KAKEPUKU ROADS

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1640, 12 May 1925, Page 5

KAKEPUKU ROADS

QUESTION OF MAINTENANCE.

The Waipa County Council is still feeling that it is suffering an injustice through the refusal of the Ministers for Health and Public Works declining to subsidise expenditure on the maintenance of that portion of the Main South Road that traverses the Kakepuku riding. The matter was referred to at yesterday's meeting of the County Council at Ohaupo. Cr Alexander raised the matter of maintaining the Main South Road that passes through Kakepuku riding. He referred to the long length of this main highway that flanked Crown land occupied and farmed. The Waikeria and Tokanui institutions were growing larger every month, and traffic was increasing. The staffs were large and used the road considerably. Then there were frequent bus services from Hamilton to the Government tourist resort of Waitomo Caves. It was a real hardship upon his riding ratepayers if they had to maintain that length of road without assistance. He felt that the Ministers had not been fair, probably through their not fully understanding the position, Cr Peacocke said he was almost equally interested in the problem. He suggested that the engineer be instructed to prepare a report for next meeting.

Cr Macky said that the Highways Board now had authority to contribute' more than one-third of the cost of maintenance. Could not application be made to the Highways Board for a greater proportion? Cr Alexander agreed, and suggested that the framing of the request be left to the riding member and the clerk.— AsrrGGd to. * Cr McGee said that the main highway passed through part of the Orakau riding, and some of his ratepayers did not use that road. He wanted relief.

Cr Alexander pointed out that regular bus services were run to the mental hospital, and there was a larger staff there than there were ratepayers •in the area served. Then there was a big staff at Waikeria. The engineer said that an inspection showed that the length from the Waikeria turn-off was in far worse condition than that beyond the turn-off. Clearly the damage was accentuated by the Waikeria and Tokanui traffic. Cr Peacocke said the district engineer had some time ago reported to the Department adversely to the County Council's applications. Cr Alexander said the Department—or, rather, the (Minister—had decided unfairly when asked for a grant and declining, for in addition to the amount of Government departmental traffic and its large area of land exempt from local rating, there was an area of Maori land that did not contribute rates.

It was decided that the chairman interview the district engineer at Hamilton and more fully explain the position, with a view to getting favourable consideration for the Council's application for a substantial grant for road maintenance.