Policy Decided for Major Roads

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6076, 14 July 1947, Page 5

Policy Decided for Major Roads

WORK IN MATAMATA COUNT ¥ POSITION OF BUCKLAND ROAD . « That any large road work must be viewed from the point of view of an over-all picture of the county was stressed by Cr. E. D. White at the July meeting of the Matamata County Council. The statement was made -when the council discussed major improvements to Buckland Road, estimated by the engineer to cost £6785, which estimates were produced as the result of a promise made to a recent deputation of ratepayers. Cr. ,C. Bruce stated that the work was urgently required, but that he never expected the cost to be £7OOO. However, he thought a portion of the work should be done and he suggested that the council allocate a sum so that the work could be commenced. Cr. White asked if Cr. Bruce thought the work should be gone on with out of county funds without waiting for a subsidy? Cr. Bruce replied that it was not within his province to state where the money was to come from. He felt that some work should be done, as if all roads were held up until subsidies became available there would be such an accumulation of work that it would take years to carry the programme out. he felt that they should go along quietly and so prevent a big accumulation. Cr. White stated that no provision had been made in the budget for the work. He agreed some work should be done on the road, but the position was that while the surface of the road was good, the road required widening in places and corners cutting* off. In fact, it was a major work which could not be tackled out of county funds. He stood by his statement made a few weeks ago, that he was right against raising the rates for work on roads until more money was found from another source, as the land was carrying as big a turden as it was possible for it to bear. Buckland Road was not an ordinary job, but was a major one, and as such must be viewed in conjunction with other important county road works. It was essential that the council receive an over-all picture of all road works required before coming to a decision.

The engineer suggested that it might be possible for the council to authorise the expenditure of from £SOO to £IOOO next summer for earthworks to widen narrow portions. The present solution of danger spots was the erection of notice boards. Cr. R. H. Brinkworth remarked that he had told ratepayers the cost would be about £7OOO and ratepayers had agreed, that it would not be wise to spend money on present work which might be wasted when the major work was tackled.

Cr. Bruce commented that to spend £SOO was only patching and against council policy. Cr. G. C. Dunham stated the matter should have been discussed when the estimates were considered. They could not break into- the estimates in the middle of the year for more than £SOO. The engineer reminded the council that road work had got behind during the war and that next summer the council would have to make a threeday tour of the roads. In some respects the roads were worse than when he first took over. The chairman: It will be a work for the new council.

Cr. C. H. La Trobe opposed spending hundreds of pounds on patching jobs which were not of use when permanent work was done. Crs J. E. Davidson and G. H. Verity agreed, and the latter pointed out that it might be possible to spend some

money, but it must be on portions of the road where the alignment would not be altered.