PLAINS BRIDGE SCHEME

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4471, 25 September 1922, Page 3

PLAINS BRIDGE SCHEME

k NETHiEBTOiN’S OPPUSITIONI TALK OF SECESSION. A LENGTHY MEETING. The inaugural meeting of the Neth,ertan Ratepayers’ Association on Saturday evening was rather a lengthy oiie. Everything went smoothly till the Hauraki Plains z .County Council’s bridging policy was mentioned. This matter was discussed at considerable length, several Turua representatives also being participants. It was suggested, and strongly supported by some, that the Netherton riding should secede from the Plains County artd join up again with the Ohinemuri. Others, while opposed to the Councils bridge policy, did not favour the proposed secession. The discussion; during which the Plains County Council was freely criticised, ended qliietly without any resolution being passed on the matter. The secretary reported that the petitions in circulation- protesting against the Council's bridge policy 'had been largely signed. He ha'l written to Mr H, Poland, M.P., asking him to endeavour To withhold any grant towards bridges. The Paeroa Chamber of ' Commerce had been thanked for assistance in communicating with the Minister of Public Works in the same connection. A communication from Mr Poland sent to the Chamber of Commerce stated that riothing: would be done in the matter ’ until the'petitions had been received, “SPOON-FEDS.” Mr D. G. McMillan said the representatives on the County Council were not in their, rateable area and were what were known as "spoon-feds.” He was glhd to see that Netherton was backing Turua up in what they were working for. The bridge rate on the Kirikiri bridge itself was light', but by including all the other bridges it would be heavy. He had been surprised to find out from the county councillors at a meeting at Turua a week ago that all the other bridges in the county as well as Kirikiri would be built under section 119 of tho Public Works Act. The County Council’s portion of the bridges was £5O 000. Turua w,as very much against Kirikiri under the present system. If they were successful in gaining a vote on Kirikiri it may be then a case for a commission. He had also been surprised to learn that some of the bridge estimates had been only assumed. Mr Madgwick said that bridges had been made a matter for the Council, and not a county matter at. all. He did not think as Cr. Parfitt had stated, that a new council would be honourbound to carry out the policy of the present Council. KNOCK-KNEED BODIES. The president quoted the following extract from the "Gazette” report of the Turua meeting the previous week: “Mr Miller said there was good county money wasted in taking polls. The poll system was a fine one for .weakkneed local bodies, who wished to put the blame on the ratepayers.” The president said he had nothing to say about weak-kneed bodies, but the present Council was knock-kneed.. Continuing, the president said the preser.*. council had pledged Itself to the Ohinemuri County Council to finish Wilson’s Road immediately. It was nearly three years now. and-it was not done yet Why did they buy a steam roller ? Where could they use a roller in this county ? The meeting should elect a deputation to wait on the Ohinemuri County Council and ask them to take the Netherton riding back into their county. It seemed unfortunate going into a new county and haying that feeling so early. Mb Reid said, that when this riding was in the Ohinemuri County this riding was up against it, as the Cpunc’l was representative mostly of mining, and the farming community was neglected, but the rpads they had six years ago were better than what the Paeroa main road is to-day. He thought the secession from Ohinemuri was a backward move. Their community' of interest lay aill up towards Paeroa. They were the losers to start with a new county which had everything to get. The Plains County would be extremely difficult to road. If they were to go on the first two and a half yearns’ experience with the county h.e would say the sooner they were out of it the better. ADMINISTRATION THE. TROUBLE. Mr J. H. .Carter said the Hauraki Plains dounty was probably the smallest-coupty for the rateable value 'n the Dominion today. The trouble was not with the county, but with the administration within the county. It the county was properly administered they would have the best roads in the country. It would be better fon them to see that the Hauraki plains County Council and its affairs were more satisfactory. The president said most pf the councillors would get back again after the election and go on in the same way as they were doing now. If there was a resolution put to the meeting and a petition circulated round the Netherton riding he maintained that 80 per cent, of the ratepayers would sign it, » . SOONER THE BETTER. Mr Heappy: I would say the sooner we get out of it (the Plains County) the better. The more I see it the less I like it. Netherton in particular, he thought, was financing the whole concern. There were thousands of acres within the county that would not be liable to a general rate for very many years—certainly not in his lifetime. Mr McMillan said the Netherton riding came into the plains County with £lBOO of a credit and would go out with £2OOO of a debit. Would the Ohinemuri County accept them with that debit ? He did not think it would be a good move to go back to Ohinemuri. By putting in good men who would carry out the wishes of the ratepayers they would get better treatment. It was a model county to Work, provided the right men were in. "SMASH UP PLAINS COUNTY.” The president did not agree with Mr McMillan. It would be better to

leave the county now with £2OOO of a debit than stay in and have a debit of £5OOO. It would be a God-send for the whole of the county to go back as they were before and smash up the Hauraki Plains County. OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS. Mr W. Simpson said that seeing tne association was in its infancy they should not start off with prejudice against the Council. He appreciated enthusiasm, but as an association m its infancy they should start off with a cleap mind. If they jumped at conclusions and cried out to get back to Ohinemuri the Council would dp nothing for them. He would like to “pour oil on the troubled waters.” They would not gain much by going back to Ohinemuri because they would still have to take their liabilities of Kirikiri He advised them to keep cool and give the council a fair show. The ratepayers would not get anything by bouncing the Council, “Mr Reid said that about six or seven years ago the Netherton-Paeroa road was so good that they could go 30 or 40’ miles an hour in a motor-car without feeling a jolt. He criticised the Council’s method of endeavouring to metal the u’nmetalled portion of main road. The Council had metalled a few chains of road and damage! eight miles. Mn McMillan pointed out that the traffic now was ten times as heavy as it was seven years ago. The machinery loan deposits had absorbed all their rates. That is why they did not get all the metal they required. To be fair to the Council!, it should be given a fair show. It hafl been mislead by the engineers it had In the past. He was interested in Mr Simpson's remarks, and thought that speaker was on the right track. The President: Do you think all the blame can be put on the engineers ? Mr McMillan: No. not all. Mr Heappy said the Council, was making no effort to restrict heavy traffic. He thought, the deposits o?i the machinery loan had been taken from the Netherton riding funds. Mr Madgw’ck: I think you will have a terrible job to get out of this county. We (Turua) could not possibly let you out. He agreed that the administration was at fault. Mr H. Taylor said if Netherton went out the Plains County would be tob small and would have to secede to some ofther county. He thought Netherton would be better in the Ohinehiuri CountyMr McMillan: Are there ho better men in this county? If you put the new men in you’ll get your goo! rpads. Mr J. Carter was of the opinion that on the sentiments of the ratepayers at the present time very few of the present councillors would be reflected to the council. . COUNCILLOR’S RETIREMENT. Mr Heappy said the Council .was calling up the council boundaries so that the council would again be in the hands of the Crown settlers, an! the sooner. Netherton got out of it the better. The president understood that their councillor at that end would retire from the council at its next meeting. BRAINS AND ABILITY WANTED. The secertary thought that perhaps they were a bit too hasty in endeavouring to break away from the Plains County. Mr MunrO said that if they could get the proper men in the county it would not be so bad. They wanted brains and ability in the council. They had not got that now. He was not supe that a lot of old women could not do better. Mr J. Carter said they should be charitable .with the Council. Mr Munro: We have been charitable too long. Mr Simpson said they could not blame the Council for the bad roads There had been a tremendous lot of carting on the roads of recent years. The President: The Council is treating us like a lot of school kids.. Mr Carter said they should fight their own battles and not go and shelter with the Ohinemuri County. Mr Sutton said he was taking a Turua petition round and had already about twenty signatures. It was agreed that the two petitions be worked in conjunction with one another. The president recommended that a deputation wait on the Ohinemuri County Council and ascertain on what terms that, council would include the Netherton riding in Its boundaries. It was also suggested that a deputation also, wait on the Hauraki Plains County Council to find out on what terms it would let Netherton secede. The meeting concluded without any decision being reached.