"REAL DICTATORS"

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 13, 16 January 1932, Page 5

"REAL DICTATORS"

HIGHWAYS BOARD METHODS. COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S CRITICISM. In criticising the methods of the Main Highways Board, the chairman of the Egmont County Council stated at the monthly meeting on Tuesday that the members were “real dictators.’’ The matter arose when, in reply to a question, tho engineer (Mr J. G. McIvor) said the plans for the Punehu bridge had now been approved, but the board had stated that it was not prepared to authorise the council to proceed with the construction of the bridge in anticipation of subsidy being available either next year or at a later date. Councillor Green explained that in the first place it had been agreed that a small sum be placed upon the estimates to keep the matter alive. The first plan submitted had not been ap proved, later it was with small alterations, and now the council was told that there was no authority. It almost looked as though the plan could have ben approved in the first place, but the board had not liked to toll the council that no money was available and had turned down the plan. “I am tired of this sort of thing,” he said. “If the plan was wrong in the first place it was wrong in the second place.” The slight alterations could have been mentioned m the first place. There was no reason why the board should have kept on with tin. plans and then finally sent the letter before the council.

The speaker had made it clear all through that the council was prepared to spend its own money and have the work done if the board agreed to pay the subsidy when it had the money available. Recently the Minister of Unemployment had asked all county chairmen to try to do as much work as possible for the unemployed. He did not think that the council should sit down and allow its own money to be idle. The board members seemed to be real dictators. They had “got up against the council” and tied it up for years over road construction when it had the money raised. Nov/ the same thing applied to the bridges. The council only wanted the board to pay the subsidy when it had the money. Councillor J. S. Tosland expressed agreement with Councillor Green. The board’s step showed a lack of foresight because unless those with capital started spending it how would the unemployed be absorbed 1 ? Surely the board did not expect the council to go down on its hands and knees to it at a time like the present. He moved that the council draw the attention of the Minister of Public Works tn the letteand ask to be allowed to proceed and that, failing a satisfactory reply, the chairman be authorised to interview the Minister at Wellington. While anxious to see the work done, Councillor E. A. Collins said that i‘ was difficult to foresee what would happen about subsidies in the future,

and he would like n. definite assurance as to subsidy before the work went on. He thought the council should renew its application with vigour and protest against the methods adopted. If the plans were unsatisfactory the flruf time, then they were the second time also the board should have said at first that no money was available. He suggested that tho facts be placed before Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. Councillor Green reminded the meeting that the money had been borrowed specifically for bridge and had to be spent on them. The resolution was carried.