NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4636, 10 December 1923, Page 2

NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

OPPOSING KIBIKIRI BRIDGE. PETITION TO MINISTER. The following petition from the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association was presented to the Hon, Minister for Public Works during his brief stay in Paeroa on Friday evening last by Mr H. Poland, M.P.:— “With reference, to the oroposal ot the- Hauraki Plains County, assisted by the Thames County • and,Thames Borough, to construct a bridge over the Waihou River at Kirikiri, I ( am .directed by my association respectfully. to approach and place before you the views of the ratepayers oi the Netherton Riding of flhe Hauraki P’a ins County on this matter. “The Hauraki Plains County has recently resolved that all nrldges in the county shall be county matters, as distinguished from riding matters, and that the cost of same shall be bo/ne by a rate over the whole county. The Council now proposes to const)uct s the Kirikiri bridge under the provisions of Section 119 of ‘The Public Works Act, 1908,’ and it is feared that unless the position is placed before you a very grave injustice may be done to the whole of the settlers of the Netherlon Riding. “If the settlers of the northern portion of the county are satisfied that the Kirikiri bridge is a necessity, then let them build and pay for it. The Netherton settlers are unanimously opposed to bearing any part of the cost of the bridge. They consider it would be very unjust to compel I hem to contribute to such an expensive work from which they will derive no benefit. “Tae attitude of the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association is this : That if the Hauraki Plains County Council proceeds with the proposal, and if the G< vein or is disposed to grant his warrant empowering the Council so t? Jo, then the Netherton Riding of the Hauraki Plains County should be excluded from the area rated for payment of the work. “The grounds on which this policy is based are : 1. The proposed bridge would be of no use whatever to the settlers of the Netherton Riding. They look tp Paeroa as their business centre, and all merchandise is conveyed up the Waihou River either to Netherton or to Paeroa. 2. The settlers of the Netherton Riding have constructed a bridge over the river and are paying for same. They do not look to the county to contribute towards the cost. 3. The imposition of a rate.to pay for the Kirikiri bridge would effectively stop, for some years to come, any effort to better the roads. Even the possibility of such a rate has been sufficient to cause considerable hayoc in .this direction. “It is suggested that the Netherton Riding, under the scheme of bridges outlined by the Council, will be compensated for the expenditure in respect of the proposed Kirikiri bridge by the construction of a bridge, over the Waihou River from Netherton to Hikutaia. the whole county bearing the cost. My association states emphatically that there never will be a bridge at this point. The expenditure involved ,in the construction of such a bridge could not be justified by its utility, and no council would sanction it. “The Netherton ratepayers are firm in their belief that the equity underlying their'policy will command your careful consideration when dealing with this matter in its other aspects.”

The Minisfter promised that he would give the matter careful consideration,