The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1914. ALEXANDRA STREET WIDENING.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 336, 31 July 1914, Page 4

The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1914. ALEXANDRA STREET WIDENING.

THE decision of the Town Board to take the permanent levels of that section of Alexandra Street lying between Tawhiao Street and the Railway crossing, without making necessary provision for the ultimate widening of the street will, come as a surprise to many. By its actions — firstly in vetoing a public proposal of recognised importance, and now, by taking levels preparatory to undertaking what must ultimately prove but temporary formation works, the Board indicates very clearly its indifference to future requirements. It treats lightly a proposal which must sooner or later be given effect to, but which to-day can be dealt with to much better advantage than will be the case in a few year’s time. Little wonder then that the Board’s decision should come as a surprise. The importance of this proposal is recognised by all who have an eye to the future. Alexandra Street, from the Post Office to Tawhiao Street, has a uniform width of one and a half chains, and from that point —the main outlet for the whole district on the eastern side of the railway — the width of the street reduces to one chain. It is over that section of road that future congestion of traffic is likely to be experienced, and, although the need of a wider road may not be felt to-day, the development of the district n.ust sooner or later make the widening a matter or absolute necessity. It behoves the citizens of to-day, then, to keep a watchful eye on the requirements of the future, and to see that no opportunity is lost to grasp the most effective and economical means of providing for the demands of to-morrow. Here is just such an opportunity. It is possible to provide for the widening of Alexandra Street at a cost of so many shillings to-day compared with pounds in a few years’ time. It may be said, and with some truth, too, that the maintenance of a one-chain road is as much as can be undertaken under existing conditions. But is it necessary to immediately widen the road? Rather, we think, if the public coffers would not meet the demand necessary for the immediate formation of the whole width of road, it would be sufficient were provision made for the future by the acquirement of the necessary land. Having regard to the fact that there are few buildings today upon the present frontage, the position is notone presenting very many difficulties. With the set-back arranged^—even though the road formation was not immediately undertaken future buildings could be built to the new frontage and thus minimise the expense, inconvenience, and .annoyance which the work of widening will entail. It will be remembered that the agitation first came from the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce, and later, after certain negotiations with the Board, the ratepayers directly concerned met on October 12th, 1912, and framed the following resolution: — “ That the proposal to widen Alexandra Street is favoured by property owners on the north side, provided that, excepting Messrs North and Williams who will require to be dealt with individually, the half 7 chain width be acquired at the back of the sections so that the area remains the same ; and also that, where buildings require to be moved, or alterations n:cessitate any outlay, such cost be borne by the Board, and the frontage be left in as good order as at present. The residents understand that it is the

Board’s intention to form a footpath

immediately the set back'is arranged.” .This course of action was not favoured by members of the Town Board, who, after brief consideration, expressed the intention of acquiring the land from the frontage, and called upon the property owners —rather

than take the land by compulsion —to advise the amount of compensation required. This proposal met with opposition, not only by the property owners concerned, but also from the whole town. And rightly so. The Board elected to buy a costly “ frontage” instead of acquiring the “ paddock ” adjoining the subdivided properties at farm yard rates. But despite this surprising decision the agitation continued, and the Board approached the three property owners of the back sections and obtained offers as follow: J. Middlebrook £3OO, J. Merryweather £3OO, and North Estate £350 per acre. The offers were promptly declined, and the Board made a fresh announcement which was contained m the following resolution

“ That the owners be asked to give ten feet of their frontages and the Board construct the footpaths, remove and reerect boundary fences. Failing this the proposal will be dropped indefinitely, as the Board is not in a position to agree to the high prices asked for the back property.”

Generous, very, and thus ended, for a time at least, a proposal which, as time goes on, will prove the shortsightedness of those who control civic affairs of today. Would it not have been much more reasonable for the Board—if finality depended upon ", gifts ” —to have suggested that the owners of the back and consequently less valuable property, give the necessary land. And further —since the Board expressed the desire in the first instance when dealing with the owners of the front sections “that rather than take the land by compulsion,”—why was the same thinly-veiled threat not held over the owners of-the back property ? Had it been then perhaps a more reasonable offer than £350 for land that only a few weeks before had been offering to any chance speculator at £BO per acre would have been made. The Board was singularly quiet upon these points, which really were the two leading up to the deadlock. The ratepayers must be the best judge of the Board’s actions, individually and collectively. We do not think that the owners of the front properties, who expressed the desire to furfurther the proposal by any reasonable means, received altogether fair treatment. Rather, we think, the Board’s main consideration was for the holders of the back property, and this is very clearly shown by the hinted “compulsion ” on the one hand. It is for the Chamber of Commerce, backed up by the public, to set the ball rolling again. As the widening of this street should not be left until such time as altered conditions make it a costly and difficult matter to bring about. Apparently the movement has not the sympathy of the Town Board, but it does hot necessarily follow that the proposal ends at that.