GRANT FOR ROAD WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1935, Page 12

GRANT FOR ROAD WORK

QUESTION OF PRIORITY OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL CHOICE. RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARDED. That the order of priority of applications for road grants as forwarded to the Minister of Public Works was not the same as that decided upon by the Ohura County Council was affirmed by some of the councillors at a meeting of the council on Wednesday. After considerable discussion the council passed motions urging on the Public Works Department the necessity for proceeding with the metalling of the Huia-Turoto Road and on the Highways Council the necessity for expending the grant of £7OO on the Okahukura hill. The discussion arose on receipt of a letter from the Minister of Public Works, which stated that in connection with the, council’s request for the issue of authorities for Toi-Toi-Niho Niho Road (£2OOO free), Waikaka Road (£7OO free), and Ohura Main Road (£750 free), in anticipation of funds -being made available on the 1935-36 estimates, he realised that a metalled outlet would minimise the hardships of the settlers. He did not know how he would be placed' as regards funds for reading works in the new year and was already committed to a considerable amount which could not possibly be expended before March 31. After careful inquiries he was satisfied that deferring until the ensuing year would not cause undue hardship on anyone concerned. Meanwhile he suggested the council should endeavour to find ways and means to contribute a reasonable share of the cost of the first two weeks. <

The Minister pointed out that the Ohura Main, Road was causing anxiety more in regard to maintenance, with which his department could not assist. He understood a suggestion of revoking the proclamation of the section of the main highway between Mahirakai and Okahukura and proclaiming that road as a highway in place thereof had been made already to the council, and were it to agree it seemed reasonably certain that most of the council’s difficulties would disappear.

EXCEPTION TAKEN. Cr. Romayne took strong exception to the order of priority as stated in the Minister’s letter. He did not know who had given the Minister that impression, he said, but it Was not the order the council had decided upon. The council pladed the 'Waikaka Road high up on the list, but the other roads mentioned had not been placed nearly so high. He held that the Minister should be made aware of the council’s ideas upon the relative importance of the works. Turoto and Huia Roads were regarded by the council as very important, and he considered the -council had been hindered badly by the delay in authorising that work, as no other unmetalled road in the county had so many settlers on it. Someone must have been responsible for altering the order of priority as decided by the council, and he took strong exception to that action. He regarded Turoto Road as the most important and he intended to enlighten the Minister, though he had nothing against the other roads, as he was eager to see all the roads metalled. He understood the order had been altered by the district engineer in consultation with the chairman. ' There had been a grant of £3OOO for Turoto Road, and not a yard of metal had been placed on it. The settlers, and he agreed with them, considered that the council had been lacking. | i Cr. Denison agreed with Cr. Romayne. He was inclined to place the blame on the chairman for agreeing to the alteration, as it must have been decided upon in consultation with the Public Works Department engineer at Taumaruniii. Cr. Renner asked why the matter of revoking Okahukura Road had been brought up again, as it had been rescinded.

The chairman said it was understood at the time that £7OO was definitely arranged for the Okahukura hill.

Cr. Renner said that at .the Matiere Chamber of Commerce meeting he had advised that the meeting concentrate on the Okahukura hill, but the chairman of the county council asked that the motion be not put, as there was a danger of losing the £7OO. The motion had accordingly been withdrawn. He considered some steps must have been taken apart from what the members of the council knew. LOOPHOLE FOR GOVERNMENT. Cr. Fauchelle said .that asking for money to be transferred from one road to another only provided a loophole for the Government to withhold the-money. He had seconded such a motion, but he could see now it was a mistake. Once a grant was made the council should endeavour to expend it. The county clerk, Mr. J. F. McClenaghan, said in December, 1934, the grant for the Okahukura hill was withdrawn. The chairman said that it had been agreed by the district engineer that the best way to spend to £7OO was to metal the clay part of the Okahukura Hill and that the council should pursue a progressive policy and blind the rough part of the metal.

Cr. Fauchelle: It seems strange that very little jmoney has been expended on metalling in the Ohura County this year. Most of the grants have been withdrawn.

A councillor pointed out that the grants for 1934-35 had been over-spent. Cr. Renner considered it would have paid the ratepayers to find a sum of money as a subsidy towards the grant of £7OO, which probably would not then have been revoked. He held that the chairman should have given the council that opportunity. The clerk stated that a free grant of £7OO for the Okahukura hill had been placed-on the 1934-35 estimates.

The chairman said he agreed that he might have overstepped the limit and that he had been slightly wrong. More than that he would not admit. He pointed out that under present conditions a loan would have to be raised to find the ratepayers’ share of the cost of the Turoto Road metalling, and all were big ratepayers paying heavy rates now. It seemed evident that as long as the preset. Minister was in charge of the Public Works, the council would be expected to contribute a share of the cost of construction works.

The chairman asked if a grant had been received for Turoto-Huia Road and how they were going to spend it. Cr. Romayne said not a penny had been spent on Turoto Road. He would like to know what the difficulty was. The council made an offer to find 5 per cent, towards the work,, but so far the council, which made the offer, had received no notification whether it had been accepted; yet he understood a reply had been received by the chamber of commerce.

The chairman said he did not want the council to think he was against metalling any road. The reason he agreed to the recommendation of the roads mentioned was that he hoped to hava something done. He could assure Cr. Romayne that he had received no intimation whatever whether the council’s offer had been accepted or not.

Cr. Romayne considered the Minister should be asked for a definite reply. The chairman said he was very sur-

prised when the Okahukura grant was declined, as he thought it was decided. In further discussion, Cr. Renner remarked: “I am not going to rest until the Okahukura Saddle -Road is put through, as it is the one outlet for the district.” He added that the Matiere ratepayers strongly supported that route as, besides being a beautiful drive, it saved considerable mileage on the route to Taumarunui. The chairman said he would have liked to have seen a grant included for metalling Huia Road to the bridge, and he recognised that the metalling of Turoto Road was also important. Cr. Romayne: That is an important road and should be put in hand. On the motion of Crs. Romayne and McKenzie, it was resolved to urge on the Minister of Public Works the necessity of proceeding with the metalling of Huia-Turoto Road, as it appeared to the council that there had been undue delay in having the work put in hand, it being the most important and the longest piece of unmetalled road in the county. On the motion of’ Crs. Denison and Renner it was resolved that the district highways engineer be asked about the position in regard to the council’s proposals for expenditure of the £7OO grant on Okahukura hill.