UPOKONGARO FERRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 162, 13 July 1935, Page 8

UPOKONGARO FERRY

SHOULD IT BE RE-OPENED? WANGANUI COUNTY DISCUSSION MATTER DHFERIiLD I'OR A MONTH l Because of one dissentient voice till r Wanganui County Council has beefl i held to correct rules of procedure in c regard to the Upokongaro ferry .nr i the subject cannot be re opened for a month. j Nnlice ol' motion has been given bv Cr. J. J. Lissctfe, that a resolution now on the books, which has the effect of debarring the county from re-opening lln mailer, be rescinded. If that ip ( carried when the council meets in L August the subject will be r<’ opened. The tenor the debate yesterday sugI gusted that the council would be willing to make the ferry a riding matter, } provided the Mangawhero Riding members were agreeable, and provided, further, that some arrangement is with the Waitotara County Council I w hereby the latter body contributes lo the Wanganui County for the use Waitotara ratepayers njake of the Rivei 1 Rond. Since that route has been opened for traffic the settlers on the Waitotara side of the river have used every posj siblp means to cross over and use the River Road ns an outlet. The Wanganui County considers that there should be some compensation therefor, and that the matter has a bearing on the 1 question of whether -Mangawhero ratepayers should continue to contribute towards a ferry which is deemed to be mainly fur the Waitotara settlers. The matter was opened yesterday by two litters—one from the Wanga.iui Education Board, asking whether the county was likely to be a partv to the re-opening of the ferry, as “ the board was concerned about the transput of children to school, and th 3 other from the Waitotara County Council offering to resume with War.ganui the old basis of 50/50 responsibility for upkeep of the ferry, and suggesting a conference in regard thereto. “There is a minute on the books saying we will have nothing more to do with the ferry,” said the chairman (Mr. Duncan Mackintosh). “We can do nothing until that is rescinded and notice of motion will have to be given before we can do that, unless the council is unanimous. At the same time I am quite prepared to the Mangawhero members an opportun- B ity to bring up any new facts about the ferry. Regarding the Education Board, I think wo can very well leave that out of it. We are taxed for education and T can’t see why our ratepayers should be taxed twice for children in the Waitotara County. T am against the whole county contributing to the ferry any further.” “Since we met the Waitotara County representatives wc have had more enlightenment about the ferry,” said Cr. W. Craig. “It has been established for a number of years now and the meeting at Makirikiri recently was anxious that it should be kept open by some means or other. . . .1 think that, probably the fairest thing is for the Mangawhero Riding to take it over.” “J have given the matter a lot of thought,” said tbo chairman. “In my opinion it is nnt a matter for the whole county. Some time ago we sent a deputation to the Waitotara County, asking it to contribute to the River Road. The settlers on the Waitotara side use that road; Waitotara collects the rates and wc get nothing. We suggested that after paying general expenses, the Waitotara County hand over the balance of the rates collected from those settlers to us. What I suggest is that Mangawhero Riding take over the ferry, but only on condition that Waitotara pays those rates to Wanganui, If the riding is agreeable it can enter into an agreement with,/ Waito-tara on those lines. There was a meeting at Upokongaro and from what I. could see the settlers there di not want the ferry themselves, but it was a great convenience to Waitotara for the school, dances, rifle club and golf club. I fail to sec why the whole of the Wanganui County should contribute for those things. If the WaitoLara County wants the ferry so badly it should pay for it, but so far as this council is concerned it is not sound to keep a man employed 24 hours of the day to collect £5 in months. Further than that, the whole plant wants repairing, and, according to Mr. Dix-, that will take about £2so.*’ Crs. J. Todd and J. J. Lissette were of opinion that something should be •lone tu keep the ferry open. Dispensing with it would mean cutting ihe village in half. They were both of the opinion, however, that Waitotara should contribute something towards the River Road. “(So fur as the ferry is concerned, I am opposed to it and always have been,” said Cr. J. Kennedy. “I am going to oppose the whole of the county taking it over again. It is purely a local matter. I move that the ferry be left to the riding members and the chairman to deal with.” The chairman: 'J’he resolution ou the books must be rescinded first. Cr. Craig: 1 move that it be re 4 scinded. .''r. l.isscttc seconded. Cr. D. McGregor dissented and the matter ended. Ur. McGregor said that there would be nv harm in the whole .nailer deferred for a mouth, M and. in the meantime, some finalit" might bp reached over the rates on the* River Road. Cr. Lissette thereupon gave notice to move at the Kugu>t meeting that th® existing resolution ou the books relative to the ferry be rescinded. Wanganui Employers’ Association. As the result of an active niembeF* ship campaign the Wanganui Employers’ Association has added fiity-flve new members. At a meeting of tho executive this week, the president, Mr. G. 11. Trott, complimented the couiinitlee on its efforts. All the members added cover a wide representation of business and industrial interests in the citv. The quarterly general meeting followed the executive's deliberations, ami. as a departure from the usual course, it. was derided to embrace social activities with the more formal business. Tbo president delivered an interesting and instructive address on tho aims and objects of the association, aud . the secretary, Mr. A. J. Weekes, aho ad--1 dressed the meeting. Refreshments were served at the Rendezvous and a» entertaining programme was contn* buted by Messrs. R. Howell, Sharland Rathwaito, Dawson, Trott, and Olliver, , All the artists were complimented oi their contributions.