MORRINSVILLE TO PATETONGA

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4326, 5 October 1921, Page 2

MORRINSVILLE TO PATETONGA

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION.

TOUR OF PLAINS-SUGGESTED.

PAEROA CHAMBER’S ATTITUDE.

A comprehensive scheme, reports the Morrinsville “Star,” involving the invitation .to the Minister for Public Works and members of Parliament to visit Morrinsville and th.e Hauraki Plains in -the same way as a Minister and members of Parliament visi’ed. the East Coast some months ago, was introduced at the meeting of the Morrinsville Chamber of Commerce on Thursday evening.

Tn his annual report to the chamber the president (Mr G. Howie) said that the executive had met Messrs Whitechurch and White, of Tahuna, in .connection with the proposal to secure the deviation of the MorrinsvillePatetonga Road through the Maukora estate. Mr Howie commented on the fact that Patetonga was 20 miles from Morrinsville, and unless the Morrinsville people took action and saw that the road was improved the Patetonga people would " take the whole of their trade, to Thames. The proposed deviation through the Maukora would shorten the distance be-' tween Morrinsville and Patetonga by three miles, besides giving more level and direct access.

Mr McGregor suggested that .the chamber might combine with the Patetonga people to invite the Minister for Public W.orks to go over the road and view -the country from a hili at Tahuna.

Mr F. J. Mayn, Patetonga, wrote stating he thought the proposed deviation had been approved by the Public Works Department and a. grnat had been placed on the Estimates for the work, but this grant had been withdrawp owing to the financial stringency.

Mr Cargill said Mr Whitechurcn had told him .that material was being taken out to the road. .

Mr Cargill moved: “ That the Patetonga Farmers’ . Union, the Thames Harbour Board, the Thames and Paeroa Chamb°?s of lommcire. -the Thames, Paeroa, and'Morrinsville Borough Councils, and the Piako, Hauraki Plains, and Thames" County Councils be . asked to combine with the Morrinsville Chamber of Commerce in inviting the Minister for Public Works, the members flor the districts and other members of Parliament to pay a visit of inspection to the Hauraki Plains district.” Mr McGregor seconded and suggested that the vistors be shown th|e Morrinsville railway station and Courthouse and a few other things in the district as well as the Maukora deviation.-

It was suggested that the Thames people might not agree with the idea, but it was contended that the Maukora deviation was a small matter compared with the comprehensive nature of the suggested tour. Mr Cargill pointed out that the Arterial Roads Bill ,was a master of great concern to the Waikato. So far as this district was concerned there was only the one highway. That would be a long way from the Hauraki Plains, but the people in the Morrinsville and Hauraki Plains districts would have to contribute. Boroughs like Morrinsville might be severely burdened with such taxation. His idea was that the Morrinsville and Hauraki Plains people should try and have the Mor.rinsville-Pate-tonga-Pokjeno road included in the schedule of proposed arterial roads. This road, was destined to be the main road to Auckland from this portion of the district. If the chamber could persuade the Minister and members of Parliament to visit the district the Piako and Hauraki Plains County Councils might be very materially helped to obtain money. It would be a good thing to help the members of Parliament to understand the topography of the country. It would be a splendid thing to have the Morrinsville-Patetonga road made a part of a main arterial road from Rotorua to**Auckland. The motion was carried unanimously.

PAEROA CHAMBER DISCUSSION. The matter’ was discussed by the PaJteroa Chamber of Commerce last night. - -

The president, Mr E. W. Porritt, thought by far the better route for the main arterial road wpuld be from Paeroa through Whar.eppa, Ngatea, Waitakaruru, on to Pokeno. Mr T, E. McMillan stressed the need for the proposed road from Paeroa to Patetonga, which could be graphically brought before a Parliamentary delegation.—Chorus of; approval.

On the motion of Mr D. Leach, seconded by Mr T. E. McMillan,, it was decided to co-operate with the Morrinsville Chamber in the matter of inviting a Parliamentary delegation to make a tour of the Hauraki Plains.