RANGITIKEI COUNTY ASKED TO FILL IN HOME GUARD TRENCH

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 March 1947, Page 6

RANGITIKEI COUNTY ASKED TO FILL IN HOME GUARD TRENCH

QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY The question of whether the Rangitikei County Council is responsible for filling in a large trench dug on a farmer’s property for use by the Home Guard at a time when New Zealand was threatened with invasion, was raised at the monthly meeting yesterday when a letter was received from a firm of solicitors, writing, on behalf oi a client with property on the Parewanui Road, near Bulls.

It was stated that during the period of hostilities the trench was constructed on the property by the council for use as a trap in case of eventuality. The trench was of considerable length, with a width of 10 feet ana a depth of 14 feet.

Making a formal request that the trench be tilled in, the solicitors stated that their clients had asked time to time that the council do tnis work, but it had failed to comply. The county engineer, Mr. S. A. R. Mair, agreed that the council had constructed the trench, but it had done so at the request -of the Government. The acting-chairman, Cr. A. S. Coleman, said that he had read of a case elsewhere in New Zealand where a bullock had fallen into such a trench and a case against the County Council concerned was successful.

Cr. V. Smith: This question ha s not been raised in Rangitikei before. The county engineed stated that the trench on the Parewanui Roau property was obscured by gorse and other growth which removed the possibilities of accident to stock. Cr. G. L. Marshall: This is an absurd fuss about nothing.

The county engineer: Of course it is absurd.

Cr. Coleman said he knew of two fairly deep roadside trenches which should be filled in.

The county engineer said it was rather “small” that the county should be asked to fill in these trenches. After ali, they were constructed for the protection of property. The question was held over for further consideration at the next meeting.