NETHERTON ROADING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4872, 2 September 1925, Page 4

NETHERTON ROADING.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. NO OPPOSITION TO LOAN. From the tone of the meeting of some 30 ratepayers of the eNthorton riding held on Saturday evening there seems little chance of the proposal to borrow money for metalling and improving the roads of the whole riding not being carried at tne forthcoming poll. The meeting had been called to. discuss the matter, and every opportunity was given to bring up for discussion any cause for not supporting the loan, but few reasons were stated and no opposition was shown. The meeting was not enthusiastic, but enthusiasm is not in the nature of Netherton people except when in opposition to any proposal. The lack of any reasons for opposing the loan and the quiet confidence with which methods of ensuring support were discussed can be taken as favourable indications as to what the result of the poll will be.

In opening the meeting Mr T. Vowles, who presided, called for a full and frank discussion on any reason for opposing the proposal. He said he had heard that soriie of the Awaiti settlers were not of the same opinion as the rest of the riding. They had taken up sections away from the metalled roads, and were of opinion that the Government should provide reading. The attitude of the Government was well known, and he was sure these unfortunate settlers would realise that the present scheme would be the best for them. The old road settlors were supporting the loan, as they realised that it would be the cheapest in the long r.un. The maintenance rate was increasing year by year. He felt sure- everyone who had the interests of the district at heart Avould support the proposal. Mr Basham, the county engineer, had been invited to be present to. address the meeting. Mr Basham, who on rising wats greeted with applause, urged the asking of question as the best means of obtaining the information desired. He said that when he had prepared the estimates for the scheme he had not been as conversant with the local conditions- as he was at present, nor with the prices of materials in the district. To-day he could get metal at from 20 to 2'5 per cent, cheaper than he had estimated. As this was so he could either spend the same sum and give better roads or use the same amount of metal as that provided in the estimate and spend less money. He would urge the use of the greater 1 amount of metal. There were already voted subsidies of £l5OO on Wilson’s Road, £lOOO on School Road, £lOOO on Awaiti Road, and several others. These had not been taken into consideration in the estimate, which provided, for the full cost. In preparing estimates, it was unwise to take into consideration any subsidies, as though they came practically automatically they were voted by Parliament annually. Should the amount which the ratepayers were asked to authorise the raising of be the sum required less the amount of subsidy, and should Parliament for any reason not vote the subsidy, there would not be sufficient to complete the work and there would be a very big chance that authority for a further loan would not bo granted. The settlers whose roads were completed might possibly vote against it. The estimates provided for the full cost of the work, but the amount of loan money that the council would raise would depend on the subsidies to be lifted.

Mr J. A. Reid asked if the fact that Wilison’s Road had been declared a main highway would affect the £l5OO subsidy. The engineer said that the money was sure, as it was for work' already done. The Public Works Department had passed the’work and audited the council’s books.

In „ reply to Mr Whisker the engineer said that the Public Works Department would build a road on the top of the stop-bank it erected, but the difficulty was to. find out how much of the road would be taken for the stop-bank. The cost of the whole of the road had been included in the estimate, iso the amount of the loan would be decreased by the amount of work the department did..

Mr Simpson pointed out that the Ngararahi stop-bank road was only settled on one side. He thought that should be an argument in favour of a bigger subsidy than usual. Mr Basham said it should be asked!'

for. The case of the WaitakaruruMaukoro canal road, where a subsidy of £3 10s to £1 had been promised, could be quoted as a precedent. He could not say What would be voted, but the iscttlers could rest assured that the council would do its utmost to get as large a subsidy as possible; However, the council could do nothing until the loan had been carried. Mr Simpson pointed l out that whatever subsidies were obtained on any road benefited the whole riding, because the amount of the loan would be lessened bj' that amount. Mr Reid asked how the revaluation of the county would affect the rating. Mr Basham stated that he had been in conversation with the Government valuer and had learned that only slight adjustments would bo made. The total for the riding would be approximately as at present. The rate would be adjusted annually, according to the sum required. Cr. Hare explained the rating area. At the time the council had fixed the area the position of the southern portion, which comprised Native and Crown land mostly non-rate producing, had been discussed. In many cases there were no dedicated roads, and it would be a costly matter to acquire land, dedicate roads, and form them. The council had decided that it would be the best to cut the area out of the scheme. There was no chance of the excluded area being (settled for a considerable time.

At a later stage Cr. Hare said that if the loan was turned down the main highway would have to be done, and the Main Highways Board would exert its power to compel the county to collect its share from the ratepayers.

In reply to a. Munro Road settlei the engineer said that his policy was to do the distant roads first, as it was foolish to cart heavy loads over new metal.

Mr'Chester suggested that a roads committee should be formed to confer with the engineer froin time to time as to what roads should be treat-

In reply to a question Cr. Hare said that if the Netherton riding carried its road loan the riding would not be included in any‘county main road scheme.

Cr. Hare explained the %d rate given as security for the loan as analogous to the margin of security demanded by a money-lending institution over the amount loaned.

Referring to the subsidy question atain Cr. Hare isaid .that tlm county had raised a loan in the past for half the sum required to metal some reads in anticipation of getting an equal amount of subsidy. As the work could net be completed up to the standard required owing to the lack of funds it had not been possible to lift the subsidy.

The engineer concurred, and said that the sound policy was to get authority to raise the full amount necessary, as advised by the Ministers of Public Works and of Lands, and then apply for the subsidy.

Asked when the work would commence, the engineer said that he could not say, as it depended on when the money was raised. He had a fairly full programme for the coming summer, but saw no reason way some of the work should not be done. Transport and machinery would have to be arranged. He would exhaust .the possibilities of letting contracts before doing the work by day labour, but if contracts were let he would prefer to retain control of the spreading of the metal. He would endeavour to let contracts for the transportation an dsupply of nietal ,and was of opinion that a big saving would be thus eefl’eted. The smallness of the jobts in the past had prevented the obtainof cheap metal. The Hikutaia quarry supply could be augmented by supplies from Waikawau at 11s a yard or from the Paeroa quarry at 9s a yard at the quarry.

Mr Simpson said that the association should be commended for bringing the scheme forward. The cost was not sb heavy when teh subsidies were considered, and he felt sure the loan 'would be authorised.

Mr Reid asked if.the council would give an undertaking not to raise more of the i loan than was necessary to do the woirk, together with the subsidies.

Mr Mills said that during his many years of lojcal body work he had conic in contact with Mr Basham and had full confidence in him. He would support Mr Reid’s request, though he knew the difficulty of binding future coucnils, but he felt sure that if the council would give such an undertak-

ing it would do a great deal to ensure the poll being carried. On Mr Basham stating that he did not see any difficulty in the matter, Mr Mills moved that Cr. Hare be asked to move in council in that direction. ' Seconded by Mr J. A. Reid and carried. Cr. Hare isaid that if he thought for a moment that the subsidies stated would not be available he would not hesitate to tell the ratepayers. He knew Mr Basham well enough to know that if he said he could do the work for a certain sum it would not cost more.