NETHERTON ROADS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4515, 15 January 1923, Page 2

NETHERTON ROADS.

DISCUSSED BY RATEPAYERS. FURTHER LOAN WANTED. A representative meeting of the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association was held on Saturday evening, the principal subject under discussion being the deplprafile condition of Wilson's Road and the urgent necessity for haivng that thoroughfare put in a satisfactory condition at. the earliest opportunity. Mr T. Vowles (president) occupied the chair, and the Mayor of Paeroa (Mr P. E. Brenan), .the president of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce (Mr E. W. Porritt), and Crs. H. Hare and A. Chatfield were present by invitation. The Hauraki Plains County engineer (Mr J. Higgins) was also in attendance. Messrs Brenan and Porritt thanked the association for hhving invited them to attend, and expressed their willingness to assist the ratepayers as far as lay in their power. The chairman thanked the visitors for their assurances, and expressed his pleasure at having them present. The chairman said that since the,, last meeting a deputation h.ad gone over the district with the engineer, who then promised that a small sum would be available for doing something towards repairing the roads. OUTSTANDING RATES. Mr Heappey said there was a large amount, of rates outstanding in the riding, and this Was not fair to those who paid, because they could get nothing done. If ratepayers could not pay the full amount they could surely pay something. It was not right to expect work to be done when rates were not paid. Personally, he considered that the council should take a firmer attitude in connection with the collection of rates’. Mr Reid said the council could have gone on with some of the,work. They had had an overdraft before, and could do so again. It. was necessary that the work should be done before the Lad weather set in. Cr. Hare said he had advocated the spending of some money, considering that the money would then come in. At the same time he was prepared to say: “If you pay your rates you will get roads.” Mr Reid said Ke would, like to see the council use some discretion, with the collection of ratesThe chairman said he thought the council were under the impression that the Netherton ratepayers were under some obligation to them. If something was not done they would have to tramp it to Paeroa in .the winter, or stay at home. y Mr Reid asked, if Messrs Brenan and Porritt could make any suggestions to assist in getting good roads. WILSON’S ROAD. Mr Brenan said’ a local body was severely hampered in its operation by the new Finance Act, which prevented them from overstepping their expenditure in any one year. The farming community had had a bad run during the past 18 months, but the rise in the price of butter-fat should place farmeirs in a better) position. It was rather astonishing to see the balances in .the loan accounts of the county and nothing being done with the money. There was, he understood, not sufficient authorised, by the ratepayers to complete Wilson’s Road- •-. The engineer (Mr J. Higgins’) said it would take in all £3OOO to dp the work.

Mr B’-'enan said he believed the ratepayers could, by petition, have the loan increased. The petition would require to be signed by threefifths -of the ratepayers. It seeme.l a pity that for the sake of £5OO an important road like AVilson’s Road could not he done. MINISTER'S PROMISE.

Mr Pprritt said some time ago a deputation waited upon the Ministei of Lands, pointing out that considerable damage had been carting on Wilson’s Road. The Minister then promised to make a grant, and 'he thought it would now be an opportune time t.o apply for.it. The chairman suggested that a deputation should Approach the Lands Department with a: request for payment. of the grant. Mr Pori’itt said the Hon. Mr Guthrie had stated that it was the policy of his department .to make good any damage done in the course of their works. To him, therefore, it .appeared to be a good time to ask for the money. Cr. Hare said the county engineer had strongly recommended .that the old road should be patched for the time being, as there was' no time to do Wilson’s Road this year... On .that understanding the council had voted £5OO. He thought, therefore, that half a loaf was better than none. The chairman said the council should do everything possible to procure the extra money required properly to complete the road. He had bought his land on the understanding that the work would be done in twelve months. Mr Reid asked what work the engineer proposed to do on the roads before the winter set in. Mr Higgins said he purposed, among other things, spending £501) on the old road ; to metal the curve at Kerepeehi corner, and to form the road between the school and bridge. As regarded Wilson’s Road, he was up against doing anything unless he could carry out the work over the whole distance. A REASONABLE REQUEST. Mr Reid proposed that both councillors and the chairman should wait upon the engineer of the Lands Department and see if they could procure a grant to make good the damage referred to. Or. Hare considered that. it might be best for the council to write to the department. Mr Hcappey seconded Mi’ Reid's proposal. Cr. Hare said lie and Cr. Chatfield had fought hard for the Netherton end, but it was not always possible to get everyone to see eye to eye. Moreover, it was rather hard to get much dene while so many rates were outstanding. All they could dp at

present was to get as much patching done as possible. Cr. Hare proceeded i to read the rates statement (published in our Friday’s issue), afid said the tota'- amount of rates outstanding was about £2OOO. The motion moved by Mr Reid was carried, and the engineer (Mr Higgins) was invited to join the deputation. |THE ADDITIONAL LOAN. The chairman said the council should take steps to obtain the additional £5OO required for Wilson’s Road, and suggested that the councillors present should bring the matter up at the next county council meetia«= Mr Brenan said if certain portions of the road were scarified about foul’ yards of metal tQ, the chain would make a good road of it, Mr Higgins: Yes, that is so. Mr Brenan said it was a great pity that Wilson’s Road could not be done £ight away. At the s,ame time, it would be a mistake tp dp only a portion of it. He suggested th,at steps should be taken by way pf a petition to get the loan increased. If that were done i.t might be possible to have the work started next, spring. Mr Higgins said that before the question was put before the ratepayers he would like fully to go into the matter and ascertain the exact amount that would be required. Mr Reid asked if the Paeroa Borough could give any assistance towards getting the £5OO. He understood there was another town at the other end of the flat that was trying to get. the traffic tliat way. Mr Brenan said he would consider the matter with Mr Porritt and see if it would be possible to do anything. Mr Reid moved that the council be asked to take immediate steps, by petition, to raise the necessary additional amount to complete Wilson’s Road ; and that the Ratepayers’ Association strongly urge the ratepayers to support the petition. Mr Heappey seconded the motion, which was carried. HIKUTAIA 1 QUARRY. At the request of Or. Hare, Mr Higgnis reported on a visit to .the Hikutaia quarry, and said his, opinion regarding the quarry had been borne out. He thought that, if the council developed the quarry on the lines he had recommneded, they would get cheap metal. He believed that he would get the metal delivered on the banks between Turua and Netherton at, from Ils to 13s, including Overhead expenses. No fault could, he thought be found with the quality 6f> the metal

BRIDGES. The chairman asketl if- the bridge to be erected at. Pipiiroa. was to be the subject of a special rating area or a county matter. Or. Chatfield said all bridges were now county matters. Air Heappey s,aid the county should not be allowed to “ring” these bridges on to them. From Kerepeehi to Pipiroa people were not going tp go to Thames—they would come to Paeroa. It was their duty to keep this, question going, as while there was agitation the Public Works Department would not make grants. He 4 was’ surprised that the councillors had not raised their voices when bridges were discussed at the last meeting. Cr. Hare said there was time tp discuss the matter when the plans came before the council. Mr Heappey : It is a)s well to get in a good preliminary. Cr. Chatfield said that when the Netherton bridge was included it was quite a fair tiling to make bridges county matters. Cr. Hare said lie understood that tiie attitude of the Netherton ratepayers was principally against the Kirikiri bridge. Very shortly .there would be council, and at present /they would probably be only blowing off hot air to discuss the matter. The chairman said the County Council chairman had refused to say ■whether they would take a poll or not. Mr C. Potter'said the county chairman had distinctly said they wouli not take a poll. Cr. Hare spid they were nfore interested in roads a,t the present time. If there was mo money for roads, there would certainly be no money for bridges. ASSOCIATION’S APPRECIATION. Mr Reid moved a resolution expressing appreciation oif] what it was proposed to do to repair the roads, and .thanking the councillors and engineer in attendance for information given. The motion was carried. In conclusion thfe chairman thanked Messrs Brenan and Porritt for attending the meeting, and expressed a hope that they would attend on future occasions.