COUNTIES’ DEPUTATION

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1923, Page 3

COUNTIES’ DEPUTATION

TO MINISTER OF .MINES. STUART AND CHAPMAN'S TRAMWAY. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON. Feb. 21

Messrs Jeffries, Duff and Evans, introduced bv Mr J. O’Brien, M.P.. and supported by Hull J. Orimmoml. waited on the Minister of Mines Hon Anderson) this afternoon, relative to the carriage ol settlers goods, stock am, produce over the tramway ol Stuart and Chapman, Ltd., from Ross to Wailaha. held as a mining right. The Minister was very favourably disposed and agreed that the I ndeiSecretary of Mines who is to visit the ( east earlv next month with the Minister, would go over the line with the engineers, and arrange final conditions for tin' traffic. Mr Jeffries indicated tout the Cmmtv Council were agreeable to give •a bond to cover any damage done In the Government railway rolling stock used on the line for the carriage of setllors produce or supplies. The Minister stated that he had no doubt the whole matter would be satisfactorily adjusted by the Government officials, with the parties concerned. ... The Minister of Rubin- Works will lie seen to-morrow forenoon regarding the main road maintenance and the expenditure of Government granU. MAIN ROADS MAINTENANCE. SPECIAL TO (!1> AUDI AN. WELLINGTON. Feb 22. The Westland County deputation, introduced by Mr .1. O' Hi it'ii Ml’.. Imd a lengthy interview this morning with lion (i. Coates (Minister of Public Works) relative to the maintenance of the K umarn-Ross main road, wlm-li it is proposed to hand over to I lie County on Li April for future maintenance. Mes-rs Jeffries. Dull' and Evans detailed the position at some length, indicating ihe reports showing an expenditure of i'liOCO was necessary to put the road and bridges in order for heavy trallie.

i Tin- Minister was supported by the | chief Clerk and the mini position j of the heal body was gone into elose- ; 'Ai |t. was pointed out nearly lilt: per j rout. of Ihe local body revenue was ' derived from rating and luxation, bid i tin* Minister replied tlial the local i body was not up In its limit ol legal rating taxation. ; In reply it uas pointed out that . though the rate loi the current year j had dropped a farthing per pound, : the total rate revenue had incre--,-t! h v £.IOOO owing to increased val-ia- : lion. i 'l'll,- Minister p- iated out I lial all rat'-s were not spent on tlie* rca-'s. a . considerable amount going in hospital ; expenditure. lb- considered a larger t amount of mote.: should be found by rales. \ It wax explained that local loan- ; were raisedi fo;- district roads and : bridges, but I la- Minister considered i tin* total so raised was very small and I much below tin average for the dominion. ; Mr Coates expressed the view that ; tin- local body was except ioiclly treated in the past by the Government, maintaining the main roads along the railway. It was the only coiintv in the Dominion so treated. • t was explained that as the result of the railway cut more trallie was being t In-own on the main roads ami that the County maintained all the district roads sewing the railway, over which considerable quantities of timber were brought in for railway iransporl. When ii was "minted out that tinCouncil was al-o losing royalties from timber which was going to the Forestry Depart mold, the Minister ag'-ei-rl that it was least, liable a local body should receive half that revenue for the upkeep of the roads. Tile Minister stated . a very large expenditure had keen going on in West land for roads and bridges. 11 was cue of the best i.real-<-d C 'mi nt ies in New Zealand. The denotation agreed that good work bad'been done by lla- Department in bridging Sunt!: Westland rivers, Imf vorv lew grants were now being provided for district roads. The .Minister stated be intended in stop til! small grants and coiicentraie oil the large public works n the d:--trict. It was pointed out to Ibe Minister tlia.t the Highways legislation : would shorly take effect, and portion of the main road would come under that category. The tyre tax through the Customs, was yielding a eonsicterable . suit! and tile roads ot We.-I land tended to tear out, rather than wear out. the Ivies. : The Minister said the Advisory I under the Highway Legislation, i would soon be -cl tin but regarding i Westland Main Roads, ilv* department

on iv him i'» stop lno Hi; 1 m i *-• * < «» : the onus would fall on the local body lie was disappointed tlial Die local ; !:ndv bail not made any e-ter in the ' 110,1 tor. Other local bodies were eott-li-ibuling. . j After further discussion. Air -lei.nes | ~!,,,1 jf (ho Dc-partincnf would l-'bu ’ ! 11,,. bridges in order the Council might j undertake Hie maintenance ,*l the mad j ’l'ht- .Minister < onsidored lb.-*i :: i-v,-,|,-i!, soim-t bin;-, lie would get a report' from Mr Gillies regarding tin-, state of ti,.' road and then im-tln r coil- j siiler matters, ami laic, communicate; the reply. I Mi- O’Brien was discussing southei n j bridges, when the bridging of \\ ailm j river came up. and the Minister A' 1 ' 1 reminded tlial the Council had offered ( to contribute towards the cost. The Minister said there wins a pro- | vis,, to the offer, namely that the , bridge' be erected within twelve months. : Air Jeffries said if tin- Government j wore prepared to go on with the bridge . the most important work in • °"L' j Westland the Council would lavourahH : consider, he thought, a revival ol that , Mr Coates said that was satisfactory. ; Pl,„s for the work were being pro- , pared, but he could rot promise that the vote would appear on the next o=l " Mr'jeffries appreciated what was tie- i jure done regarding Arthur s 1 ass tunncT and asked whether an approximate ; date had been fixed lor the opening. + ; The Minister stated he hoped *' make an announeement regaiding oimine- date at the end ot rre reek.