HUTT ROAD RAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 89, 12 October 1934, Page 11

HUTT ROAD RAMP

QUESTION OF COST

LOCAL BODIES' SHARE

MAKARA'S OPPOSITION

"I am definitely opposed to any further imposition on the taxpayer. The Prime Minister might know the finances of the country, but he doesn't know the condition of these local bodies, and personally I wouldn't a.greo to making a contribution," said tho chairman of the Makara County Council (Mr. E. W. Bothamley), when referring at a meet;; ing of the council today to a suggestion that local bodies should contrib.uto towards the cost of providing an overbridge and approaches at tho junction of Waterloo Quay extension with the Hutt Eoad.' The Town Clerk wrote stating that at a meeting of the Suburban Highways Board recently it was decided to recommend to the local authorities represented on the board,that an endeavour be made to settle the question of the allocation of the cost of the overbridge on the basis of the Railway Department, the Main Highways Board, and the local authorities each meeting one-third of the cost. It was suggested that the sum to be found by the local bodies be raised by loan, and that for the first three years the basis of contribution by the local'bodies towards the annual charges of the loan be an average of the percentage of contribution to the Hutt Eoad maintenance and the percentage of allocation of heavy traffic fees, thereafter tho contributions to bo on a user basis ascertained by taking the average of a traffic tally of vehicles passing over the bridge for a period of one week in each of the previous three years. On tho basis suggested the percentage of interest and sinking fund payable by the Makara Council for the first three years would be 9.545 per cent. TWO ALTERNATIVES. Councillor E. Windley said that an estimate of the cost of the work was at present being prepared. The annual contribution of the Makara Council would be between £60 and £70. "Two things must happen," he said. "Either a ramp mast be provided or the road must remain closed. It is a matter for the council'to say whether it should contribute towards the cost. We realise . .that something must be done in the , matter,' but the fact remains that these little demands on the local bodies concerned are passed on to the ratepayers, the majority of whom will not use the ramp. A similar state of affairs has existed for years, and it seems to point to a weakness in the system. It seems to me that the question of taxation should be revised. The Automobile Association is doing its utmost to have the scheme carried out, but it has made, it quite clear that motorists will not contribute anything further than what they have done by way of motor taxation."

Councillor W. Horrobin said he was opposed to contributing towards the cost of the schemed "I think that in the main the matter involves the Wellington Harbour Board and the Bail way Department. I fail to see how local bodies are going to benefit from the bridge. As far as I can gather there is no word of the Harbour Board coming into it."

Councillor Winrlley said that many of the local bodies felt they had a responsibility if the road was to be open.

On the'motion ;pf CoimrilloT,sWindTey the matter was .deferred until the next meeting.