WAIPUKURAU TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2440, 15 May 1925, Page 5

WAIPUKURAU TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

ROUND TABLE CONI'HKENCE ON MAINTENANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION. KESUOMMENDATION THAT WAfPAWA BOROUGH BE STRUCK OUT. SUGGESTED SCALE OF CONTRIBUTION. The question of the proportions of payment by the various local bodies to the re-construction of the old Waipuku. ran Traffic Bridge and the maintenance of the present bridge structure was the subject of a round table conference in Waipukurau on Wednesday. Those present were Mr E. A. Goodger (Waipukurau Borough), Mr A. C. Russell (Waipukurau County), Mr C. Pattison (Patangata County), Mr H. Al. Rathbone (Waipawa Borough), Mr A. W. Cook (Waipawa County). Also present wa s Air O a Holt, engineer to tho Waipawa County Council

Air F. D. Thomson, of Napier chairman of the No. 5 District Highways Council (the body controlling highways in Hawke’s Bay) was present in an ad visory character. He being a disinterested party he was elected to the chair.

The chairman thought that it was a question as to whether er not the Press should be allowed in to such a discussion. He thought, however, that speakers could signify to tho reporters what they did not desire to appear in black and white

Tho chairman in opening the meeting said that they were discuss.ng an old question. All were agreed that a now bridge was a necessity. It was main ly a question as to who should pay Tor it and what proportions those who paid should contribute. He trusted the meeting would be able to suggest some sicttlcment, r * ' r Air Thomson said that fho now bridge( without approaches, would cost £24,000. The Highways Board would find £12,000 and the local bodies would have to find the remaining £12,000. The new bridge would take two years to build. It would be the same length as the present structure. Air Russell dealing with the question of whether or not the Borougff should contribute, thought that if the Borough were to pay to this it was only right the Highways Board should give something in return. Air Thompson: Mind you I think that we arc ■exppccting too much from this highways scheme. He thought the local bridge was vertually a boundary bridge between tnc Waipukurau Borough, Waipukurau Uounty, Fatanagata and Waipawa County. Where a bridge was a boundary job the interested parties should contribute, he thought. I'he local Borough ,however, was exempt under the Highways scheme. The question really was how much the Borough should contribute. He thought the govern-

ing factors in tho.scale of charges were valuation of the area of the local body population of the area, number of its vehicles using the- br.dge, ana distance from the bridge. “Of eoiiwc ’ he said “there is one th : ng ’Cstablimed on the now bridge. The new footbri'g-j on tho new bridge will bc> only a Borough matter. Air Goodger: Absolutely, nothing of the sort. Wc don’t want a footbridge there. The only people who want that footbridge are the Waipawa Coumy people who live over the river ana want their children to coms into the Borough School. Air Holt (Referring to the Lindsay Reserve). The Borough hag a reserve over the river.

Air Goodger; We have not; that be* longs to the Crown. We are lust locking after it to prevent it getting burned down or something of that kind. Air Goodger: The contention of the Borough is that tho Highway Board is taking money out of the Borough out of motor licenses and registrar xms and so on and giving noth.ng back. “Put it this way,Air Goodger, have you any suggestion to make to bring any finality in this matter. It is no good to your Borough if the bridge falls down and all the traffic goes through Tikokino,” said Air Thompson. “What I would like to see ig »» amicabflo, settlement on the half or the cost which the local bodies have to contribute. There is a 50 per cent. Highways Board contribution now, instead of thci 33 per cent, contribution of tho Public Wojts Department. I would suggest that representatives of all local bodies meet on the question with definite instructions from their bod es as to their contributions and the Waipawa Borough be left out. Air Goodger: I look on the question

as being totally different now from what it was when the Highways scheme was set up, Wee are contrAJuting by our car taxes to a special fund which has been set up for Highways and are getting nothing back. Mr-Thompson: Mr Goodger says that the Borough are giving something for nothing. But that is not so. When you consider that under the Highways Mhomo £200,000 is collected every year in motor fees, compared wim £35,000 previously you must realise that every local body is going to benefit. The Highways scheme is to do

that. Mr Cook: If wc cannot come to an agreement to-day, what is the next step. Air Thompson: I take! it- Air Goodger will report back to his Council and got them to re-consider the matter

Mr Bussell: Do you know how I would adjust it. I would divide it into three thirds. Waipukurau Borough and County one third Patangata one third Waipawa one third.

He thought the question as to who used tho bridge most was “only an argument.” Mr Thompson: I think Air Russell’s basis is pretty near it. Mr Goodger: I do not think wo can do much more to.-day, A new position has arisen by the motion of the Highways Council which says that tho Highways Board will contribute to the maintenance of Borough roads at the samerate per mile as it does to County roads —My Council can now re,-con sider the matterr, matter

Air Thompson: Well, I do consider Waipukurau has a big moral obligation Mr Kussell in moving a vote of thanks to tho chairman said that the talk had cleared the a:.r and given them much information. He thought tae matter would be settled without a commission. Air Goodger seconded the motion. Mr Tho 'ps<>n snul that he- would like the Borough Council to consider tho question of maintenance right away. They could call a conference later when the question of re construction would be considered. As a matter of fact he thought the proportion of (contribution (for i re-construction would be the same as for maintenance, Alaintenancc, however, was a question of immediate improtance as the bridge was dangerous. Air Russell: You will have to settle on tho question in the end. We will have to appoint you commissioner, Mr Thompson in closing tho mooting said that ho hoped the bodies would re consider the matter and that the Borough would agree to pay toward the bridge. It was finally decided tiat it be a recommendation to tho various local bodies that Waipawa Borough be exempt from contribution to the maintenance of the present bridge or the construction of the now one.

It was suggested by Air Thompson that the following scale of contribution to the cost -of the new bridge should be Patangata County 33 1-3 per cent. Waipawa County 33 1-3 per cent, Waipukurau County 16 2-3 per cent, Waipukurau Borough Ifi 2-3 per cent as suggested by Mr Russell. This suggestion i,s to bo conveyed by the various delegates to the local bodies they represtened, Aftr a deliberation of two hours and a quarter the meeting adjourned. Further developments will occur it is presumed when the various local bodies meet and receive the reports of their representatives.