WALLER’S ROAD, PUNI.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 605, 4 February 1921, Page 7

WALLER’S ROAD, PUNI.

“CLUMSY INSULT MISTAKEN FOR SATIRE.” In these hard times when labour and materials are scarce and expensive, and to meet the increased cost the rates on properties have to be increased, local bodies receive many knocks and complaints, in spite of their endeavours to treat every case on its merits, some people are never satisfied. At the monthly meeting of the Franklin County Council, the following letter was received from Mr A. H. Shepherd, Waller’s Road, Puni, dated December 28, 1920;.—“Re Waller’s Road, Puni—On June 28 last I wrote calling your attention to the state of disrepair the above road was in. On July 17 I received a reply from the county clerk (after some uncalled for asininity on the part of councillors re my complaint) to the effect that ‘the county teams are to be sent out on to the road as soon as they are available and the weather permits of the necessary work being carried out.’ Six long months have elapsed and the road is still in the same state of glorious disrepair, although the teams have been in the near vicinity and carried out other work requested to be done some considerable time after my complaint was made, and work, too, of infinitely less importance. May I ask, without being subjected to clumsy insult, mistaken for satire, on the part of the councillors (my reply to such will be made through the press on next occasion) when the work in question is likely to be proceeded with. Is therq any prospect of it being carried out before the winter arrives? Stamped addressed envelope enclosed for reply to obviate the unnecessary delay that characterised the prior communication received by me.— (Signed), A. H. Shepherd. At the meeting of the Council held on Thursday, July 8, 1290, Mr. Shepherd urged immediate repairs to Waller’s Road, Puni. He pointed out that the road was impassable owing 'to neglect. He stated that he had been a landowner in many counties in the Dominion, but he had never before seen such ill-maintained roads as this distx’ict is famous for, especially v/hen stone and me'tal were to be had in abundance on every hand, this district, he added, being most favoured in that respect, with the exception of Wesland, that he had noted throughout New Zealand. Councillors wondered why so experienced a man settled in Franklin in the first place. In fairness to the county clerk, Mr. Alan P. Day, we may add that in our opinion there was no “unnecessary delay that characterised the prior communication received by Mr. Shepherd.” Mi\ Shepherd wrote on June 25, and the Council met on July S and he, received a reply on July 17, nine days later. The county clerk is always a busy man and especially at meeting time, when we have known him to be working overtime to have everything in readiness for the big meeting. After the meeting he has the pay to attend to, and it takes some little time in carefully handling several thousands of pounds, besides having to write up the minutes of the meeting, as well as to attend to correspondence and other routine matters pertaining to the welfare of the county. So after all, nine days is not so very long when there are hundreds of other letters of perhaps more importance to answer than a complaint about the famous Waller’s Road, situated in the district known as Puni. The clerk was instructed to reply stating the matter would be attended to.