PURIRI BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4355, 14 December 1921, Page 2

PURIRI BRIDGE.

AND PLAINS COUNCIL. A reply to the Hauraki Plains County Council’s representations regarding the difficulty which had arisen ovei the Puriri Bridge was received from the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works, at the Council meeting, at Ngatea on Monday, stating that he had been interviewed on November 18 by the Thames County Council relative to that matter. A copy of the Minister’s reply to Mr Rhodes would serve as a reply to the Hauraki Plains County Council and was forwarded to the Council. The following is the Minister’s reply to Mr Rhodes for the Thames deputation : Referring to the deputation from the Thames County Council which you introduced to me on November 18, relative to the difficulty which has arisen over the Puriri bridge, I have to state that I have carefully considered the representations made by the deputation, and also the representa tions made by other parties, and the following appear to be the points on which my consideration of the matter should be based: 1. When the loan proposal was submitted to the ratepayers of the special rating district it was distinctly stated in a pamphlet issued by the then county chairman that interest and sinking fund would be a first charge on a toll. 2. It subsequently transpired that the poll, in effect, was null and void, and the Thames County therefore proceeded under section 119 of the Public Works Act to obtain an agreement with the Hauraki County. 3. It was made a condition in this agreement (at whose instance it does not really matter) that] maintenance of the bridge and operating costs of the lifting span should be a' first charge on the toll.

4. The effect of this agreement would probably be to place the whole cost of interest and sinking fund on the ratepayers in the special rating area; despite the fact that, the bridge will be of service to a very much wider area and .that the ratepayers within the special rating district will aiso have to pay toll.

5. The Hauraki County, in view of the dissention which exists over this matter among the ratepayers within the special rating area, has, in effect, ivithdrawn from • the agreement has not yet received my sanction) by requesting that before the katter proceeds any further a fresh poll should be taken, ' 6.1 have received a petition frbm £1 ratepayers in the special rating jirea (copy enclosed) urging that I should not agree to the issue of a warrant until such time as a fresh poll should be taken and it is seen whether, under the altered conditions as imposed by the agreement, the ratepayers are still prepared to vote for the loan. On the face of it, it seems to me quite unreasonable that the ratepayers of so small an area should be specially rated to provide a bridge which will be used by a much wider area of country than comprises the special rating district; and, in any case, I feel hardly justified in issuing a warrant based on an agreement already practically withdrawn. I would suggest that the two counties should meet in conference and hear the representations of the contending parties with a view either to taking a fresh poll, or, alternately, to coming to some other amicable arrangement in the matter.

The Council decided to write to the Minister thanking him for his letter.