TIMBER LORRIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 53, 23 August 1939, Page 5

TIMBER LORRIES

DAMAGE TO ROADS COUNTY DISCUSSES MATTER A feeling that it would be better for the Whakatane County if the timber lorries did not come down to Edgccumbe from Te Whaiti on account of road damage was expressed by tlie County Council on Tuesday when a Letter was received dealing with the cartage of timber from Te Whaiti to Murupara, from the district public, works engineer, said that with reference to the council's request for the revision of the annurl sum of £200 payable by the county as contribution towards the main, tenance of the Te Whaiti-Murupara section of the Rotorua-Waikaremoann road, the matter had received consideration by his head office and if was regretted that the request could not be granted. it was suggested that a revision of the royalty charges to produce a greater amount would assist the council in any present difficulty. It was also pointed out that the department had been faced with heavy expenditure in the past on the Rolorua-Waikaremoana road and was still carrying heavy maintenance charges on the ten miles stretch referred to. This road was of considerable benefit to the county besides giving access to a certain amount of rate bearing country. CHAIRMAN•'S ANSWER. The chairman reported that he had directed that the district engineer be thanked for his letter and advised that the council would consider the question of increasing the royalties. He had also been advised that, as an alternative, the council might consider not licensing timber traffic in respect of over-classifica-tion cartage on the Murupara.Te Whaiti road and in the event of the

council so deciding he had asked the district engineer to advise if the £200 annual payment would still be payable. It had been, mentioned to the district engineer that this annual payment was originally arranged as the council's contribution towards the extra maintenance cost on the road in question on account of the overclassification timber cartage thereon. The district engineer's statement that the road was of considerable benefit to the county besides giving access to a certain amount of rate bearing country was a matter of opinion, and, regarding rates, it was estimated that from 10 miles the Whakatane side of Te Whaiti to. Lake Waikaremoana not more than ftlO to £15 of general rate was involved . TO HELP RAILWAY. Mr Burnett said originally they had wished to induce all traffic to come down to Edgecumbe in order to assist the East Coast railway. It had been estimated that the royalty would produce sufficient revenue to meet the £200 a year paid to the department for road maintenance. At first it had been thought that the royalty would bring in £1000 a year, but it had proved difficult to get '.lie money in to pay the department. No margin was left for the council and they had suggested paying the department a percentage. However the department had suggested that they scale up the charge, but they '.lid not want to do this. Cr T. G. H. Cawte said that the timber lorries did a great deal of damage to the roads and so -were costing more than the revenue they brought on. Within a short time they would l:av e to spend £3000 or £1000 on remetalling the road if the

t lorries continued to use it. Thoy j would be better off without the trafj fie and it would be a good thing if all the timber went out through Rotorua. THAT £200 A YEAR, Cr Burnett agreed in part, but said that first they must be sure that they would get rid of the incubus of £200 if the lorries went to Rotorua. Cr "VV. A. McCracken agreed. Cr Cawte said that even with the possible loss of heavy traffic, fees it would be better to get rid of the loiries. much timber must still come this way. They could in. crease the royalty, and even if this diverted part of the traffic the revenue might still amount to as much. 1 as £150. He was agreeable that the matter .should be held over until further word was received from the de. partment. Cr L. Luxton raised another mutter. Their member in the House tin ' mentioned the expenditure on tV>o Rotorua-Waikaremoana road. T'i * (Continued foot nrev~" ■i -