KIRIKIRI BRIDGE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4454, 16 August 1922, Page 2

KIRIKIRI BRIDGE

RATEPAYERS’ AGITATIONS. A POLL WANTED. AND A DEFINED BATING AREA. DEPUTATION TO COUNCIL. A deputation from the Turua Ratepayers' Association, st.’, ported by representatives of the Ngatea branch of tbs N.Z. Farmers’ Unit n, waited on the Hauraki Plains County Council at it* meeting on MJnday in connection with the Kirtkizi bridge proposals. The deputation consisted of Messrs W. Madgwica. Newman, SUtten, P. Henry (Turua). A. Cleaver, W. McDuff, and HaAyburtbn Johnstone (Ngatea), and sVongly urged the Council to take a poll on the budge proposals and tc define the rating area. Mr J. C. Miller (chairman) asked the clerk to read a report he had made on ail negotiations which had taken place in conrvrc’icn with the bridge. Mi E. Walton (c c’.k) read his report, which is published on our, firstpage. Mr Madgwick, after the reading of the report, expressed disapproval with the Council ytcrrcding under .eeiion 119 of the Aei. He maintained that that section was not meant fcr a scheme the size cf Kirikiri. He asked if the Council had taken any steps to obtain the opinion of ’.he ratepayers. The Chairman : Not by poll. Mr Madgwick: By any other way. The. Chairman: By public agitation. ” Mr Madgwick said the report had been compiled by a verv,clever lawyer, and if the deputation had a lawyer on their side they may be able to pull it to pieces. It was an oversight on their (the ratepayers’) part that they did not act before. The ratepayers in his area considered that tne.bridge was not required, and was a secondary consideration to roads. The cost would be great. They had sufficient rates to pay without adding to their burden. Mr Newman, secretary of the Turn :< Ratepayers’ Association, said the Council should define the zating area and make known the cost. He did not object to the bridge. Mr Johnstone did not think the Council should include Ngatea in the rating area for the Kirikiri bridge, as Ngatea already had a bridge of its own to maintain. Mr Sutton also urged that a poll should be taken, as a poll had been taken for the Puriri bridge.

WATER BEFORE A BRIDGE. Mr Johnstone said he would like to see roads and water before a bridge at Kirikiri. Mr Madgwick asked Cr. Winitschurch if his riding would be included in the rating area, as if his area would not be included he (Or. Whitechurch) should not vote on the question. Mr Walton pointed out that Mr Whitechurch was elected for the County as a whole, and referred to the report. Mr Cleaver, on behalf of the Ngatea Farmers’ Union, said the feeling in Ngatea had been that a poll should have been taken at the start. It was only recently that they had found out that there would be no poll. He would be in favour of the bridge if it did not cost too much. He also wished to know how the Ngatea bridge area would be affected. He did not think the Council could go back on its deci-* s>on to raise the .loan under section 119, hut he wished the Council would in future take a poll on all other proposals of such a nature. , Mr McDuff supported Mr Cleaver, and drew the clerk’s attention, to his report in which was stated that the ratepayers wished the council to break faith with the other bodies. He did not tl ink that right. He was not opposed to the bridge, but he was opposed to the way it was being built. A poll should have been taken. He did not think the bridge would benefit the settlers by twopence. If the monev was put into roads it would be better. Now that the Council had decided on a course it must stick, to it. Mr Walton : You disassociate yourself with the deputation to have a poll ? Mr Madgwick said, his chief objection was not the Kirikiri bridge, but the way it was brought about. Cr. Parfitt asked what bridges had been built where a poll had been taken.

Mr McDuff : What bridges had been built without a poll 1 Cr. Parfitt named one or fwo.

Cr. Harris gave particulars of the allocation of cost, and said the Council had made a paticularly good bargain. The Plains County Council would pay £12,000.

Mr Johnstone: Don't you think it would be bet.ten to put that £12.000 on the roads at Waitakaruru, so that we can get to Auckland ? Mr McDuff: Kirikiri is taking us the wrong way. "COMMON-SENSE." Mr Walton asked where Mr Madgwick got his authority to say that the Act was never meant for a project the size .of Kirikiri bridge. Mr Madgwick: It's only commonsense. There were two ways of doing it. Why didn’t the Council take the other way and have a poll ?

Mr Walton: You cannot give any reason.

Mr Madgwick : It‘s against the Jaws of democracy. I’m just bringing the opinion of the ratepayers. Cr. Death : How many ratepayers ? Mr Madgwick: AH the ratepayers in our area. Mr Walton: What area?

Mr Madgwick: -The Turua Ratepayers’ Association, which boundaries include the Turu,a riding, Cr. McLoughlin: How many ratepayers are in your association ? Mr Madgwick : About 40 or 50. THE RATING AREA. Mr Walton, in answer to Mr Newman, said the Council proposed to define the bridge area at that day’s meeting. Mr Newmna: The i?ates that we will soon have to pay will squash tn? Hauraki Plains. We want roads. The road I am on is a disgrace. The.

engineer refuses to go down it now. We don’t want to go to Thames. Cr. Harris said it was a good bargain. .Mr Newman: It’s a good bargain for Thames, that’s all. NGATEA BRIDGE AREA. Mr Walton said to Mr Cleaver that his question regarding bow the Ngate.a bridge area would be affected would be decided that day. Mr Sutton asked how far the Council was committed regarding th-3 scheme, and if a petition of 75 per cent, of the ratepayers in the county Would bold the bridge up. Or. Parfitt: We're not going to assist you to turn the scheme down. (Laughter.) Mr Madgwick said that if all the county would come into the rating area he would withdraw his objections.

Cr. Harris said that the more the ratepayers pulled with the Council the better it would be. The Government at this time of shortage of money would be willing to swallow any fly.

Mr Newman: We’ll give them the fly, too.

Mr McDuff inquired if a petition had been received by the Council asking that the Ngatea bridge area be excluded from the Kirikiri bridge rating prea. Mr Walton said he had not seen it.

Mr McDuff said he knew the petition had been signed, but was not certain whether it had been sent to the Council.

Cr. McLoughlin asked the deputation why they did not come 12 months ago to object, Mr Newman: We were getting 2s per lb for butterfat then. Times have changed now.

Mr Walton said the County League had had this matter in hand and had passed it on to the Council. A MORAL OBLIGATION. Mr Sutton asked if the. Council would go on with it if 75 per cent «f the ratepayers signed a petition against the bridge. Mr Walton replied that the Council was morally bound to go on with it. C'r. Mayn said that as far. as the Patetonga ratepayers were concerned he would object to the riding being included, as those ratepayers would not use the bridge. They would use the Grafton bridge more than the Kirikiri bridge. Cr. Harris : Will they use the Auckland Hospital more than the Thames Hospital ? BRIDGE A LUXURY. Mr Madgwick said the bridge over the Waihou would be a luxury. Mr Sutton said if that money were put on a road it would be better for the settlers. Cr. Hayward said .the Council was committed now and it was no use stirring up the mud. Mr Madgwick said the county rates were 6s 8d per acre, drainage 3s 6d to 4s ; there were also Thames Valley lighting, the harbour rates, and the machinery loan. The new roads scheme would cost 7s 6d, and was essentia!, and then there would be the Kirikiri bridge. The Salvation Army would be coming round next. The deputation then withdrew. THE COUNCIL’S OPINION. RATING AREA DEFINED, WHOLE COUNTY INCLUDED. There was a diversity of opinion amongst the councillors when the matter was discussed at length after the deputation withdrew. It was eventually decided to make all bridges county matters, so that the rating area for the Kirikiri bridge will extend over the whole of the county. There were two dissentients to this decision.

Cr. Mayn moved that the Kirikiri bridge area be defined. He thought it was essential that the area be defined, and only fair to the ratepayers. Cr. Parfitt seconded, and the motion was carried.

Cr. Mayn wished to know what method the Council would adopt. He did not think they should take natural or riding boundaries, but adjust the boundaries entirely by benefits received.

Cr. Hayward moved that the rating area be the Turua, Nethiertbh, Waitakaruru, and Patetpnga ridings, ex-* eluding the Maukoro block. Cr. McLoughlin seconded. Cr. ,Mayn asked why Cr. Hayward wished to leave the Maukoro block out. Cr. Hayward thought the Mauspro interests lay the other way. Cr. Mayn said it was a portion of the Patetonga riding, and Would have as much benefits from the bridge as the Patetonga people. The Maukoro settlers were also on better land. He did not favour their inclusion, but he wished them all to be treated alike. He again maintained that they would use the Grafton bridge as much as the Kirikiri bridge. Some interests were focussed on Thames. When the Paeroa communications were opened up most of the trade would go there. Some of it would also go to Morrinsville. There would sbon be bridges connecting them with Paeroa. He did not tnink Patetbnga settlers ishouli pay any rates towards Kirikiri bridge. Kailiere should not pay any, as their interests lay with Paeroa. The area should be a long way east of Kaihere. He moved that the rating areas in each riding be defined separately, and that Patetonga, be dealt with first. He thought the boundary should not go farther than the top of the Puhanga canal. UNFAIR RATING. Cr. Chatfield asked if it would l>e fair to ask a man at the Puke bridge to pay a rate on the Kirikiri bridge. Cr. Hayward: Just as much as those in the Orchard Bridge area. Those in the Orchard Bridge area were paying more now than those in the Netherton riding will pay even with the Kirikiri rate.

Cr. McLoughlin thought it best to strike a rate over the whole of the county and make bridges county mat- - 6 Cr. Parfitt was in sympathy with Ci‘. McLoughlin. The time had arrived when the Council must arrive s. at sojne policy in connection with

bridges and make them county matters.

Cr, Mayn: Would you make the ex - isting bridges county mattes also ? Cr. Rarfltt: Yes. Cr. McLpughlip said the matter had been Jet slide too long. Cr, Parfitt moved that the Kirikiri bridge rating area be spread over the whole of the county. Cr. Death seconded pro forma, but opposed Cr. Parfitt’s motion. It would not be a fair thing to take in a big portion of the Netherton riding. There were portions which should be included. but not the whole of it. Cr. Mayn thought it was an outrageous proposition. It was only going to reduce the rates for those who required it. The bridge had got to a stage when it was an established fact. Some ratepayers would be penalised and never use the bridge at all. The Patetonga area had an outlet in a good waterway. He opposed the motion. BENEFITS OF BRIDGE. Cr. Harris: Things have now come to a time when all bridges should be county matters. If that policy had been, adopted from the start there would have been no heart-burning now. The whole of the county should pay for the Kirikiri bridge, the Puke bridge, the Orchard bridge, the Pipiroa bridge, and all bridges within. the county. When Cr. Mayn said the Kirikiri bridge wbuld be no use to Patetonga he forgets —• Cr. Mayn: It’s 30 miles away. Cr. Harris: He forgets that the launches go from Thames to Patetonga.

Cr. Mayn: The launches don’t go over the bridges.

Cr. Harris: But Thames supplies them. Those who travel by launch to-day will travel by motor car in ths future. He held no brief for Thames or Paeroa, but he had brief for the Hauraki Plains, The only way to meet the expenditure was that bridges be county matters.

Cr. Whitechurch said that when all the bridges were brought into the area there would be hardships on those at the extreme end of the county. The time was coining when the Plains would be in sm,all areas and there would be few who could affor 1 motor-cars. Those at the Patetonga area would not use the Kirikiri bridge much. He was not in favour of all bridges being county matters. Cr. McLoughlin: Would you be in favour off the Kirikiri bridge being a county matter. Cr, Whitechurch: No. AMENDMENT WITHDRAWN. The chairman said it made it very difficult for him to speak, as many were of the opinion that the bridge was made for him. The rate would be so small over the whole of the county that there should be np argument. It was p not an oppressive rate. Cr. Mayn: Some of the Tahuna people have never seen Thames.

A Voice: Lack of communication. Cr. Parfitt withdrew his amendment.

Cr. Chatfield moved an amendment that the following bridges be made county matters: Hikutaia, Netherton, Puke, Orchard, and Kirikiri. Provision should also be made for bridges at Patetonga and Ngarua. Cr, Whitechurch: If you make ali bridges county matters you’ll raise a protest. Cr. Mayn thought it unjust to spread a rating area for bridges which they already h,ad over a part of the county which was tob weak to oppose it.. He would agree to the. amendment if' the Maukoro were included. Cr. Chatfield agreed to embody Maukoro bridge in his amendment.

Cr. Harris then seconded Cr. Chatfield’s amendment.

Cr. McLoughlin maintained that the Council should put up bridges and open up the country. The Council should have something to show for their three years of office.

Cr. Whitechurch said the Thames Valley was 100 years behind witn bridged. Those who benefited should be rated, and not those who will receive no benefit. Cr. Mayn: If the Council wou'd agree to .legalise the Maukoro deviation and build the Maukoro bridge I would be in favour of the amendment. Cr. Harris suggested that Cr. Chatfield include in his amendment that the Council legalise the Maukoro do viation.

Cr. Chatfield said he would like to move that as a separate motion. Cr. McLoughlin supported the inclusion of the legalisation of the Maukoro deviation.

Cr. Whitechurch was opposed to bridges becoming county matters. It was grossly unfair. He knew of no other county which did it. After some informal discussion Cr. Wnitechurch said he did not wish '.O see them arguing the point all night, and would record his vote against it. The clerk said that all the bridges contained in the proposals 'just made would give a rate of about 5d per acre. TWO VOTES AGAINST. The amendment was then put tc the meeting and carried by seven votes to two, Crs. Mayn and Whitechurch voting against it. The chairman s.aid a vote of thanks was due to the clerk for his time in getting the figures and making out his report. The clerk had gone to a great deal of trouble. He moved a vote of thanks to Mr Walton, and moved that it be recorded in the minutes.

Cr. Harris endorsed the chairman’s remarks, and the vote of thanks was carried by acclamation.

Cr. Mayn had given a notice of motion that the minute concerning the bridge loan being taken under section 119 of the Act be rescinded. If he bridge was built with t.h>’ bridge at the Maukoro deviation. Tahuna would benefit. He would withdraw his motion.