The Gorge Commission.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXII, Issue 3875, 18 May 1906, Page 2

The Gorge Commission.

|THE COMMISSIONER’S AWARD.

DISCUSSED IN THE COUNCIL.

The award of the Commission in the matter of the Gorge Road and Bridget Commission came up for discussion at the special meeting of the Woodville Borough Councii on Wednesday evening.

Cr Horne moved, " That in the opinion of this Council the award of Mr Short in the matter of the Gorge road and bridges is not an equitable one.” In his (Cr Horne’s) opinion, the Commissioner based his finding on the stock question as applied to the bridge, and in that alone be condemned himselfi It was shewn that the stock sales in Pabiatua and Dannevirke would benefit' as a re* suit of the erection of the bridge, and yet the Commissioner cut both those .places out. Dannevirke, Pabiatua and Waipawa would benefit equally with Feilding, and yet they were not assessed. He thought they should have been included, and that would have made il lighter for Woodville. Woodville had to keep the roads in order for all the stock traffic, and yet was assessed at 15 per cent. He considered there was no ques* tion about it that the Pabiatua Borough people would use the Gorge route in pre» ferecce to the Range road. Cr Redwood seconded the motion pro forma. Cr Lawrence wanted to know what good end would be served by passing the motion. Did Cr Horne think the Council was going to lead the Commie* sioner ?

Cr Horne said he only desired that the Council should record its opinion on the award. Cr Brook said he would have been pleased to see the Commissioner treat the Council more leniently, but there could be no donbt that Mr Short was better able to judge the case than any of the parties. Every unsuccessful litigant felt harshly treated. He thought the I motion an insult to Mr Short.

Cr Motley’s opinion was that the motion was most inopportune, and could not possibly do any good, Cr Redwood said there was no doubt the Borough bad been hardly dealt with, but the award was given and the; must accept it. The Mayor said they did not agree, nor did any local body agree, that the award was an equitable one. The greatest injustice seemed to him to be a* regards Palmerston. The assessment of Palmerston was the most glaring point in the whole award. The only difference between the two places seemed to be that Woodville asked for the bridge and Pal* merston opposed it. Still, he was eatia* fied that Mr Short was an honourable man, and was in an unbiassed position* He bad given bis judgment to the best of bis ability, and the Council would have to abide by it. There was no doubt but that the bridge would be &n advantage to Woodville. Cr Horne said they all seemed to agree that the award was an unjust one, but they would not support bis motion. All be wanted to see was some record mad* of the Council’s objection. Cr McKibbin agreed with Cr Horne that the Council should record its feelf ings on the matter. On the understanding that it was only to be a record on the minutes of the Council’s objection, the other councillors withdrew their opposition, and the tion was carried.