PIAKO COUNTY PROPOSALS

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14492, 15 October 1920, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY PROPOSALS

MORRINSVILLE-KIWITAHI ROAD. TK AlthllA BBIhCK LOAN. MKKTiM'. Of' KIWITAIII UATKt’A VKHB. A meeting of ratepayers was held at. Kiwilahi last Thursday evening. Mr itaiuscy presided, and about 25 ratepayers attended. Proposed Now Road. The I'hairnum explained that ttie object i,l' the meeting was to further e.insider tin' proposal to open up a road along the railway line from Kiwilahi to Morrinsvillc. Mr Junes explained that 11 1 c district had been canvassed to ascertain how many were willing to support the proposal, and allhough some at the Walton end were objecting to be included, the promise of support was very encouraging. In Ids opinion the new road would be a valuable asset, to the settlers, who would have a direct road to Morrill: - .- ville, which would reduce the distance considerably.

The chairman said the canvass bad been made to find mil. what support was available' and ascertain where to dcllne a boundary that would only include settlers that were fairly unanimous in support of the proposal, and

as it was found that the Walton people objected to be included there would be no attempt to compel them, and the boundaries would be adjusted to leave them out.

Mr Harris said he was one of the Walton objectors. He could not see that it was fair to include any of the Walton settlers beyond Mr Millikan's settlement, as they bad no community interest with Kiwilahi. They had as much as they could do to construct their own roads, and if it was said that they would use the proposed new road the' Kiwilahi settlers would have an equal right to use the Walton roads. The reading proposals in Walton and Kiwilahi were of a far too reaching nature: it was dimcult to see where the proposals would end. Mi- W. W. Dickie had had it in his mind to support the proposal, bill thought it was only a matter of forming the road. However, it appeared th.it llmre was also a proposal to have it metalled, which was a horse of another colour. This would increase the rate, and lie was doubtful if the small advantage gained by him would anvthing like compensate him for the amount of rates lie would have to pay. Mr J. Bell < riding member for Kiwilahi) said that the vexed question of defining rating areas was always a knoltv problem, but before anything could he done by the Council in the wav of applying for a loan a rating area would have to be fixed and submitted to the Council, together with the engineer's estimate of cost of cunsliuttion. Mr Hill said they would find they we.c making a great mistake in going on with the proposal, as the majority of Hie settlers wore not in favour ot making a road to Morrinsvillc until the mails in their own vicinity were put in a hotter condition. Mr Walts proposed and Mr Harmless seconded, "That the meeting he adjourned until something more definite is known of the probable cost ami Hm houndaries of rating area.”— -Carried. To Aroha Bridge Loan. Mr Harris introduced the To Andos bridge loan proposal, which was to strike a rate over Use whole of the county to pay the interest mi a portion of the cost of constructing Hie new bridge. He did not think that the Council could honestly call on the ratepayers in ibis end of the country to rate themselves for Hie bridge, which thev seldom used and which was no interest whatever to them. Walton's centre was Matamata and Kiwitald's was Morrinsvillc, and it was most unfair, in liis opinion, that they should be loaded for the erection of Hie Te Aroha bridge, when there were so many just claims on their financial resources nearer home. Mr McLean handed to the chairman a letter from the County clerk explaining that ttie rate would only he a smail one, and the Council urged its members to do their utmost to got the loan car-

r i < ■ 1 1. Mr Harris s;ii<l that il was not a m.'i 11i>r whether il was a small or large ra l,.; n was a question of principle. 1. it was wrong it was wrung, ami Ho: saltiers should not agree t'o it. Due small rate did not appear to bo much, but when many of these were added together they made up a very large rate bill each year, and nothing local to show for the money. Discussion was here interrupted, as Mr McLean reminded the chairman that tic had declared the meeting closed. The chairman admitted that that was so. and the proceedings closed with a vole of thanks to the chair.