"AMALGAMATION IS BEHIND THIS"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 101, 15 May 1937, Page 5

"AMALGAMATION IS BEHIND THIS"

Havelock to Lose MotorTraffic Revenue GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME From next year the Havelock North Town Board wull lose all revenue from urivers ' licences and heavy-traffic fees, a&cording to a communication received from the Transport Department at the board 's monthly meeting last evening. It was stated that the department proposed making the smaller boroughs with a population of less than 6000 the responsibility of the Government dn the matter of traffic control. Board memoexs xegarded the proposal unfavourably, particularly as the board had ndt long ago undertaken a road-eealing work for which it was planned that this paTticular revenue ehould pay the xnterest and sinking fund., Eeference was made by the department to the setting up of trafficenforcement districts, which prompted "a xemark from the clerk, Mr W. H. Anderson, that he "felt sure amalgamation was behind all this." "If we won't amalgamato they apparently intend to take our revenue away," remarked the chairman, Mr H. E. von Dadelszen* "If they take away our revenue they can't expect us to keep the roads in ^rder," declared another member. It was decided to write to the departmont pointing out that the board had recently raised a loan to seal the roads and in making out its estdmates in the matter it had anticipated that the revenue from traffic licences would pe available for interest and sinking fund on this project. In consequence the board protested strongly against the proposaL The Municipal Assocdation is aleo to be asked to do what it can for the smaller boroughs and approach the Government in the matter. The meeting was presided over hy the chairman, Mr H. E. von Dadelszen, and others present were Messrs A. E. Greenwood,' A. Christie, A. Toop, W. Paton, J. J. Nimon, E. C. Stratton, and the clerk, Mr W, H. Andereon.