MAIN ROADS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1923, Page 2

MAIN ROADS.

QUESTION OF MAINTENANCE. REFUSAL OF GRANT. BV MINISTER. OF PUBLIC WORKS. The following letter was read at yesterday’s meeting of the Westland County Council from the Hon. J. G. C’oates, Minister of Public Works:--In continuation of my letter ol lhth. nit. I have to iniorm you that the questions of making provision for a Government contribution for renewal ol bridges on the above section of the Main Smith Road will receive my careful consideration when tlie Public Works Estimates for the current financial year are being compiled. In regard to the request for an annual Government subsidy for road maintenance such as is paid to the Jnangahua and Grey Counties, I have to state that the position is quite different in the Counties mentioned. Taking Innngahua County for example, the County maintains the whole length of its main road with the assistance of a Government! contribution ol £IOOO per annum.

Up till the end of last financial year the Government maintained the main road in your County from t oiinty ■boundary to Waiho and from Kttmara Railway Station to Arthur's Pass at its own expense, and now while asking vour Council to accept the responsibility for maintaining the Kumara-Ross section of this road, is continuing to maintain that portion of tlie road south of Ross at a cost of some £3.50 per month, and also that section of the Christchurch-West Coast Road between Kumar a and the County boundary, between Otira and Arthur s Pass.

It would appear, therefore, that the assistance which your Council is alrendy receiving from the Government in the matter of road maintenance is considerably in excess ol that extended to the Inangahua and Grey Counties. I regret that in regard to the hitter request for an annual * maintenance grant for Kumara-Ross section I am unable to favourably entertain your request. —Received. The Chairman stated the reply was a very unsatisfactory one, and it hardly stated the facts. The matter was one of great importance to the Council, and he moved that further representations he made to the Minister on the subject with a view to securing a more favorable attitude to the icquest of the Council. Seconded by Mr Chesterman.

Mr Ward protested at the unfairness of the leply, and asked that until a further reply was received, the Council should not go on with permanent repairs to the culverts and bridges on the main road, otherwise the expenditure might not be allowed to be considered in the event of a.‘grant being made. He noticed that a number of” concrete pipes were being deposited oil the Arahura Road alongside culverts with a view to renewal, and these works should he left over as long as possible. Air Chesterman said lie understood that tho pipes were lieing placed whose they would he needed in case of a breakdown of a culvert, so that a permanent repair could lie effected, when repaii s were necessary. The Clerk reported that it was the intention of Overseer Millner to renen those .culverts thru, requ'&ed attention. as soon as the opportunity offered. They could not be left as they were, ns in one instance only the planking was holding up the structure. The motion of protest was then agreed to.