He had had experience of farming on a mud road and if he could help in any way he would. The main road from Matau to Kiore was finished and a certain amount of other metalling had been done but the roads which now required metal, were those mentioned by the chairman. The length through Purangi was wanted by certain interests. He was actuated by a desire only to give the settlers what they most needed immediately. If their ends could best be served by access to Purangi then he would press for it. The problem depended on the Unemployment Board’s decision to make grants from its funds only for labour and not for transport and he thought it would be difficult to have metalling done for nothing. However, as soon as the district engineer of the Public Works Department (Mr. P. Keller), who was ill, returned to work, Mr. Polson would approach him. It was unlikely that any work could be done this year but he did think they could make enough progress to put a plan before the House next year. The Government had always been sympathetic to the electorate, so that the settlers could hope for fair consideration. Mr. Cleland paid a tribute to the metalling that had been done in the Whangamomona County by camps of relief workers. > MANY WREATHS AND MOURNERS. FUNERAL OF MR. J. M. BUTCHER. The funeral of the late Mr. J. M. Butcher, who lost his life through a fall from a power pole, was attended by a very large number of friends and relatives, over 70 cars being requisitioned to carry the mourners from his home in Seyton Street, Stratford, to the Kopuatama cemetery. The hearse and accompanying vehicles were laden with wreaths and emblems testifying to the regard in which Mr. Butcher was held throughout Taranaki. A brief service was held at the house by the Rev. J. MacGregor, of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, and at the graveside Mr. MacGregor and the Rev. T. Skuse, who is Methodist minister at Stratford, both assisted with the burial service. Bearers consisted of near relatives and fellow employees of the Taranaki Power Board, including the engineer, Mr. B. H. Goldsmith.

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Cr. C. E. McGuinness was welcomed back to the council table at the meeting of the Eltham County Council on Saturday. He had been absent three months owing to an accident.

Constables F. Hargreaves and J. Gill, of the Stratford police force, left on Saturday for New Plymouth and Otira respectively on transfer. Before their departure they were farewelled by the other members of the force, presentations being made by Sergeant T. Kelly.