GREAT SOUTH ROAD

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3209, 20 September 1934, Page 5

GREAT SOUTH ROAD

<; , IN WAIPA COUNTY «• - . yf POLL TO RAISE £30,000. T ■— V At a meeting of. ratepayers in the Pukekura riding of the Waipa County last evening, held in tho Leamington Hall, a unanimous vote was passed in favour of raising a loan for the permanent surfacing of the. Great South Hoad within the county... , 0 Mr S. C. Macky, chairman of the county, accompanied by.Mr S. Fisher, riding member, addressed t'..e meeting on the prqppsjals. in hahfl. It was stated that the lopgth of Toad was 30 miles, and about four miles of new road construction was entailed, besides about 13 miles of partly new construction, due ,to slight deviations. The sealing would comprise a solid bed of metal 7f inches deep and three coats of bitumen. 1 In introducing the speaker, Mr J. S. Pishcr said the meeting was to by before tho public the, roads and bridges proposals of tho Waipa County. • Protracted Negotiations The-permanent sealing of the Great / South Road in the Waipa County has -“Nbcen th e subject of protracted negotiations with the Main Highways Board, sai'cl Mr Macky. The board’s first proposal was that the County Council undertake the work with a 50-50 subsidy but this would have meant further rating over the whole county. The Highways Board then offered 2 to 1, hut this was again refused and finally an offer of .3 to .1 subsidy over the whole SO miles was accepted. Plans and surveys were carried out at a cost of £IOOO to the council. However, when the plans were completed ._ and tho Loans Board had approved of the loans to be raised, the depression came and the county did not feel justified in carrying out the work,-nor could the Highways Board find their share. Eoad in Bad State >' The result has been that the roads ■are now in a bad state, said Mr Macky, and as the outlook appears brighter, the council is desirous of having the -work carried out. The total cost of the work is £144,t)00 of which the council’s share will bo £36,000. Consent was obtained from vjffie Loans Board to raise the money but a stipulation was that it must be repaid in 12 years. This proposition ■did not appear good to the council and application was made for a longex term for repayment' fine! finally 15 years was offered. Even then it was mot a proposition we would go to the ratepayers with, said Mr Macky, so tho Highways Board and local members of Parliament. were approached and finally an arrangement was made for the Board to provide £115,000 tvnd the county £30,000 which meant the same annual repayment, over 15 years as £36,000 would have been over ■2O years. The Financial Aspect Dealing with the financial aspect, Mr Macky said the loan was. not to be raised at more than 3| per cent, but he bad hopes of raising the money at 34 per cent. The terms of repayment were by annual instalments which would total £2633 per annum. Maintenance •costs were set down at £3533 per year, 'of which the county’s share would be £9OO. Mr Macky said at present the road costs tho county £2400 per annum for maintenance and yet a satisfactory road is not provided. Other savings would result from the time of the county staff and one overseer at present employed at a salary of £3OO per -annum could be dispensed with. With the costs of graders and tools faken into consideration an additional •saving would be made of £IOOO per year. ■ No Extra Expenditure ~ the saving to the county , '^ as estimated at £3400, leaving a difference of only £133, on the annual loan repayments, and this meant that -there would be no expense to ratepayers and better roads provided. Mr Macky said there was no better fime to have the work carried out as It would be let by public tender. The striking of a rate was necessary ■as n . security, though the council had ‘ -no intention of collecting it. Tho special rate struck would be Id in the £. . l ln reply to Mr J. "Blackman, Mr Mackv said the rating basis throughout -the county would be as at present. The loan was a charge against the whole county. Pukekura was the lowest rated riding in the county and ratepayers mould still be on that rate. Since 1925 illC rn tes in the Pukekura riding had Teen reduced 45 per cent, said the chairman. To another query from Mr A. E. "Peppercorn, it was explained that the new road would bo given a coat of hot far and then further coats of bitumen - bitumen combination. It would be "'ythe samo as the Bombay deviation. •~7\M r Fisher pointed out. that the new t'#id would provide an indirect benefit