RATES AND RUTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4503, 13 December 1922, Page 2

RATES AND RUTS.

POSITION IN NETHERTON. NO MONEY FOR ROADING. "TOADYING TO RATEPAYERS.” The reading of the engineer's report on the Netherton roads evoked considerable discussion at the Hau- ■ raki Plains County Council meeting on Monday. The report stated: "The formation of Wilson’s Road is in a very bad state of repair, and was practically impassable during the" last rainy weather. I shall be glad when money becomes' available to have draining and forming done to. the full extent of metjal to be laid-this. summer.

“The condition of the Netherton.'Turua road will be improved when 5 metal from the Hikutaia quarry conies to hand. As the road is in a bad state almost throughout the full distance, it is hardly safe to give preference to any particular section on this road. I would recommend that the first undertaking be to form and metal between the Netherton post office and Awaiti Rbad; also to metal the section ofi unmetalled road between Fisher’s Landing and Whampoa.” ’ Cr. Chatfield proposed apd Cr. McLoughlin seconded a motion to call tenders for widening the whole length of drain on Wilson’s Road, the en - gineer having power to deal with the < tenders." It was later decided to add to the motion “providing the artepayers in Netherton hold a meeting and give some guarantee that. the rates are to be paid.” UNPAID RATES. Cr.. Mayn asked what steps the Council would take to get some rate money in. Cr. Chatfield said th&t if the Council ratepayers and put the them, the ratepayers could be induced to pay their rates. Cr. Hare maintained that the ratepayers, knowing that the work was' to be done, would pay their rates,. “SUMMONS’ THEM.” - < Cr. McLoughlin said that-Wilson’s Road must be put in order ’’’ to give Netherton. an outlet. “Give them the ’ road,” fye said, “ahdSfthey don’t cojne up with their rates summons them.”.. Cr. Hayward said the m,ain road at Netherton was the worst on the ■ Plains, and if the council had the money available it should be Spent on that road. ' ' < Cr. Mayn said that ifi the council proceeded with the work without the money roming to hand the ‘cpuncil. would be very fooQish,, and- perhaps get themselves into trouble. They had no guarantee that the rates would be paid. He agreed with the'— suggestion that a meeting be held at Netherton to induce the ratepayers to.

pay their rates. ' - • Cr. Hare said that She ratepayers wvuld pay if there w.as, some' guar-" antee. that the work was to /go bh. The chairman said-he did hot like that attitude, .and he would rather be in favour bf summonsing. Cr. McLoughlin said he did npt be-, lieve in toadying tp the ratepayers. The ratepayers knew that they -must pay their rates. Cr. Harris said he was anxioiis to see the work pushed through, but the council must have the money. - Or. Mayn said it was unfortunate that, this m,atter had been delayed. It should have been brought up long ago. . /_ Cr.. Hayward .said this was the most opportune time to go on with the work. The Netherton people, he thought, were not up against "the Council, and they recognised that they should pay their rates. Cr. Mayn proposed an amendment that the work be proceeded wit|h: provided a guarantee was forthcoming that sufficient rates would be paid to cover the expenditure. If the /ratepayers would give J;he guarantee they ■should go on with: the work at’once. Cr. Harris seconded. • LIKE A BARGAIN. <- Cr. McLoughlin said the Council would' be "treating if the ratepayers; had offered something before they would pay their, rates. ,

Cr. Hare said that if the Council' could show that it intended to go on with the work it' would be an incentive for the ratepayers to p,ay their rates. Nothing was being done in that area, and the road' from the Puke bridge was in a disgraceful state. Cr. Chatfield maintained that Netherton was not the only riding that had'not paid the rates. - The chairman moved that if the. rates were not forthcoming the defaulting ratepayers' be summonsed. There was no seconder. Mr Walton said the rate notices were senCbut in June last, and final notices could be sent out early in January stating that a penalty would be added after January. He anticipated that, there would then be a little increase in the usual monthly payments and that -there should be enough funds available for the work possibly by the end of January. ■ The chairman said he did not like either the motion or the amendment, as it appeared from both that the Council wished to make a bargain. The amendment was put to the meeting and was lost A further amendment was proposed by Cr. McLoughlin that the proviso in the motion be deleted. OBJECTION TO TOADYING. The chairman said he did not like the proviso as it appealed’ that the Council was toadying to th®payers to. pay their rates. ' Cr. Hare said he did not believe in bargaining, but the Council could come to some understanding with the ratepayers. — y The further amendment was car-* ried, and the motion, as amended, was also .carried.