MOTORISTS AND THE BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1935, Page 7

MOTORISTS AND THE BRIDGE

(To,the Editor.)

Sir, —Your correspondent "Motorist Ratepayer" surely must be illogical when he claims to be a motorist and yet criticises the personnel of an organisation which exists for his benefit as a motorist. In fact, everybody opposing our correspondent is apparently in the wrong. To read about the dust nuisance and the needed supervision of the roads sounds too much like the political game of setting up dummies in order to knock them over again. Surely the correspondent, will. have to get the council to provide means to, stop the wind blowing.

Throughthe consolidated revenue we all, motorists and non-motorists, contribute to the upkeep of the railways and the roads through subsidies, etc. To put in water and drainage schemes will cost £35,000, and the present small population of the township of Plimmerton cannot afford it and less so if they find .their present rates unbearable. 'I. have.not'heard of one ratepayer forfeiting.his .property for non-payment of rates yet. The only part of the main highway to Paekakarikl which the Government will ' pay for will be the four miles alongside the coast Underneath tlie present railway line. The rest they will subsidise the local authority, with the usual subsidy qf : £3 for £1. The present property owners are going to reap the value of the unearned increment as a result of the bridge going across after the 13th. If they sell out then the incoming owner has the bill to I pay for and the present owner pockets 'the profit.

There was no secret about the ■■lowi est tender being over £13,000 for the bridge, and everyone knew that the Unemployment Board withdrew the offer to construct the road and that the Government insisted that the road be built by contract, so where -would the £11,000 have gone? Another loan of £6000 .or more would have been needed to complete the whole job. The whole trouble was that the Hutt County Couricil^was continually being sidestepped by the Government, -which was in hopes that the bridge would never be built, but the result of the last poll was too much of a surprise for the Government to.neglect the district any further,: and it. had to do something at last. I admit it has been a sad experience for the ratepayers, but it is up to the Government to make amends for the past expense of the rejected plains, "deserted promises, and the cost of the poll, and it should certainly pay this part of the loan, i.e., £1000.-1 am, etc..

ALSO MOTORIST.