MORE METAL ROADS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1935, Page 6

MORE METAL ROADS

EXTENSION IN THE EAST RIDING.

COUNCILLOR REVIEWS PROGRESS.

The manner in which the majority of ratepayers in the east riding of the Stratford county had been given metalled roads during the past nine years was' mentioned by Cr. T. T. Murray at Saturday’s meeting of the Stratford County Council. Cr. Murray had announced his intention of not seeking nomination for a further term on the council. j The chief reason he stood for the council, of which he had been a member for nine years, was to have metalled roads extended in the riding, Cr. Murray said. The first problem was the trouble caused by flood waters along the Mohakau Roads and it took much work and several years to effect an improvement, but now it was only an extraordinary rainfall that would cause a recurrence of the old difficulty. During the nine years the Douglas north, part of Douglas south Road, the Akama Road, three-quarter of a mile of Ahuroa Road, the Mohakau Road and part of Perry’s Road were - metalled. There were very few settlers who had no metalled access, except those on Makuri Road and) this road, he thought, would probably be done next year. Owing to the slump in produce prices the rates were bearing heavily on the farmers, but while they were paying rates for metalled roads they should remember that they were saving time and saving the undue wear and tear to vehicles resulting from the use of clay roads. He thanked the engineer, Mr. J. W. Spence, the clerk, Mr. C. J. Campbell, and the inside and outside staff for their ready assistance at all times. “I am retiring, too, but I have been on the council only three years this time,” said Cr. E. W. Hancock. “I cannot say,” he added, “that during that time mud roads have been metalled as vze saw to it when we raised the big loan that our roads were metalled.” The chairman, Cr. T. R. Anderson, had held the position for 10 years, said Cr. S. Pitt. During that time the debt of the council had been reduced by £22,000. The chairman had done his work in a most capable manner for though the county debt was reduced! the roads were maintained. “The future looks as if it will be brighter,” Cr. Pitt continued. “The plan for converting our loans is under way, and will bring a reduction in interest. Provision is also being made to repay loans at maturity and this will be more satisfactory.” The chairman thanked councillors for their assistance. He said the engineer and clerk were two of the finest officers any chairman could have. He intended to stand: both for the council and the Stratford Hospital Board. RATEPAYERS IN ARREARS. VOTING RIGHTS AT ELECTION. The position regarding the right of county ratepayers in arrears with their rates to vote at the forthcoming election was defined in a circular from the Department of Internal Affairs received by the Eltham County Council on Saturday. This stated that ratepayers who had paid all rates up to March 31, 1933, were entitled to vote.

The clerk explained that this grace gave a ratepayer two years’ latitude, but it applied only to the present year’s election. The restoration of the qualification did not apply if any rates up to March 31, 1933, had been remitted or compounded.