PIAKO ROAD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4787, 10 December 1924, Page 2

PIAKO ROAD.

A MINORITY PETITION. TO DEFER BITUMEN SEALING. A petition was presented to the Hauraki Plains County Council at yesterday’s meeting praying that the proposed work of laying down Piako Road in bitumen be postponed for one year, as the ratepayers of the riding were at present paying 6s 4d per acre per annum for county rates, and that, in their opniion, if the proposed sum of £5070 was spent many ratepayers would be unable to. meet their rates. The petitioners were of opinion that th? drainage of the land was of more importance, and that all unnecessary road works should be held up until the farms were brought into a better ■state of production ; also that 001101; rates should not be increased in view of the rates that must necessarily be struck by the Hor.ahia Drainage Board. The petitioners were : Messrs H. H. Dann. J. Arwinger, T. Wheeler, J. S. McWatteis, J. McKerchar, F. A., C. K„ and C. Kneebone, G. Irwin, J. Taylor, H. F. touch, W. Laurence, R. Rowling. H. Cook, A. Wheeler, G. J. Parry, S. O. Phelps, G. Beck, J. McConnell, junr, R. F. Gibbons, and W. McDuff. The clerk pointed out that at a meting of ratepay res it had been explained that the rate required would be than the maintenance rate necessary if the permanent work was not done. •n reply to Cr. Parfitt the clerK said that some of the petitioners were present at the meeting and voted in favour of the proposal. Cr. Parfitt pointed out that it was a minority petition. Cr. Madgwick stated that many were those whose road had been metalled and the rate spread over the whole riding. The petitioners were not resident on the road concerned in the petition. Tenders for the work were before the council and the bitumen. had been ordered. Cr. Hayward, the riding representative, said that the request could not be granted. The position had beep thoroughly explained at a public meeting and a vote in favour had been carried. On the strength of this the council had further committed itself. It was decided that the petition lie on the table.